Chapter 31: You Can't Frame The Male Lead.

Xiao YuAn, returning to the Imperial Palace from Jing Yang Palace, felt anxious all over. He was worried that a canon fodder villain would make a move, and because of that, he wanted to look after Yan HeQing. Therefore, he asked Guard Yang, an excellent and efficient bodyguard, to guard Jing Yang Palace every day, fearing that accidents might happen.

Less than a week later, something really did happen.

Xiao YuAn was having a meal at that time, but upon hearing Yang LiuAn's report, he instantly rushed to Jing Yang Palace as soon as he put the bowl down.

This matter wasn't big, but it wasn't a small issue either.

A male concubine said that he saw Yan HeQing practicing the sword in the courtyard, and then went to the headmaster of Jing Yang Palace, Hong Xiu, to report it.

Jing Yang Palace had many rules and regulations, and practicing sword and martial arts has always been a taboo subject. First of all, the Emperor likes the soft and beautiful male concubines that know their place, which is to serve him in bed. Practicing the sword, with his identity being the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, Xiao YuAn is afraid that it will look like he wants to stab him to death.

At this time, Yan HeQing and the male concubine that reported him were in the courtyard, kneeling in front of Jing Yang Palace's headmaster. Hong Xiu was looking at them with complicated eyes and a hesitant expression.

Several slaves were secretly exchanging glances, all of them wanting to watch the drama that will unfold.

According to Hong Xiu's past temperament, if this matter resulted to be true, then what awaited Yang HeQing wasn't just physical pain, but a broken hand or a disabled foot.

However, a few days ago, Xiao YuAn repeatedly told her about his plan on how winning Yan HeQing's heart was better than resorting to violence. In fact, Hong Xiu didn't want to be hard on Yan HeQing, even if she planned on punishing him with a whip lash.

But things became complicated because the male concubine that made the report was known for having a loose tongue, since he's extremely fond of gossiping!

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Before Hong Xiu knew about the situation, the news of Yan HeQing secretly practicing the sword had spread throughout the whole Jing Yang Palace. If the punishment consisted in a single whip lash, the authority of Hong Xiu will be questioned: it will look like she's protecting Yan HeQing so he can kill the Emperor in the near future.

Hong Xiu's eyes went back and forth between the two kneeling men on the ground. Finally, she stared at the male concubine: "You said that Yan HeQing was secretly practicing the sword, but, do you have any evidence?"

The male concubine raised his head eagerly and said without hesitation: "This slave couldn't sleep at night that day, so I got up early in the morning to enjoy the snow. Unexpectedly I happened to see him practicing sword techniques. I'm aware that I shouldn't speak without evidence, so the next day I called Qin Yu and the others to go with me secretly. As expected, he was practicing the sword again!"

Hong Xiu had a headache, and his name was Qin Yu. At that moment, Qin Yu knelt on the ground, he softened his voice and smiled mischievously: "Hong Xiu-jiejie1, I can testify that everything that was said truly happened. Besides, what is his purpose of practising the sword these days, if not to harm His Majesty?"

Hong Xiu nodded and summoned the other male concubines involved, and as expected, every single one of them said the same thing.

Public opinion is powerful enough to melt metal2, the defamation could destroy a man3. Yan HeQing was speechless.

Hong Xiu then looked at Yan HeQing. When she saw the indifference and lack of fear in him, she asked: "Don't you have anything to say?"

Yan HeQing looked forward, his answer was complete silence.

The several male concubines kneeling on the ground exchanged gazes, a hidden smile adorning the corner of their mouths.

"Well then." Hong Xiu nodded, "Someone sent him to…"

Before she could finish her command, a panicked slave ran inside the courtyard: "His Majesty is coming!"

As soon as Xiao YuAn stepped into the courtyard, everyone present fell to their knees trembling. Xiao YuAn instantly looked at Yan HeQing, and breathed a sigh of relief.

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Why are you kneeling again! If you kneel one more time, you will take 10 years away from his life!

"Get up, all of you get up." Xiao YuAn raised his hand.

Hong Xiu stood up and saluted Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty, about this…"

"Yang LiuAn told me everything." Xiao YuAn nodded, turned around and walked towards Yan HeQing, smiling amicably he asked him: "Are you really practicing the sword?"

Yan HeQing hadn't answered yet when he was interrupted by the male concubine who reported him: "Your Majesty! It's true, if you don't believe me, you can ask…"

All of a sudden, the male concubine was slapped by Hong Xiu, silencing him immediately.

Xiao YuAn waited patiently for Yan HeQing's answer. Yan HeQing looked at him with eyes as calm as a lake, and nodded slowly.

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Chapter 32: As the Male Lead, You Can Do Whatever You Want.

Seeing that Yan HeQing didn't hide and confessed, the courtyard suddenly buzzed in excitement; everyone was surprised, amazed and secretly happy about it.

"Ah?" Xiao YuAn was surprised, "Where do you practice the sword when your wing-room is so small?"

Yan HeQing replied: "In the courtyard."

Xiao YuAn said: "The courtyard is also quite small, did you cut down the trees so you will have more space?"

These two questions were really weird. The group of people around the courtyard couldn't understand what was going on. Yan HeQing was also stunned for a little bit before nodding affirmatively.

"Hong Xiu." Xiao YuAn waved at her.

"This maidservant is here." Hong Xiu immediately saluted him.

"This is too much! I can't bear it, I truly can't bear it!" Xiao YuAn was bitter and gritted his teeth in anger.

"Your Majesty, calm your anger, this maidservant understands." Hong Xiu quickly appeased Xiao YuAn.

Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and calmed down, before he continued: "If he wants to practice the sword, then he will practice the sword, but how can he cut down a tree! The earth is my home, and the greening depends on everyone! The potable water and the green mountains are invaluable assets! You will change him into a bigger courtyard! So he can no longer cut down the trees!"

Hong Xiu was stupefied: "Ah?"

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The rest of the people were confused as well: "Ah?"

Xiao YuAn, who was pretending to be as confused as everyone else: "Ah?"

Accompanying one's sovereign can be like accompanying a tiger1. As a maidservant that has been with him for five years, she understood the meaning behind Xiao YuAn's words in time: "Your Majesty, you want me to change him into a bigger courtyard where he can peacefully practice the sword?"

"Yes." Xiao YuAn nodded happily.

Although this order was contradicting the past one, the Emperor's commands were as high as the heavens, Hong Xiu suppressed her thoughts, and saluted in response: "I will do as His Majesty wishes."

Ignoring the group of people inside the courtyard that were speechless and dumbfounded, Xiao YuAn believing the problem has been solved, returned to continue his meal. After all, he came here in such a rush, he didn't have the time to fill his stomach!

Xiao YuAn raised his foot and took a few steps, but suddenly turned around after remembering something, walked back to Yan HeQing's side and asked him strangely: "What kind of sword do you have?"

Yan HeQing replied: "A long wooden stick."

Xiao YuAn bowed his head and thought for a few moments, whispering to Yan HeQing: "I will come to see you tomorrow morning. There's something important I need to show you."

Yan HeQing nodded, expressing that he heard him.

Xiao YuAn exchanged glances with Hong Xiu, and left feeling at ease.

Seeing the Emperor leaving, Hong Xiu exhaled a slow breath, and then glanced at the audience: "All of you, go back to your duties."

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The male concubine that spread the gossip was reluctant and wanted to argue against it. Qin Yu grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back, he laughed in anger and lowered his voice: "Didn't you hear His Majesty? What else do you want to say? Have you lost your mind?"

The male concubine was dissatisfied: "But…"

Qin Yu looked at him coldly: "I'm kind enough to save you, restrain yourself."

After talking, Qin Yu went away indifferently.

"Huh, you still believe you're His Majesty's favorite? Sooner or later you will be killed by someone that holds a grudge against you." The male concubine muttered in a low voice.

In this grand Palace, rumors spread like wildfire. And just like that, half a day later, one person whispered to another ten, then ten people passed the news to a hundred. Before long, everyone knew about how the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom had the unique favor of the Emperor.

When Steward Feng heard about this, he immediately went to inform Eunuch Zhao.

Eunuch Zhao made a meaningful sound, and said no more.

Steward Feng wondered: "Eunuch Zhao, aren't you worried?"

"Don't worry, since he's willing to become a male concubine, he's now a dog that broke his spine2. There's nothing to be afraid of. I told you that the maidservant Hong Xiu had her ways." Eunuch Zhao replied leisurely

At this time, Hong Xiu was worried: "Your Majesty, although I know that you're working in the strategy of winning his heart, I'm still worried that if you continue to indulge Yan HeQing with practicing the sword, he will hurt His Majesty sooner or later. In case he has any murderous intention, what should I do?"

Xiao YuAn, who was almost strangled to death by Yan HeQing, said: "Don't worry about it, I have everything in control. By the way, this morning I'll go to Jing Yang Palace. So don't send any Imperial Guards to follow me."

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Hong Xiu doesn't need to ask who Xiao YuAn was looking for: "Is Bodyguard Yang not going with you?"

Xiao YuAn: "No, I'll go by myself."

Hong Xiu tried to persuade him: "But Your Majesty! In case…"

"Everything will be alright." Xiao YuAn soothes Hong Xiu with a soft voice.

Xiao YuAn's perseverance made Hong Xiu speechless. After breakfast, Xiao YuAn went to Jing Yang Palace alone. Hong Xiu was always very hardworking; after what happened just the day before, Yan HeQing was moved to his new wing-room today.

In the early winter morning, the warm sun melts the snow. Probably because it was too early in the morning, the Jing Yang Palace was really quiet. Xiao YuAn, worrying about whether it was too early, knocked on Yan HeQing's door regardless. After a short moment, the door was opened.

From top to bottom, he was covered in a white warm light. Yan HeQing's eyebrows were sharp like swords, and his eyes were calm as the water, his black clothes were neatly tied making him look extremely handsome.

Xiao YuAn smiled at him lightly: "Put on a robe, I will take you somewhere."

Chapter 33: You Don't Have To Worry About It.

They weren't followed, and they didn't take the Imperial carriage with them. They both walked slowly from the East to the West of the Palace, from the early morning to noon, until finally, Xiao YuAn stopped.

Yan HeQing raised his head and moved forward. There was smoke and fire, and the delicious smell of food was flowing all over the place. Outside this place, adorning the plaque, there were two words: Imperial Kitchen.

Yan HeQing was confused and asked: "This is the place?"

Xiao YuAn had a harmless smile on his face: "To tell you the truth, I'm lost."

Yan HeQing: "…"

"Don't look at me like that, I'm not familiar with the Palace. Yesterday I asked about the route, but in the end, the Palace is too big and the courtyard corridors are too similar. I lost my way while walking." Xiao YuAn lifted his hands innocently.

Yan HeQing stared at him and started to feel a headache: "Then why did you stop walking?"

Xiao YuAn rubbed his stomach and let out a long sigh: "I'm hungry. I remembered that the Imperial Kitchen was near here, so I came over."

Yan HeQing's eyes flickered with helplessness: "Then go and take something to eat, wait, what are you doing?"

Xiao YuAn took a piece of silk cloth out of nowhere, covered half of his face, and tied a knot at the back of his head: "I'll camouflage my identity, to avoid a ruckus, and then we'll find someplace and fill our stomachs."

Yan HeQing: "…"

If the Emperor goes and steals food from the Imperial Kitchen, won't that stir up a ruckus?!

Xiao YuAn handed a piece of silk cloth to Yan HeQing. Immediately after, he moved quickly, hiding himself against the foot of the wall. Although Yan HeQing was hesitant with this plan, finally, he covered half his face and followed Xiao YuAn to the edge of the wall in the backyard.

At this moment, Xiao YuAn found himself in a complicated situation.

After all, in the 21st century, he was the President of a company and had no chance to practice any of this.

"I can't climb up." Xiao YuAn turned towards Yan HeQing for help.

Yan HeQing raised his head and looked at the edge of the wall. He backed away a few steps, then he ran at high speed and tapped the wall with his toes. He turned up with the help of his strength, moving the clouds and flowing the water1.

Xiao YuAn sighed again and again inside his heart, he just can't help but applaud with excitement.

He's really worthy of being the male lead, he looks so handsome while jumping over a wall.

Yan HeQing grabbed the brim of the wall and wanted to pull Xiao YuAn over, but he saw that Xiao YuAn was walking forward silently, then he opened the small wooden door in the backyard and walked in leisurely.

Yan HeQing asked: "…Did you know the door was unlocked?"

Xiao YuAn replied: "Yes I knew. When I came by the wall, I saw that the wooden door was unlocked."

Yan HeQing asked with complicated feelings: "Then why did you want to climb the wall?"

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Xiao YuAn said with a gentle smile: "Because it gives kind of a sneaky feeling climbing over the wall, which is more in line with what we're about to do."

Yan HeQing could not bear it, he grabbed the back of Xiao YuAn's neck and said with a cold voice: "I'll see you on the road to the Yellow Springs2."

"Fight after eating your fill, fight after eating your fill!" Xiao YuAn wailed a few times, broke free from his tight grip, and then shrank back.

Yan HeQing glanced at him, and then turned around towards the kitchen.

It was noon, and the Imperial kitchen was extremely busy, there were people everywhere. The two of them made a quiet turn, and finally found a tranquil hut besides the firewood room.

This hut was surely used by the slaves to have their meals, it was simple, small, clean and desolate. At this time, the servants were very busy, so it was completely empty.

Xiao YuAn walked in and pulled out two white steamed buns from the pot, he held one for himself, and handed the other to Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing took the steamed bun silently and chewed it up without hesitation.

"It doesn't have meat…" Xiao YuAn mumbled and started to search through the cupboard.

Yan HeQing stood aside and watched how Xiao YuAn was making a mess by tossing and turning around things looking for something. His ears were listening sharply, suddenly, he heard some movement outside.

After Xiao YuAn searched through the cupboard, he searched in the furnace. Yan HeQing watched him become disheartened, and for a moment he was about to say something, but ended up staying silent.

"Ah, there's roasted sweet potatoes." Xiao YuAn, as if he had won the most valuable treasure, carried the sweet potato with ashes in his arms and turned his head to ask Yan HeQing for help. However, Yan HeQing's eyes suddenly became alert and rushed over, he grabbed Xiao YuAn's collar and threw him out of the window, quickly closing it after that.

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Xiao YuAn rolled on the ground twice, falling into a daze he saw the sky turning upside down. He then heard a girl screaming: "Ah! Someone help! There's a thief!"

Yan HeQing landed lightly on the ground. He stepped forward, picked up Xiao YuAn who was still rubbing his head, and flew away with his light tiptoes. The speed was astonishing fast, and after a while, they easily escaped.

After confirming that no one was following them, Yan HeQing put Xiao YuAn down.

Xiao YuAn quickly looked down and let out a long breath.

The sweet potatoes were still safe and secure in his arms, they were not lost.

Xiao YuAn rubbed his sore arm and handed Yan HeQing a piece of roasted sweet potato, patiently discussing with him: "Actually, I'm very fast when I have to escape through a window. Seriously, can you inform me beforehand the next time, when we see ourselves facing the same situation?"

Stealing food from the Imperial Kitchen, there will be a next time? Yan HeQing smirked and took the sweet potato without answering him.

After filling his stomach with sweet potatoes, Xiao YuAn looked around. There were no halls or dormitories around. The only thing he could see was gardens, no guards patrolling, it looked extremely lonely, unlike the inside of the Palace.

Xiao YuAn cleared his throat, turned his head to Yan HeQing and smiled, "I seem to be…"

"Ask for directions." Yan HeQing interrupted him in a terrifying manner.

Xiao YuAn obediently turned around to find someone. This place was too wide, they walked around in circles until finally they met with an Imperial Guard.

The Imperial Guard also came here to take a nap. When he saw them, he panicked and immediately tried to avoid their escape. The two of them thought something was wrong, he waved his sword and ran towards them shouting: "Who are you! Where are you going?"

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Xiao YuAn wiped his face, which was dirty with charcoal, revealing his features that could barely be seen before.

As soon as the Imperial Guard saw his face, he fell on his knees in complete shock: "Y-your Majesty?"

"Don't kneel, get up." Xiao YuAn raised his hand, unable to bear seeing him kneel.

The Imperial Guard stood up trembling all over: "Your Majesty, why are you here? This place is outside the Imperial City."

Xiao YuAn said: "I want to ask you something, where's the altar of the Temple of Heaven?"

The Imperial Guard replied: "Answering to His Majesty, it's located in the South, for about six li3."

Xiao YuAn thanked him with a smile, turned his head to see Yan HeQing and said: "Let's go?"

"Yes." Yan HeQing nodded.

The Imperial Guard stared at the two men leaving side by side, suddenly, he remembered something and ran towards them in a few steps: "Your Majesty, this place is outside the Imperial City and the road ahead is not easy to walk on, there's many forests and paths. Would you like to go back to the Imperial City first and take the Imperial carriage?"

"It's okay, don't worry about it." Xiao YuAn waved his hands, smiling warmly, the clear light of the daytime was illuminating his beautiful face and defined eyes and eyebrows. Suddenly, the guard couldn't see the so called tyrant that everyone was talking about.

They ended up walking from noon to dusk.

Xiao YuAn wore a robe. Not only was he unable to open his legs, but also he always ended up hooking branches; he had to move slowly, one step after another. And if it weren't for the cold, he really would've teared apart his hem.

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In the evening, the sky gradually darkened, and the altar of the Temple of Heaven finally appeared in front of them.

Chapter 34: You Can't Go Without Turning Back.

The altar of the Temple of Heaven was located on the ninety-nine step halfway up the mountain, the sunset was like the blood of the sun. This solemn altar was particularly awe-inspiring.

Besides the steps, looking splendid in jade and gold, was the temple. It was filled with incense smoke, quiet and solemn.

Yan HeQing frowned: "Is it here?"

"This is the place where the ancestors are worshipped and where the relics are stored in the Northern Kingdom. You can wait for me here for a bit, I'll go." Xiao YuAn looked at Yan HeQing's face and said carefully.

After all, the memorial plate of the late Emperor was still in there.

Yan HeQing nodded his head.

Xiao YuAn brushed the ash off his body, fixed up his clothes, got up and walked into the temple.

The place of worship was heavily guarded by soldiers. Although the guards were surprised by Xiao YuAn's sudden appearance, they didn't dare to stop him. Xiao YuAn walked into the Hall smoothly and unhurried.

Inside the main hall were placed the memorial plates of the ancestors, all of which were decorated delicately and engraved with golden characters. The incense was burning in the Hall, and there were fruit plates with pork heads. Xiao YuAn thought for a while, and bowed down.

In the original book, on the third day after Yan HeQing's attack on the Northern Kingdom, he burned this place to ashes.

The memorial plates of the ancestors, including the one of the late Emperor, were heavily smashed and then discarded at the gate of the city; trampled by thousands of people like it was garbage.

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Xiao YuAn raised his head and looked at the solemnity in front of him. Thinking that now Yan HeQing was waiting for him outside, at this time, he felt like it was a dream.

After sighing with emotion, Xiao YuAn remembered the purpose of this trip and started to look around.

Yan HeQing waited patiently outside the temple, and after a quarter of an hour, Xiao YuAn's figure appeared before his eyes.

Xiao YuAn went in empty handed, and when he came out, he carried a sword in his hands. He walked towards Yan HeQing and handed it to him: "Here, this is yours."

Yan HeQing's eyes were round and surprised. He took the sword and rubbed the sheath carefully.

On the hilt of the sword was carved a golden dragon, the body of the sword was thin, sharp and had a faint cold light surrounding it. Blowing away his hair, Yan HeQing lowered his eyes. After a while, he choked: "This is…"

"Yes." Xiao YuAn replied.

This sword was once belonging to the Emperor of the Southern Yan Kingdom, the father of Yan HeQing. After the Southern Yan Kingdom was destroyed by the late Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, Yan HeQing's father used this sword to commit suicide within the city wall, weeping with blood and mourning.

However, the late Emperor of the Northern Kingdom took it as a war trophy and used it as his sword. Eventually, it became the only relic that wasn't buried after his death. Instead, it was placed at the temple for the future generations to worship. This was the reason why Yan HeQing hated this place so much.

Yan HeQing calmed down and raised his head to look up at Xiao YuAn: "What does this mean?"

Xiao YuAn said with a smile: "It's yours, take good care of it."

It belongs to Yan HeQing anyways, sooner or later he would've obtained it.

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Yan HeQing stared closely at Xiao YuAn, his eyes were moving and had a light of complicated feelings; after a while, he murmured: "Thank you."

Xiao YuAn shrugged: "It belongs to you, I was just returning it to its original owner."

Yan HeQing glanced at him again, then turned his back to the temple. He put his sword on the ground with both hands, lifted the hem, and knelt down without hesitation.

Facing his destroyed homeland, underneath the mountains and rivers, and above the blue sky.

Xiao YuAn turned around, unwilling to see it, fearing that Yan HeQing would raise his head. His eyes were full of resentment against this country, and his anger would eventually develop into a sharp edge that would cut his own neck.

After a while, Xiao YuAn suddenly heard Yan HeQing calling him, he turned around and saw that Yan HeQing had already stood up. He was holding the sword and there was no resentment and sadness in his eyes anymore, they were bright and calm as the water. Then, he said: "Let's go back?"

Xiao YuAn replied with a smile: "Yes, let's go back."

It was said that it's easier to walk up the mountain than to walk down, but for Xiao YuAn, it was extremely difficult to walk up the mountain already; and now, he just wanted to roll down like a ball.

Seeing the bright moon in the starred sky, the mountain path wasn't clear enough, and every step had to be taken carefully, which required a lot of time. Xiao YuAn was holding onto his inconvenient long clothes and mocked himself: "I don't want to keep going, I want to just lie here and wait for someone to collect my corpse."

Yan HeQing pointed to a clean and flat stone on the side of the road: "Sit down and rest for a while."

Xiao YuAn sat down on the stone and rubbed his ankles while smiling: "Don't you get anxious if I walk so slowly."

Without Xiao YuAn holding him back, Yan HeQing would've returned to the Imperial City in about an hour.

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Yan HeQing looked at him quietly, and replied with a light tone: "You also gave up traveling in the Imperial carriage because of me."

Xiao YuAn didn't expect Yan HeQing to notice this. He was stunned for a little bit, and didn't know how to answer.

The two of them were silent for a while. Around them the mountain was quiet. Xiao YuAn coughed lightly trying to break the silence when Yan HeQing suddenly narrowed his eyes and rushed to his person: "Be careful, behind you!"

Xiao YuAn suddenly turned his head and saw a green snake with red spots on his head!

Yan HeQing hit the seven inch green snake with a tiny stone and then strangled it in front of Xiao YuAn. Xiao YuAn, was too frightened to stand and yet he took a few steps back, fell to the ground, and rolled down the stairs.

After a while, Xiao YuAn was lying on the ground with his arms folded, staring at the stars in the sky.

A handsome face appeared looking down on him, blocking the sky.

Xiao YuAn asked: "Are you here to collect my corpse?"

Yan HeQing said: "…No."

Xiao YuAn waved his hand and asked him to move his head away: "Then let me count the stars, I just found a constellation."

Yan HeQing kindly reached out his hand to Xiao YuAn, who estimated that he had injured himself: "Can you stand up?"

Xiao YuAn took Yan HeQing's hand and started to stand up, but he felt extreme pain in his ankle. Xiao YuAn frowned: "It hurts, I don't know if it's twisted or dislocated."

"

"

It was indeed very slippery.

Xiao YuAn covered himself in fallen leaves, he wasn't angry or sad. Instead, he joked to Yan HeQing: "Anyway, you can just leave me here, after all we're already outside the Imperial City. With your skills, escaping should be easy."

Yan HeQing stared at his mischievously smiling eyes, stood up without flinching and walked without turning back, hurrying away.

Xiao YuAn was stupefied.

Hey! I was just joking! You can't really go away!

"Yan…" Xiao YuAn came to himself and wanted to call out for him, but found that Yan HeQing's figure had disappeared into the vast night.

You're too heartless!

On behalf of the socialist core values, I strongly condemn your unfriendly behavior!

All of a sudden, he was abandoned just like that on a remote path. Even if he says to himself that it's impossible for him to not feel wronged, Xiao YuAn sighed and felt sad. He laid on his back and continued to count stars, completely abandoned: "Dubhe, Merak, Phecda1…"

While counting on Phecda, Xiao YuAn's ears suddenly heard the sound of a wooden stick being cut.

Xiao YuAn was so frightened that he abruptly sat up and saw Yan HeQing, which he didn't know at that moment had come back. He was cutting some branches with his sword, Xiao YuAn didn't know why he was doing that.

Wow, this splendid sword was being used to cut wooden sticks. Can't you hear its cry?

No, I'm wrong, that's not the point at all.

Xiao YuAn said: "You, you didn't leave."

Yan HeQing didn't understand why Xiao YuAn thought so unjustly of him, he was simply too lazy to take care of others. He cut two wooden sticks, tore off a piece of his clothing, wrapped Xiao YuAn's injured ankle, and then squatted down to carry Xiao YuAn up on his back.

Chapter 35: No Matter What You Do, You Won't Be Misunderstood.

Was he being carried by the male lead?

In the original book, this was a privilege that only Princess Yongning had!

Seeing himself in the role of the female lead made Xiao YuAn feel uncomfortable. He put his hands on his chest and didn't dare to hug Yan HeQing's neck, instead he turned his head around pretending to look at the scenery. His awkward posture wasn't stable and his body was slightly moving.

Yan HeQing said: "Don't move, or else you'll fall to the ground, hold me tight."

You're the male lead, so I'll listen to you!

With his permission, Xiao YuAn didn't feel awkward anymore. He hugged Yan HeQing's neck and smiled softly: "Thank you, I owe you a favor."

Yan HeQing walked steadily and said: "You also carried me like this last time."

On that day, when he was punished to kneel in the snow, Xiao YuAn carried him all the way to the Taiyi Palace.

Xiao YuAn was surprised: "So you knew."

Yan HeQing replied: " Yes, but at that time I thought you were…"

His voice faded away, but the two of them understood the meaning behind those words inside their hearts.

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Xiao YuAn sighed: "We are now considered a revolutionary friendship."

"Revolutionary friendship?"

"Yes, revolutionary! Friendship! Revolutionary friendship! It's beyond life and death! It doesn't matter the distance! It's wordless! It's like an immortal flame, burning on the vast land!"

"…"

Xiao YuAn turned his head to look at Yan HeQing's speechless expression, leaned over smirking, and said: "The night sky is so beautiful, I suddenly want to sing."

"…What type of song?"

"A song about friendship." Xiao YuAn cleared his throat and began to sing: "The big river flows eastward~ the stars in the sky go to the Great Bear, hey hey hey hey, go to the Great Bear, a bowl of wine for a friendship of life and death1…oh!"

Extreme joy becomes sorrow2, Yan HeQing was irritated by Xiao YuAn's voice, and made Xiao YuAn hit his face on a tree branch.

Yan HeQing steadied his steps and tried to ignore what he just did: "Song of friendship?"

Xiao YuAn breathed and excitedly rubbed his head: "The song is about the revolutionary friendship of 108 big men, are you listening to me?"

"I'm not listening, we reached the Imperial City."

Xiao YuAn raised his head and looked up at the vermilion Imperial City wall. It was brightly lit and the carvings were made out of jade. This winter was really snowy, painting everything in white. At one glance, it seemed like seeing another world.

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Prosperity, today it was flowing in prosperity, but what about tomorrow?

Xiao YuAn said: "Wait, stop, don't go in."

Yan HeQing stopped and heard Xiao YuAn murmuring: "Yan HeQing, can you call me by my name?"

Yan HeQing paused, and earnestly and seriously said: "Xiao YuAn."

"Yes, it's me, let's go." Xiao YuAn smiled.

At this moment, the Imperial City was hysterical.

The Emperor didn't come back!

The Emperor didn't come back ever since he went out early in the morning! And now it was midnight!

He didn't bring any Imperial guards with him! No Imperial guards!

It was said that the Emperor finally appeared at the Temple of Heaven, but the Temple was at most one and a half hour away from the Imperial City.

But it's been three hours since then!

Three hours!

"

"

At such a young life! The Emperor had gone missing!

A group of Imperial Guards were hysterically running around with torches and lanterns looking for the Emperor and the Prince, and then, they suddenly appeared in front of the crowd. Yang LiuAn burst into tears and directed his sword towards Yan HeQing's throat: "Release the Emperor!"

"Put away the sword, put away the sword!" Xiao YuAn quickly jumped down on one foot and reached to lower Yang LiuAn's sword.

Looking at Xiao YuAn's messy clothes, with bruised wrists and his hair mixed with leaves, Yang LiuAn was horrified: "Your Majesty, how are you, why are you like this?"

"Ah?" Xiao YuAn explained: "It's nothing, just a night tour."

Night tour?

The group of Imperial Guards' eyes wandered back and forth between Yan HeQing and Xiao YuAn.

Bodyguard Yang asked: "A night tour surely ca-can't, become like this?"

Xiao YuAn waved his hand casually: "I wasn't careful while having fun and getting along with each other."

Not careful, in having fun, and getting along with each other?

Having fun, and getting along with each other?

Getting along with each other?

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The group of Imperial Guards looked at Yan HeQing, and then began to cough one after the other. After coughing they looked up at the sky, the moon and the stars.

As the saying goes: gossip is the main way of spreading information in human history, an important channel for human communication, a fast bridge for human communication, and an interesting life for a boring soul!

So that night, the night tour between the Emperor and the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom was like a hurricane, sweeping around the Palace.

Inside Jing Yang Palace, Qin Yu heard the news and smashed the porcelain cup in his hand.

Chapter 36: I Was Threatened To Participate In A Plot.

The next day, Xiao Fengyue's door was knocked on.

Xiao Fengyue has always been someone lonely, and the only visitor he had was Yang LiuAn; but this time, when he opened the door with joy, he saw the last person he wanted to see.

Qin Yu smiled and said: "Can I come in and have a chat?"

Out of courtesy, Xiao Fengyue kindly invited him into the room: "This poor room is simple, Gongzi1 can sit at will."

Qin Yu stepped into the room and didn't sit down. He looked at the Guqin placed on the table, his fingers played the strings frivolously: "I've heard that Xiao-gongzi is good at playing stringed instruments, so I came here to learn from you."

"I don't dare, but I'll be glad to discuss it with you." Xiao Fengyue suppressed the uneasiness inside his heart, picked up the porcelain cup on the table and poured tea for Qin Yu.

Qin Yu smirked and asked: "Xiao-gongzi, have you ever played the Guqin for His Majesty?"

Xiao Fengyue replied: "Humble me is not talented. His Majesty feels that my music is too muddled, humbled me has never played for His Majesty."

Qin Yu smiled even more, his eyes narrowed slightly, they were cunning and sinister: "So, in such a large Palace, only Bodyguard Yang had heard the sound of Gongzi's Guqin?"

Xiao Fengyue's hand trembled, the porcelain cup fell to the ground shattering in pieces. He suddenly raised his head, his face was ghostly pale, his eyes were round and his red lips were trembling: "You, you, you…"

Qin Yu picked up a porcelain cup, filled it with clean water, took a sip, and then continued: "Oh, even if His Majesty had never favored you, you're still not allowed to have sex with an Imperial Guard in private. You're guilty and you should die2."

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Xiao Fengyue calmed his mind and said with anger: "Don't spit blood on people3, we're just strangers that happened to meet once."

"Stranger?" Qin Yu suddenly started to laugh out loud. After laughing, he wiped his tears, smiled, and asked: "Who would gift his personal sachet to a stranger?"

Xiao Fengyue finally lost all his strength. He almost fell to the ground. Supporting himself with one hand at the table, he asked hoarsely: "What do you want?"

"Xiao-gongzi is a wise man, I will go right to the point." Qin Yu took out a small white porcelain bottle from his sleeve and laid it on the table.

Xiao Fengyue asked: "What's this?"

"Knockout drug."

"Knockout drug?"

"Yes, I want you to drug Yan HeQing, pretend to have an affair with him, and then be discovered by His Majesty." Qin Yu's tone was indifferent, and his words were bloody.

Xiao Fengyue's eyes widened incredulously: "Th-this, this is a death sentence."

It's a sin that can even bring the death penalty to the people being favored by the Emperor.

"Yes, it is also a death sentence, but Bodyguard Yang's name will be clean, doesn't he?" Qin Yu raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Fengyue lowered his eyes and lost all the blood from his face: "But, how can I get His Majesty to…"

"

"

"You don't have to worry about it, I'll find a way myself. Just tell me whether you'll do it or not." Qin Yu cut off his words and smiled. "Please think about it, Xiao-gongzi, and give me your final answer at night."

After that, Qin Yu didn't want to stay any longer, so he got up and left. Xiao Fengyue's voice sounded behind him: "You're so vicious, aren't you afraid of the wrath of heaven?"

Qin Yu laughed instead of getting angry, and turned sideways to reply: "The wrath of heaven? At that time, I was an Imperial Guard on my road to become an Official, but I was forced into this Palace by His Majesty's desires. I was forced to become a male concubine for him to play with. Isn't this condemnation? Because I had his favoritism alone, I almost died at the hands of a treacherous person because of my unique appearance, isn't that also condemnation? Xiao-gongzi, I, surnamed Qin, had lived in this Jing Yang Palace long enough, I can't hear the words 'the wrath of heaven'."

After his speech, Qin Yu turned away and left.

The Emperor was at the top of the sky, and he had to climb with a weak body to gain a place inside the Imperial Palace, but then, he was thrown at the front of the main hall, put into display as part of the Imperial Harem, for long nights that lasted forever, full of sorrow.

Chapter 37: The Premeditation Of The Plot.

Xiao YuAn's foot was sprained and it wasn't dislocated. The Imperial physician said that it would be fine to just rest for a few days.

So Xiao YuAn was lazily eating and drinking, lying stiff like a corpse every day.

On the third day, Princess Yongning came to visit the patient, and behind her was Cui'er, the maid that looked like Lu Zhishen. Cui'er was very shy, she twisted her head and walked a few steps without looking at the road, then accidentally hitting a guard that was at the door of the Imperial bedchamber. With a cry, Cui'er shyly entered the bedchamber. The guard sat on the ground feeling that his ribs were broken.

"Imperial Brother, how is it possible that you've been sick and injured recently?" Princess Yongning sat beside the bed with worried eyes.

Xiao YuAn comforted her: "I just sprained my ankle by accident, don't worry."

"Well, Imperial Brother, Yongning cooked some porridge for you." After saying that, Princess Yongning gave a signal to Cui'er and she quickly brought an exquisite wooden food box.

Upon seeing Hong Xiu, Princess Yongning took the food box personally and said with a smile: "It's okay, I'll do it, the sugar hasn't been added yet."

Hong Xiu nodded her head, and stepped aside.

A sweet fragrance was coming from the inside of the food box. Xiao YuAn moved towards the bedside and leaned out: "What kind of porridge is this?"

Princess Yongning smiled: "Snow pear lily porridge."

Xiao YuAn fell directly out of his bed.

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There was a scream in the bedroom, and Princess Yongning was so scared that she quickly helped Xiao YuAn get back up on the bed: "Imperial Brother, be more careful."

Xiao YuAn asked tremblingly: "Y-you say it again, what porridge?"

Princess Yongning was puzzled: "Snow pear lily porridge."

"Cooked with the sun dried lily flowers stored since last August?"

"Eh?" Princess Yongning was surprised. "Imperial Brother, what's wrong? Why do you look so frightened?"

How can Xiao YuAn not be frightened!

Snow pear lily porridge?

In the original book, this was Yan HeQing's first bloom of love for Princess Yongning, this item helped to push forward their hidden feelings!

In the original book, Yan HeQing, who was an Imperial bodyguard, was amazed after drinking the snow pear lily porridge made by the princess herself, bent her eyes and smiled: "If you like it, then, can I cook the porridge again for you?"

Yan HeQing's heart got warmer. He thought of how Princess Yongning treated him with kindness, and how good her nature was for many days. Suddenly, faint love thoughts flooded!

And the author also emphasizes that when this lily flower bloomed, only two or three could be saved, only enough to cook this porridge once. In the original book, only the male lead Yan HeQing had eaten this snow pear lily porridge.

Xiao YuAn's heart was racing: So why did you cook it! Not only did you cook it, but you also brought it to me! I'll die young! This is the plot of the snow pear lily porridge, but the both of them haven't met yet! Haven't! Met! Yet!

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Xiao YuAn was feeling a little suffocated.

Princess Yongning opened the wooden food box. Holding the wooden clip, she took some sugar and put it into the soft and sweet porridge: "Imperial Brother likes sweets, so I put a little bit more of sugar into it."

It doesn't matter what I like or what I don't like! What's important is whether Yan HeQing likes it!

Princess Yongning picked up the wooden spoon, scooped out a small bowl, and fed it to Xiao YuAn's mouth: "Imperial Brother, please taste it."

Xiao YuAn took the small bowl and took a sip of the porridge, his eyes lit up.

Delicious! This is the porridge that only the male lead is allowed to drink!

Xiao YuAn drank the porridge with extremely complicated feelings. He praised it and said: "My lips and teeth retain the fragrance, the aftertaste is endless, it's delicious."

Princess Yongning received the bowl and was delighted: "It's great that Imperial Brother liked it so much. How about Yongning cooks the porridge again for Imperial Brother, would you like it?"

Xiao YuAn's face collapsed.

Can someone please stop giving me all the main roles for the scenes destined to the female lead and the male lead! I can't stand it!

"But there's still so much left, does Imperial Brother want to drink some more?" Princess Yongning asked, looking at the food box.

"I'll drink it!" Xiao YuAn suddenly shouted. "Leave it here, I'll eat some more in a while."

"

"

"Wonderful." Princess Yongning smiled cheerfully.

Princess Yongning talked with Xiao YuAn for a while, then she left the Imperial bedchamber.

Seeing Princess Yongning leaving, Xiao YuAn moved quickly. Putting away the food container, disregarding his ankle injury, and insisted on going to Jing Yang Palace.

Yan HeQing was surprised by the sudden appearance of Xiao YuAn. He put a food box on the table, lifted the lid, and filled a bowl, fearing that he wouldn't drink it, he insisted: "Drink, drink, drink."

Although Yan HeQing wasn't understanding anything, he still took a sip of the glutinous porridge from Xiao YuAn's hand.

"How is it?" Xiao YuAn asked.

Yan HeQing frowned: "It's too sweet."

Xiao YuAn's hand trembled nearly breaking the porcelain bowl.

It's too sweet?

Sweet?

Shouldn't you use all the best words in the world to praise this bowl of porridge!

How do you have the nerve to dislike it! You don't want your wife!

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Xiao YuAn asked: "Don't you feel anything?"

"Feel what?"

Of course the feeling of palpitations! The feeling of first love! A young girl yearning for love… Pah! A heartfelt feeling!

"You must drink it all." Xiao YuAn pushed the food box to Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing stared at him and slowly swallowed the porridge until he felt full.

Xiao YuAn asked nervously: "How was it?"

Yan HeQing poured a cup of water and put it on his lips: "Slightly greasy."

"…" Xiao YuAn stood up. "I'll come back tomorrow morning. I must present someone special to you, I must!"

Yan HeQing was drinking water trying to clear the greasy feeling in his mouth while listening to Xiao YuAn's nagging about a plot, and the nonsense of a male lead and a female lead. Finally, Xiao YuAn emphasizes it again that he'll come tomorrow morning, and then, he sighed and left.

Yan HeQing was confused wondering why Xiao YuAn was so sad that he didn't finish eating all the porridge.

He put his hand on his chin and looked down. Suddenly, he felt something was abnormal, so he got up and walked to open the window. The wind was cold, there was ice and snow everywhere. Yan HeQing narrowed his eyes slightly. After checking that everything was looking normal, he felt that he was thinking too much and finally closed the window.

At the same time, there was a man hiding behind a big tree inside the courtyard.

The man was thin and agile. Seeing Yan HeQing closing the window, he took a long breath, wiped his cold sweat, and ran towards another part inside the Jing Yang Palace.

That was Qin Yu's wing room.

Qin Yu was anxiously walking back and forth inside the wing room, worried that something had gone wrong and everything was exposed.

Qin Yu was afraid of death. Because he was afraid of death, he didn't dare to disobey the Emperor's order and became part of his harem of male concubines. Because of his fear of death, when the Young Monarch expressed his love to him, he had to suppress his disgust and pretend to be flattering and charming. Just because of his fear of death, in this Palace, his original strong temperament became more and more susceptible and sensitive. There was a time when he didn't have plotting and tricks inside his mind, but he had no other choice than to become a calculating person. After all, inside this Palace filled with evil intentions, there's no room for true temperament.

Suddenly, there was a knock at his door, Qin Yu was so scared that he hurried to open it.

The short man quickly entered the room and closed the door behind him: "Qin-gongzi, his Majesty will go to Yan HeQing tomorrow morning."

Hearing the news, Qin Yu nodded, got up and took a bag of silver from a wooden cabinet inside the wing-room and gave it to the thin man. The man thanked him again and again, and heard Qin Yu say: "Go and ask Xiao Fengyue if he had already considered it or not, got it?"

Chapter 38: Who Knows Where Will I Be, When I Wake Up Tonight?1

In the dead of the night, the lights were cut from the candles, and the rain was desolate.

Xiao Fengyue, who wasn't able to close his eyes for a long time, sat at the table. The candle light stretched his figure making it look extremely long. He carefully stroked the porcelain bottle in his hand, his eyes were full of sorrow.

Xiao Fengyue knew in his whole lifetime, that the world was cold and ruthless.

When Xiao Fengyue was eight years old, his parents died for some unknown reason, and his family fell into despair. He was sold to the Royal Family by his relatives and became a little slave. From then on, he suffered a lot from being owned by others.

When he was sixteen years old, His Royal Highness the Prince brought a Qin player of sixty years of age to the Palace. When the old master was playing the Guqin, Xiao Fengyue was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy it on the side while he was serving Wangye2. His appreciation deeply trapped him into the 1st, 2nd and 5th pentatonic scale3 that sounded everywhere inside the palace, unable to extricate himself.

It was a pity that Wangye was disconcerted and didn't understand the beauty of the melody at all. It was only because the Qin player was old and boring that he didn't have any interest in him. The next day, he was sent away.

On the day when the old Qin player left, it rained heavily. Xiao Fengyue ran out of the palace despite the fact that he could be punished for it. Standing in front of the old Qin player, he begged: "Can I touch your Guqin? Just for a little bit, I've washed my hands."

The old Qin player untied the Guqin on his back and handed it to Xiao Fengyue. Xiao Fengyue held the ancient Guqin as if he was holding a treasure, then, he gently hooked the strings excitedly and even a piece of music lighted out!

It was the piece that the old Qin player interpreted the day before at Wangye's Palace.

The old Qin player was taken aback and quickly taught Xiao Fengyue several melodies on the spot. Xiao Fengyue played one by one without any mistakes. The old Qin player laughed up to the sky, and then spent all his belongings to redeem Xiao Fengyue from the Palace.

From then on, there was one less slave in the world, and one more Guqin player that followed his master to travel around the mountains and rivers.

AD

Five years later, the old Qin player passed away. Xiao Fengyue buried him and traveled alone. His life was hard, but he was also very happy. Due to his extraordinary appearance and because he was very good at playing the Guqin, he soon became a legend among the people.

When the Emperor of the Southern Yan Kingdom heard about him, he asked Xiao Fengyue to join the Imperial Palace to become the Imperial Qin player. In the end, half a year later, the Southern Yan Kingdom was destroyed by the cavalry of the Northern Kingdom.

Xiao Fengyue failed to escape and was captured by the Northern Kingdom. Later, because of his appearance, he was chosen by Hong Xiu and he was sent from the prison cell to Jing Yang Palace.

On the last day of his imprisonment, an Imperial Guard untied the chains on his ankles.

At that time, Xiao Fengyue's ankles were worn by the iron chains, and it was extremely difficult to move.

The Imperial Guard apologized and said: "Let me carry you on my back."

That day, Xiao Fengyue fell on the Guard's steady back, he heard the Guard whispering an apology to him.

Xiao Fengyue asked him why he should apologize to him?

The Imperial Guard replied to him that it was because he was suffering.

Xiao Fengyue suffered a lot in this lifetime, but no one had ever apologized to him.

The next day, the Imperial Guard blushed, took a medicine bottle from his clothes, and carefully handed it to him: "I was sent to give this to you, the healing effect it's very good, take it."

Afterwards, the Imperial Guard said: "The weather in the Northern Kingdom is really cold, will you be able to bear it?"

AD

The Imperial Guard continued: "I've heard that you had traveled to a lot of places. I haven't been out of the palace since I was a child, is the outside world interesting?"

The Imperial Guard talked to him again: "There's no one on night guard duty today. Would you talk with me? Just an hour, no, half an hour will be enough."

The Imperial Guard tried again: "I went to the Imperial Kitchen today and saw the sweet osmanthus cake. I begged for one and brought it to you for you to taste it."

The Imperial Guard spoke again: "My name is Yang LiuAn."

Xiao Fengyue talked to him: "The world is much more exciting than this grand Palace. One day, would you like to go out and travel with me?"

Xiao Fengyue asked him: "I'd like to play the Guqin for you, is that okay?"

Xiao Fengyue asked again: "Did you like it?"

That evening, Yang LiuAn looked at him with affectionate eyes. It sounded to some degree like the bright moving water and the music of an ancient instrument, at the half setting of the sun: "It's beautiful, it was really nice to hear."

Gradually, the two of them fell in love with each other, but because of their own identities, they never did anything beyond the rules.

But in this Palace that was like a cage; this innocent relationship, was just like a capital crime.

Xiao Fengyue squeezed the porcelain bottle tightly, and when he closed his eyes, all he could see was Yang LiuAn's smile. After a long time, he opened his eyes again, and they were determined and sorrowful.

But lacked fear.

Chapter 39: An Special Event for Catching Adultery.

It rained down all night, and into the next morning. The green leaves were dripping, the air was cold, and the sun was shining brightly through the hazy morning mist.

Xiao YuAn finished his breakfast in a spirited manner and said to Hong Xiu: "Today you can call me Cupid-Xiao."

Hong Xiu's face looked dull: "The ball must nervously laugh?1"

Even if you didn't understand the first three words, how can you hear Xiao as a falling tone2 when I said it with a high level tone3?

"Anyway, Hong Xiu, is the Imperial Guard uniform that I asked you about yesterday ready?" Xiao YuAn asked.

Hong Xiu nodded, she was holding a set of clothing in her hands. Xiao YuAn looked at it and found that Hong Xiu even had black boots, belt and sword.

"What does His Majesty want to do?" Hong Xiu asked doubtfully.

Xiao YuAn smirked with pride: "The thirty six strategies4 weren't created out of nothing5, you must watch the fire from the other side of the river6, and lastly! The soul! Will return! To the corpse!7"

Xiao YuAn's selfish calculations were very smart. First, he'll make Yan HeQing pretend to be an Imperial bodyguard. Then, he'll take him to see Princess Yongning for a moment, and lastly, he can just watch the plot develop on its own!

After all, it isn't impossible for the male lead and the female lead to meet each other, stare at the other's eyes and like each other. They're like the positive and negative poles of a magnet, they're similar and compatible with each other!

As a personal maid, the magic of Hong Xiu is that even if she doesn't understand Xiao YuAn's words, she can still guess his intentions: "Your Majesty, are you going to Jing Yang Palace again? This time, you must bring an Imperial Guard with you."

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Ever since the last time when Xiao YuAn didn't take an Imperial Guard with him, disappearing for a whole day and coming back with an injury, Hong Xiu persuades him to take an Imperial Guard with him now every time he goes out.

Xiao YuAn thought for a moment and said: "Maybe this time I'll bring some Imperial Guards and maidservants."

After all, if he want to bring Yan HeQing to Yongning's Palace Hall afterwards, he has to put on airs.

Seeing that Xiao YuAn listened to her advice, Hong Xiu was relieved. She personally selected a few smart maids, and asked Yang LiuAn to choose several Imperial Guards to follow Xiao YuAn.

When they reached the Jing Yang Palace, the great group of people looked inspiring. Xiao YuAn subconsciously was going to knock Yan HeQing's door, but Hong Xiu quickly stopped him: "Your Majesty, why do you need to knock on this male concubine's door?"

Xiao YuAn didn't have the time to speak yet, when Hong Xiu pushed the door open and entered without hesitation.

Wait, this is too abrupt! What if Yan HeQing hadn't gotten up yet! Or in case he has the habit of sleeping naked! Or what about if he's changing clothes! Hong Xiu, hold back a little! Don't make him lose face8!

Seeing that Hong Xiu had entered the wing room, Xiao YuAn must catch up quickly. Unexpectedly, at the moment he stepped in, Hong Xiu suddenly took a step back, almost hitting him.

Huh?

Is he really changing clothes?

Xiao YuAn looked inside, his pupils shrank and he turned around almost running into Yang Liuan who followed him in.

Yang LiuAn was startled and looked right inside the wing room: "Your Majesty, what happened?"

AD

But after looking inside, Yang LiuAn's throat seemed to be suddenly strangled by something. His face became pale as if he was falling into an ice cave.

Yang LiuAn was once stabbed in the abdomen by an assassin with a sharp blade. He still remembers the pain he felt that time: the cold and sharp tip submerged into the flesh letting out the blood, the pain accumulated everywhere, and then, it exploded violently through his four limbs.

But the pain he felt then was ten thousand times less painful than what he was feeling now.

"All of you, go out and wait outside." Xiao YuAn stopped Yang LiuAn, who was about to follow him in. He was so frightened that he raised his eyes in shock.

Yang LiuAn's eyes were red and his lips were white. He was trembling, his voice was hoarse and dry, he wasn't able to utter a whole sentence: "Your Majesty, this, this, must be…a misunderstanding."

Why is your reaction so exaggerated?! Were you shocked by the erotic view inside the wing room?

"LiuAn, wait outside and don't let anyone come in." Xiao YuAn patted him, but Yang LiuAn grabbed his arm. He breathed hurriedly and said: "Your Majesty, I, I…"

You, you, what do you want to say?

After a long time, Yang LiuAn lowered his head as if he had been crushed by something and murmured: "I'll comply with His Majesty's order."

Xiao YuAn closed the door of the wing room and pinched himself fiercely. Making sure that this wasn't a dream, he then turned around.

The wing room wasn't so big. With a table and chairs, bookshelves and wooden cabinets, and a tulle bed that could be seen clearly at one glance.

The messy bedding on the bed covered two naked bodies that could be seen faintly. Their long black silk-like hair intertwined, lying in each other's arms, elegantly drunk, one of them was Yan HeQing.

AD

Xiao YuAn blinked, blinked again, and then blurted out: "What the fffffuck?"

What the fuck?

Yan-ge! Why are you lying next to him! He's! A! Man! Even if you hadn't met the goddess yet, you can't bend so suddenly!

No, no, no, that's not the point.

Xiao YuAn was at a loss on whether he should be more horrified by the sight of Yan HeQing becoming gay or the fact that he'd already slept with someone else before meeting the female lead. After a while, Hong Xiu finally came out of the shock, and a terrible rage possessed her. She stepped forward, and after rounding her arms, she was ready to slap the two men sleeping on the bed

Chapter 40: An Special Event For Important Matters.

"Hey!"

Hong Xiu's slap was about to hit the faces of the two men sleeping on the bed. Xiao YuAn quickly stepped forward to stop her from doing so.

"Your Majesty! Don't get angry! This maidservant will skin these two bitches alive. I'll cut them into pieces and throw them to feed the dogs!" Hong Xiu gritted her teeth and roared in anger.

I'm not angry! You don't need to look for knives everywhere, there are no knives here! And this is the male lead! The protagonist! You can't make a move against him! Although I don't know why the male lead suddenly became gay, this is a stallion protagonist that sleeps with whoever he wants, it's really just a daily thing! A daily thing!

Seeing that Hong Xiu was going to try to slap them again, Xiao YuAn hurriedly said: "Hong Xiu, calm down. Calm down."

Naturally, because of the noise, the two men sleeping on the bed gradually woke up.

Xiao Fengyue was worried that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep last night. At this moment, he slowly opened his eyes, pretended to be horrified and rolled off the bed. Then, he kneeled on the ground: "Y-Your Ma-Majesty?!"

Yan HeQing gasped, he held his forehead and slowly got up. His head seemed to be in great pain, he opened his eyes and stared at everyone standing in front of him. His eyes were surprised and he was dazed for quite a long time. Finally, he laid his eyes on his naked body as if he suddenly understood something. He immediately turned to look at Xiao Fengyue, his eyes were full of calculations, regret and anger.

Hong Xiu seemed to have calmed down, so Xiao YuAn let go of her. Lowering her head and thinking of what to say, Hong Xiu took two deep breaths, suddenly stepped forward, and slapped Xiao Fengyue's face hard: "Slut! How you dare do such a lousy thing!"

Xiao Fengyue was slapped on the first side of his white cheek, five fingerprints appeared on it. He turned his head back, and his voice was weak: "Your Majesty, Yan HeQing and I are in love. We promised each other, I hope His Majesty can understand."

Xiao YuAn: "pff–cough cough cough, ah?"

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What, what did you say?

Man, do you have the guts to challenge the authority of the female lead?

"Shameless!" Hong Xiu was red with anger. She grabbed Xiao Fengyue's hair and slapped him a few more times, then she turned around to tear Yan HeQing apart.

Jie1! Why do you want to hit him again! You can't fight the male lead!

"Hong Xiu!" Xiao YuAn held Hong Xiu back. He turned his head to look at Xiao Fengyue, who was in a mess with his long hair scattered everywhere, and said: "Put on your clothes, and go back first."

"G-go b-back?" Xiao Fengyue raised his head. His eyes were astonished, his cheeks were red and swollen. He looked very pitiful.

Xiao YuAn asked him: "Yes, by the way, what's your name?"

Seeing that Xiao YuAn's expression wasn't angry, and instead he asked for his name, Xiao Fengyue's body trembled all over. For a while, he didn't know how to answer. It took him a long time to speak: "Xiao, Xiao Fengyue."

Hey, why does this name sound so familiar?

It seems that it was from the last time he asked Hong Xiu if there was a Qin player inside the Jing Yang Palace, her answer was this name.

"Go back first." Xiao YuAn tried to comfort him.

Xiao Fengyue put on his clothes while shivering, leaned over and walked out of the wing room. Once he was outside, he raised his head and saw the last man he wanted to see right now. Xiao Fengyue's eyes darkened, his lower lip was bit fiercely to stabilize his mind, making it almost bleed.

AD

Yang LiuAn looked at the person coming out of the wing room and suddenly his eyes opened widely. He quickly stepped forward, but Xiao Fengyue passed by like he didn't see him, leaving in a hurry with his head lowered.

Once he saw that Xiao Fengyue had already left, Xiao YuAn said to Hong Xiu: "Hong Xiu, please go out first, I want to talk with Yan HeQing alone."

"Your Majesty….I understand." Hong Xiu stopped herself from saying something, but still bowed her head and went out of the wing room.

The wing room had finally quieted down. Xiao YuAn turned his head and looked at Yan HeQing. Then he approached him with a smile and sat on the opposite side of the bed: "Don't you have something to say?"

Yan HeQing exhaled slowly: "I was framed."

"Say something I don't know."

Yan HeQing was stunned, he stared at Xiao YuAn and said: "Do you believe me?"

"Of course I believe in you." Xiao YuAn sneered. "I told you yesterday that I'll come to see you in the morning. But you still do this kind of things, you think I'm mentally disabled, or do you think you're more stupid. So, would you like to put on some clothes first?"

His figure is too good, and the visual impact is too big.

Seeing that Yan HeQing was slowly getting dressed, Xiao YuAn couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He looked really thin while wearing clothes, but once he takes off his clothes he's all muscles. He's always looking thin and slender, but it turns out that his figure is well built!

After Yan HeQing finished getting dressed, he frowned and started to explain: "Last night, he came to me with a clear porridge, and he convinced me that the porridge…"

"Wait a minute, he convinced you to drink it?" Xiao YuAn interrupted Yan HeQing's words.

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If a young woman convinced Yan HeQing to eat porridge, Xiao YuAn could still understand it. But how could a man convince him to drink it, why did Yan HeQing lose his way?

"Because he said that this porridge was sent by you." Yan HeQing glanced at Xiao YuAn.

"That's a false Imperial order." Xiao YuAn nodded. "There was drug inside the porridge."

Yan HeQing said: "Yes."

"Did you know him before?"

"I don't know him."

Xiao YuAn touched his chin: "I guess he was caught by someone, and he was ordered to hurt you. Otherwise, he would've had guilt and hate against you, and he wouldn't be willing to die together with you in this way."

The symptoms of the drug caused Yan HeQing to have a headache. He frowned tightly, and pressed his forehead with one hand, slowly inhaling and exhaling: "What are you planning to do next?"

Xiao YuAn hurriedly got up and poured a porcelain cup with water for Yan HeQing: "Ah… well, I didn't think about that. I'd better send him away from the Palace first, to avoid any more troubles."

It's impossible to go to Yongning Hall now that something unexpected happened.

After Xiao YuAn and Hong Xiu finished talking about how to handle the problem, they wanted to go find Xiao Fengyue alone, but Yang LiuAn knelt in front of him and begged him to go with them.

Xiao YuAn wasn't a fool, how could such an obvious clue be ignored. He just remembered that he heard a Guqin sound when he met with Yang LiuAn twice before. Then, he thought about Yang LiuAn's attitude and he suddenly was enlightened.

AD

It's you! Theme song-man! This man is the reason you have a theme song!

When you figure out something, a lot of things will suddenly come to light.

Xiao YuAn suddenly remembered something. In the original novel, after Yan LiuAn protected the Young Monarch from dying; there was a paragraph mentioning that on the day the news of Yang LiuAn's death reached the Palace, a mournful Guqin music could be heard throughout the Palace for a whole night. The music was sad, and heartbreaking. The next morning, a Qin player was found dead after he hung himself inside the Palace.

At that time, Xiao YuAn thought that this paragraph was used to exaggerate the sadness of Yang LiuAn's death, but now, he realized that this wasn't the case at all!

Maybe the original book buried many foreshadowing metaphors, but Xiao YuAn was only interested in the business of the male lead while reading the book; he didn't go too deep into these side characters. He didn't expect that he would actually miss so much plot.

Xiao YuAn asked Yang LiuAn with a tentative tone: "Are you and Xiao Fengyue…"

Yang LiuAn suddenly kowtowed, hitting his forehead hard against the ground several times until his forehead started to bleed: "Your Majesty is very kind to me, but in the end I betrayed you. Indeed, we should die for our sins2, be chopped a thousand times into pieces3. However, I ask His Majesty to let me see his face one last time. After that, I would like to end my own life. If His Majesty is not satisfied with this, then I plead for torture and punishment. "

The favors weigh as much as mountains4, according to the plot of the original book, it's clear that the Young Monarch owes his life to Yang LiuAn.

What will be the last thing to happen, how will it end, it's hard for the little Imperial Bodyguard to talk.

Xiao YuAn didn't know whether to cry or laugh. He stepped forward to help him get up: "Get up, let's go, we'll go to see Xiao Fengyue."

Yang LiuAn's eyes were shining, and he had to kowtow again. Xiao YuAn hurriedly stopped him: "You still want to knock your head? Don't do it, otherwise you can't go."

When they reached the wing room, Xiao YuAn raised his hand and knocked on the door, but nobody answered after a long time.

AD

Oh? Don't try to escape just because you fear being punished.

Xiao YuAn wanted to wait, but after seeing that Yang LiuAn was anxious, he had no other choice than to push open the door.

In the end, the scene they encountered inside the wing room almost made Xiao YuAn's heart jump out of his chest.

Three feet of white silk, dressed in white clothing, Xiao Fengyue was hanging under the beam, and a chair was pitifully tilted sideways.

Chapter 41: The Necessary Abilities of a Tyrannical President.

Yang LiuAn rushed forward as fast as an arrow, hugging Xiao Fengyue, and shouted several times. His eyes were so red that bloody tears could come out.

But Xiao Fengyue had stopped breathing and a pulse couldn't be felt.

Xiao YuAn quickly took Xiao Fengyue from Yang LiuAn's arms, which were about to collapse, and laid him flat on the ground. Without a word, he made a set of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

After three CPR cycles, Xiao Fengyue's throat made a muffled sound, suddenly coughed, and slowly opened his eyes.

Xiao YuAn sat directly with his buttocks on the ground for a long time but didn't feel relaxed.

SON OF A BITCH1!

Fortunately, in order to become a Tyrannical President and to deal with the situation if his beloved were to drown at any time, his father made him learn first aid.

And by fortune, that time he studied really hard. Unlike the Tyrannical President next door who didn't learn anything for a long time. When he was in real trouble, he almost broke the ribs of his true love when doing chest compressions.

When Xiao Fengyue opened his eyes, after trying for a while, he discovered that he was unable to speak because of his neck injury. When he saw Yang LiuAn, a line of tears fell from his eyes while he sobbed.

Yang LiuAn held his hand tightly, his voice choked and trembled: "Why…why would you do something like this…"

Xiao YuAn couldn't look at this anymore. He stepped forward and pushed Yang LiuAn to make him hold Xiao Fengyue into his arms.

AD

Why the hell2 are you still asking! Hold him!

The miserable couple hugged each other and sobbed. Xiao YuAn, who was distressed, wiped the cold sweat that was provoked by the scare he just experienced. After that, he stood up at the side of the table.

Yang LiuAn let go of Xiao Fengyue and knelt down to Xiao YuAn again. Xiao YuAn shouted: "Don't kneel! You have to take him to bed first, and then bring him a cup of hot water." Yang LiuAn stared at Xiao YuAn in an incredulous daze, feeling that he may have heard him wrong.

Xiao YuAn gently touched his forehead and smiled: "What are you waiting for?"

Yang LiuAn, regardless of the consequences, hugged Xiao Fengyue and gently put him onto the bed, gave him a quilt and poured hot water inside a porcelain cup for him.

Xiao YuAn felt the pulse of Xiao Fengyue. Only after making sure that there was no problem, did he take a long relieving breath.

This was also a great blessing.

Seeing that Yang LiuAn was helping Xiao Fengyue drink the hot water, Xiao YuAn said to Xiao Fengyue: "I will ask you some questions, and I know you can't speak right now so just nod your head for yes and shake it for no. The first question, is there someone inside the Jing Yang Palace that is aware of your relationship with Yang LiuAn?"

Xiao Fengyue's eyes were sorrowful, and he nodded his head.

"Then, did this person threaten you with Yang LiuAn, and obligate you to harm Yan HeQing?"

Xiao Fengyue nodded again. Yang LiuAn breathed heavily, he was very upset.

"Did you hear?" Xiao YuAn jokingly pushed Yang LiuAn with his elbow.

AD

"Your Majesty…"

"He was trying to protect you. That's why he participated in this bad plan, he didn't change his love3." Xiao YuAn explained for Xiao Fengyue.

Yang LiuAn knelt down heavily: "Your Majesty, this is all my fault. If you want to punish someone, you can punish me alone!"

Why are you kneeling again? Are you addicted to kneeling!

Xiao Fengyue heard this and shook his head repeatedly, struggling to get out of bed he was trying to kneel besides Yang LiuAn.

"Alright, alright!" Xiao YuAn hurriedly pressed Xiao Fengyue back to bed. "The both of you will be punished, no one can run away from it."

He had expected that this would be the case, so Yang LiuAn stopped apologising, leaned down, and bowed again.

"You, and you." Xiao YuAn's face was solemn. He pointed his finger for a little bit towards Yang LiuAn and then did the same to Xiao Fengyue: "The both of you are fired. Fired!"

Yang LiuAn raised his head in astonishment: "Ah…?"

Xiao YuAn hummed: "Ah, whatever, I'll send both of you out of the palace."

Yang LiuAn, who for a while didn't understand whether they were being punished or rewarded, didn't know how to respond.

"LiuAn, go to the Taiyi Palace first to get some medicine to treat strangulation. Take some more for later, then go and pack up clothes, money and other valuable things; it doesn't matter. Then you'll go to find a carriage, take Xiao Fengyue with you at night, and wait for me at the East gate of the Imperial City." Xiao YuAn explained.

Yang LiuAn reacted all of a sudden and he almost fainted from happiness: "Emperor…Your Majesty? I…but I…"

Xiao YuAn smiled and said: "Alright, alright, go ahead and quickly prepare everything. Time is running out."

After coming out of Xiao Fengyue's wing room, Xiao YuAn ran to Yan HeQing and explained the cause and effects4 of the incident to him.

Yan HeQing was silent for a while, then, he asked: "How are you going to deal with them?"

Xiao YuAn had an overflowing smiling expression. He picked up some grapes from the fruit tray on top of the table and sent them to his mouth: "There's an old saying from my last life: I would rather destroy ten temples then to ruin a marriage5. So today, I still can be called Cupid-Xiao."

The night was quiet, and the lights from the lamps were everywhere. Slowly, a carriage was driving out of the Imperial City. The Imperial Guards guarding the gate immediately stopped it. When the curtain was lifted, they saw that the Emperor was sitting inside. Through the faint curtain, the Imperial Guard could also see that there was a man sitting besides the Emperor holding a Guqin.

Xiao YuAn said: "Don't worry, we'll go out for a stroll and we'll be back in a while."

The Imperial Guards naturally didn't dare to stop him any more. The carriage passed through the heavy and big vermilion wall. The wheels ran over the ground leaving traces in the snow, leaving behind only the sound of the horse's hooves clattering,

When there was no one around, the carriage stopped. The driver took off the bamboo hat, jumped out of the carriage and went to open its door. Xiao YuAn stepped out of the carriage. While pointing out towards a box inside the carriage, he said to Yang LiuAn: "It's full of money. You will take Xiao Fengyue with you and go all the way to the East, there's a place called Taoyuan Village at the junction of the four countries. If you settle your home down there, and sell tea or salt, you will soon become rich enough to support your family."

Yang LiuAn burst into tears and knelt down to salute him: "Your Majesty's great kindness, Yang LiuAn has no way of repaying it. In my next life, I'm willing to repay it with my own life."

Xiao YuAn smiled and murmured softly: "No, you've already paid me with your life in your last life. By the way, LiuAn, I have something to ask from you. On the second day of February from next year, please come back and wait for a message at the post station outside the Imperial Palace. If you don't get any messages by February 15th, then you can go back. Whatever happens in the Northern Kingdom, don't worry about it. Live a good life, don't think about the Northern Kingdom ever again."

Yang LiuAn nodded heavily: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will keep it in mind."

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"Then go."

Yang LiuAn and Xiao Fengyue bowed down to Xiao YuAn deeply, then they disappeared into the boundless night while driving the carriage.

Xiao YuAn returned to the Imperial City with a lantern in his hand. He passed by the gate and the Imperial Guards guarding it were shocked and frightened: "Your Majesty? Why did you come back alone, where's your carriage?"

Xiao YuAn smiled and answered: "I've exchanged it."

"Exchanged?"

"Yes, I've exchanged it for two genuine hearts." With that, Xiao YuAn left humming a tone, completely ignoring the surprise on the Imperial Guards' faces.

On this snowy night, the ground was covered with white frost. The cool moonlight fell on the Palace, making it look completely covered in white, even in the lighting. Xiao YuAn walked a few steps and saw a man standing in front of him. He had been waiting for such a long time that there was a little bit of snow on top of his shoulders.

Xiao YuAn was slightly surprised, he walked over a few steps: "Were you waiting for me?"

Yan HeQing's dark eyes looked at him and nodded slowly.

Xiao YuAn walked side by side with him and asked strangely: "There's Imperial Guards everywhere, why didn't you get caught?"

Yan HeQing replied: "I avoid them."

Xiao YuAn suddenly groaned and turned to look at Yan HeQing: "Oh no, I forgot to ask Xiao Fengyue who's the one that wanted to hurt you."

AD

Yan HeQing said; "It doesn't matter."

"It does matter!" Xiao YuAn was distressed. "This isn't the end, who knows what other things that person will do next. Although I can let Hong Xiu investigate it and she can surely find the behind the scenes within three days; but, what if she does find that person and there's someone else plotting to hurt you too…"

Xiao YuAn mumbled to himself for a while, then he bowed his head and thought hard for quite some time. Then, he suddenly snapped his fingers and said to Yan HeQing: "I have a way that will end it once and for all!"

Chapter 42: The Necessary Conditions for Doting on the Male Lead.

After listening to Xiao YuAn's method, Yan HeQing asked lightly: "Wouldn't such a big move inevitably lead to a turmoil?"

"Yes, definitely." Xiao YuAn's voice was relaxed and he was smiling happily. He stopped to play with the snow accumulated on the railings of the corridor and said: "Since ancient times, the in-laws' relatives have been in charge of politics. And since I don't have any concubines, some people with political power can only rely on the male concubines. How many male relatives of high-ranking officials are part of the harem? So, if I dismiss all the male concubines, I will definitely make some people go into panic."

"So you want to centralize power1? Suppress them?" Yan HeQing looked at Xiao YuAn, who was rolling the snow and making two big snowballs, putting one on top of the other.

"It doesn't count. After all, they're not real concubines. They don't have official ranks2, those people are mainly there to please the Emperor. I'm actually more worried about you."

"Me?"

"Yes." Xiao YuAn looked around for some time. He found two thin branches and inserted them at the sides of the snowball, making it into a little snowman. Then, he looked up and smiled at Yan HeQing: "Right now you're part of the three thousand beauties in the harem, and these three thousand share the same love with you."

"Not to mention that there's someone inside the Jing Yang Palace that is jealous of you and wants to see you die. You're the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, and I'm the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom. Do you know what it's called if the rumor that I love you and favor you alone comes out of the Palace? It's called cluster chaos. This type of thing is too unpleasant to listen to, and I don't want you to bear this kind of judgment. So I will just dismiss the harem and let the world know that I don't like men anymore." Xiao YuAn used his fingers to draw the eyes and the mouth to the little snowman, and then clapped the snow off his hands.

Yan HeQing went silent. His unique face was covered by the thin moonlight and his expression couldn't be seen clearly.

"Let's go, it's too cold outside." Xiao YuAn, who just had a good time playing with the snow a few moments ago, should already know that it was extremely cold. He wrapped his robe tightly and jokingly hit Yan HeQing with his shoulder.

Yan HeQing returned to reality, and nodded gently.

The next day, there was a great disturbance in Jing Yang Palace.

AD

Because earlier during the morning Court, the Emperor said to all the civil and military officials that he would keep Filial Piety3 and abstinence for the late Emperor's death, lasting for three years.

Everyone went dumbfounded.

It has already been almost a year since the late Emperor died. What do you mean by "Filial Piety"?

When the late Emperor died, do you know how many people advised you to keep Filial Piety, and be away from your lovers. What does it mean that you suddenly want to fucking stay away from them?

For a while, the Imperial Court that was fully packed with people going up and down. There were a lot of discussions and talking about everything.

Xiao YuAn didn't care so much about these matters, so he asked Hong Xiu to gather all of the male concubines to the main courtyard of the Jing Yang Palace.

As the president of a company, Xiao YuAn knows how to appease the dismissed employees.

Compensatory payment, find a way out, a happy dismissal for me and for you too.

In other words, the compensation was high enough that they'll find a better way of living. Everything will be fine.

Facing the group of kneeling male concubines, Hong Xiu slowly explained Xiao YuAn's preparations for filial piety: "His Majesty remembers the feelings shared in bed, so he will reward all of you with a hundred liang4 of gold. After you receive the reward, all of you must go back, pack your belongings and leave the Imperial Palace."

One hundred liang of gold! This wasn't a small amount. If it weren't from the house of a high-ranking official or a merchant's home, it would be completely impossible to see so much gold in one's lifetime.

But no one dared to make a move, fearing that this was the Emperor's way of testing their hearts and fidelity. They were terrified of getting up, of their heads falling on the ground.

"

"

Xiao YuAn smiled helplessly and couldn't help thinking; The obscene impression this Young Monarch left on these people is a little deep-rooted: "Add another reward. If any of you used to be an official, you can be restored to your original post."

There was a dead silence in the main courtyard of Jing Yang Palace. There was someone with his head lowered and his hands on the ground were slowly clenched into fists. The gravel on the ground bruised his fingernails and punctured his fingertips, making his palms covered in blood. Then, he stood up.

Xiao YuAn looked at Qin Yu. He was still dressed in red clothes, and his look remained as charming as ever, but his expression was far different from the one he had when he first met him.

Qin Yu bowed his head, and step by step, he left the courtyard in a heavy and slow manner. He never gave Xiao YuAn a look from the beginning to the end.

Xiao YuAn always felt that he should say something to Qin Yu, but he didn't know what to say.

It's like in the original book.

When the Young Monarch saw Qin Yu for the first time, his mouth was wide open, but he was like a prepubescent boy. His face blushed for a long time, and in the end, he couldn't utter a word.

And again, like in the original book.

When the Northern Kingdom was destroyed, the Young Monarch poisoned all of the male concubines. But when Qin Yu was about to drink the poisoned wine, he slapped the porcelain cup out of his , he opened his mouth to say something, but instead, he silently sobbed.

Still, like in the original book.

When the Young Monarch was about to escape to the North, countless people told him that Qin Yu was going to betray him. But he just snorted codly and didn't respond.

And more like in the original book.

"

"

Even after the Young Monarch was betrayed by Qin Yu and was captured by Yan HeQing in front of the Imperial Palace's gate, he still struggled and shouted: "You tell Qin Yu! That I…I…"

What was behind those words, he didn't say them until he died.

After Qin Yu left peacefully, many people started to stand up and walk away in a hurry. At the end, there were five people left behind kneeling on the ground, four of them were shivering with fear. But there was a particular young man sitting with his back straight, his eyes lowered and his hands clenched into a fist. His kneeling posture was so unique that Xiao YuAn couldn't help but stare at him more.

"Were you sent here by Wuning Wangye?" Xiao YuAn asked the four terrified men.

The four men looked at each other and nodded.

"You can go back. Wuning Wangye won't do anything to you." Xiao YuAn kindly persuaded them.

The four men were still hesitant, but Hong Xiu grew impatient, so she maliciously said: "Why are you waiting to get lost? Do you want to lose your heads?"

Only then did the four men finally get up and hurriedly left the courtyard in panic. The only one left behind was the young man, calmly kneeling without uttering a single word. Hong Xiu was about to threaten him with vicious words when she was stopped by Xiao YuAn.

"Your Majesty." The young man slowly said: "I don't want the one hundred liang of gold."

"Then what do you want?" Xiao YuAn became more interested in him.

The young man raised his head, his eyes were like burning torches5: "I want to be a soldier."

Become a soldier? Did he hear right?!

AD

Young man, you're no longer a clear stream, you're now a mountain waterfall.

Xiao YuAn asked: "What's your name?"

The young man replied: "Xie Chungui."

Xiao YuAn breathed in abruptly, and he didn't slow down. Choking with his own saliva, he hammered his chest heavily, and then said: "Xie… Xie what?"

"Xie Chungui."

Xie?! Chun?! Gui?!

Why would such a strong, hot bloodied man be selected to be a soft and charming man to warm the Imperial bed? Xie Chungui was a legend in the original book.

In the original book, after General Sun got angry with the Emperor and returned home, there were only two Generals left in the Northern Kingdom.

However, when the enemy is putting you under pressure: From the two Generals, one was defeated by Yan HeQing, became a traitor, and joined him. The other General packed up his belongings and ran away when the enemy approached.

Under the circumstances of Yin and Yang, the task of leading the army to defeat the enemy was handed over to Xie Chungui.

Unfortunately, Xie Chungui was too young to be trusted by the soldiers. In the end, the good Northern army rebelled and escaped.

As a result, Xie Chungui relied on his own strength and led the disabled and injured soldiers to defeat the enemy. They blocked Yan HeQing at the border of the Northern Kingdom for about half a month.

AD

It can be said that he was a strong opponent in the career of Yan HeQing as a male lead.

For the Northern Kingdom, Xie Chungui was like electricity! He was like the light! He's the legendary myth among the group of blind and barbaric villains!

At this time, Xiao YuAn couldn't help but scream inside his heart: Why are you in Jing Yang Palace! Why aren't you in the military camp! You can't die an early life! Will you be able to fight for the Northern Kingdom by then! Will you be directly rubbed to the ground by Yan HeQing!

Chapter 43: The Necessary Conditions For An Imperial Bodyguard.

Xiao YuAn then asked Hong Xiu about him, and found out that ever since Xie Chungui was in Jing Yang Palace, he had to rely on himself.

The Xie family was a military family. Generation after generation, they served the Northern Kingdom, and every single one of them were loyal and good. Xie Chungui's father and brother died fighting in the battlefield, and when it was his turn, the Young Monarch ascended to the throne. The Xie family wanted Xie Chungui to go to the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor before joining the army.

In the end, the Young Monarch was stupid. He thought that Xie Chungui was a servant from the Xie family and arranged him to be sent to the Jing Yang Palace.

In the original book, when the old General Sun returned to his hometown, he was still very worried about the country and the people. He wanted to promote several juniors, and so, he thought of Xie Chungui from the Xie family.

Then, General Sun ran to the Xie family only to find out, oh, he's at Jing Yang Palace! The old General spit out blood and almost had a heart attack. In the end, he wrote a letter remonstrating to the Emperor, took him out of the Palace, and sent him to the barracks. That's what happened later.

But now, General Sun didn't return to his hometown, and he's still leading his own troops. Unfortunately, he didn't thought about this issue. In the end, Xie Chungui had been forgotten in Jing Yang Palace.

Now it was Xiao YuAn's turn to spit out blood and have a heart attack.

When Xie Chungui raised his head to look again at Xiao YuAn, he saw that his expression was gloomy. Although he thought that Xiao YuAn wouldn't allow it, he was young and stubborn; "If His Majesty doesn't allow it, then I don't want this one hundred taels of gold. When war breaks out, there will be a need to recruit soldiers, and so, I will join the army then!"

Who will not allow it! Even if you refuse to go, he will still throw you into the barracks because of your military capabilities!

While he was thinking of making him leave, Xiao YuAn asked with a smile: "What if it remains peaceful, and there's no need for wars?"

Xie Chungui thought for a while and said: "Then we will march towards the South, recapture the Southern Yan Kingdom and then we will go to the Eastern Wu. Now, with a million soldiers in the North, surely we can expand our territory and stand superior from the rest of the world!"

Xiao YuAn found himself speechless. After a while he said: "In a few days, I'll take you to see General Sun, so you must prepare at once."

Xie Chungui's eyes were shining and he knelt down on the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao YuAn came out of the courtyard and went straight to Yan HeQing's wing room.

Yan HeQing was packing up his things; because Xiao YuAn had announced he'll take filial piety, Jing Yang Palace may have to become a Daoist Temple or perhaps a Shrine.

Actually, Yan HeQing didn't have much luggage: just a few thin clothes, a long sword and a jade hairpin. It could be said that more than packing up, he was just killing time, looking to do something out of boredom.

When Xiao YuAn came, Yan HeQing was sitting at the table wiping the blade of the sword. Xiao YuAn walked in without asking for permission: "Ah, young boy, he's so hot blooded. Really, he has such a backbone to lead a million armored people. Like moths, they will follow his bright righteous ardour to train. His bones and meat will feed the belly of the corrupt officials."

Yan HeQing has long been accustomed to Xiao YuAn's self-talk in the early morning, and Xiao YuAn also knows that he can speak without fear in front of Yan HeQing.

Xiao YuAn sat down at the table slightly decadent. He rested his head on his arms and while resting on his stomach, he looked up at Yan HeQing: "After the demobilization is over, you may be arranged to go back to the House of Internal Affairs."

Yan HeQing nodded and put the sword back to its sheath.

Xiao YuAn asked him with a smile: "Eunuch Zhao of the House of Internal Affairs wants to harm you, aren't you afraid?"

Yan HeQing replied indiffentenly: "Is it useful to be afraid of him?"

"I mean it. What if one day I don't look out for you or don't pay attention to you anymore, what would you do if he breaks your hands and feet?" Xiao YuAn raised his head pretending to be intimidating.

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"Why do you care so much for me?" Yan HeQing suddenly asked him instead.

Because I want to give you a favorable impression! To avoid being killed by you in the future!

Xiao YuAn didn't answer him. Instead, he held his head thinking that if it wasn't for him, Yan HeQing and Princess Yonging would've fallen in love with each other by now, which caused that Yan HeQing had never seen his first wife yet. Xiao YuAn must take responsibility for this.

Even more in these recent couple of days, Yan HeQing was no longer just a few lines of a text inside Xiao YuAn's heart. Instead, he saw him as a man with flesh and blood, someone that could feel joy and sorrow. Little by little, he wrote himself, minimally but also with heavy pressure inside Xiao YuAn's heart, finding a place and occupying a seat.

Xiao YuAn raised his head and said with a smiling face: "Yan HeQing, why don't you become my Imperial Bodyguard? I'll be able to protect you, and I'll never let anyone hurt you."

Yan HeQing looked at him. The smooth and soft skin of his face was extremely beautiful, but what he actually saw in him wasn't his appearance. He saw his pure eyes of black jade, they were always crystal clear, smiling, warm and soft.

Yan HeQing then remembered that right before the complete destruction of the Southern Yan Kingdom, when the Imperial Palace's building was about to collapse. At that moment, his mother held his hand with a tight grip. Her nails embedded into his flesh and blood started to flow, as if weeping, her voice was so full of hate that she could almost spit out blood: "After this, all the roads must be walked on by yourself. No one can protect you, but you have to keep on living. You must live!" After saying this, Yan HeQing's mother jumped into the deep well of the Palace without hesitation.

To keep on living was so tiring and so hard. Even his mother couldn't bear it, but he had to keep himself alive, it was truly strange.

But also because of that sentence, when the prisoners from the Southern Yan Kingdom came to the Northern Kingdom, and they had to walk with heavy shackles, even when the soldiers threw dirt at him and laughed loudly after saying something disrespectful, even though the prisons in the Northern Kingdom were like hell full of spirits, even if he was kicked to the ground and his head was pressed in the dirty water, and the iron whip fell mercilessly on his naked body, he never actually thought of committing suicide.

It's hard to live on with these three simple words.

"Yan HeQing! Yan HeQing!"

When Yan HeQing returned to reality, he saw that Xiao YuAn was shouting at him while grabbing on his wrist.

"

"

"What are you doing? Isn't that painful!" Xiao YuAn was anxious and helpless. He gently opened the fingers of Yan HeQing, only then did Yan HeQing realize that he had clenched his hand into a tight fist and that his palm was scratched and bleeding.

Xiao YuAn found a clean silk cloth to bandage Yan HeQing's hand and to stop the bleeding. Xiao YuAn knew that it was probably because of his words that Yan HeQing thought of his mother. But before he killed himself, he was used to taking care of others, so he blurted out those words without thinking too much. In the end, those words triggered Yan HeQing's traumatic past.

Yan HeQing looked at the blood-stained silk cloth around his hand, held it tight and then opened it: "I…"

Xiao YuAn said without hesitation: "You are what you are. Pack up your things and move to the second room in the Imperial Palace."

The second room was on the west side of Xiao Yuan's Imperial bedchamber. It was also the residence of the Imperial Bodyguards.

Yan HeQing held the silk cloth with both hands, and then he looked at Xiao YuAn, his cold eyes blended into those warm eyes. He imperceptibly raised the corners of his mouth, and the tone of his voice increased: "Okay."

Chapter 44: The Necessary Conditions For Being the Right-Hand Of The Male Lead.

In February, the snow was covering the old General Sun's official residence.

The old General Sun, who rarely took a rest, was coughing and saying that he was failing as a hero.

Madam Sun patted him on the back scolding him: "Your old arms and legs still run everyday to the barracks for training. Can't you take a good rest for a few days!"

General Sun had been on the battlefield for many years, galloping around the world, making everyone around him fear him, but he…

He was afraid of his wife.

"Keep it down in case someone hears you." General Sun blushed, and his voice was similar to the one of a mosquito.

Madam Sun slapped him on the back and said: "To hell with keeping it down. Did you drink the medicine or not!"

"Yes, yes." General Sun muttered.

"Humph." Madam Sun put one hand on her hips. Her hair was completely silver, but her appearance still gave the impression of a coquettish young girl.

Suddenly, a young manservant came from outside making an announcement: "Daren1, General Li came asking for advice."

General Sun quickly cleared his throat and regained his authority: "Let him wait for me at the reception hall, I'll go now."

AD

The young man replied affirmatively and quickly retreated.

Madam Sun helped General Sun get dressed, and walking side by side, they approached the reception hall.

In the reception hall stood a young man with upright features. He was eight feet tall, and he had an aura of flourishing might. When he saw the old General Sun, he knelt down first, and then stood up to help his elder.

"Wuding-xianzhi2, why did you come so suddenly? Is something wrong with the barracks?" General Sun was nervous.

Li Wuding shook his head: "I heard that the General was unwell, so I searched for some tonics3…"

"With such a leisure mind, it's better to train your troops!" The old General Sun scolded him.

Li Wuding knelt down with his fist clenched: "The General's lesson is right."

"Oh, you, the young man was being kind." Madam Sun was angry at him, and then, she smiled at Li Wuding: "Wuding has good intentions."

On the surface, General Sun blew his beard and glared with anger, but behind his back, he secretly pulled Madam Sun's sleeve.

Madam Sun clearly understood his intentions, so she quickly said: "Wuding, get up, there's no need to kneel down."

Suddenly, a young manservant came to report: "His Majesty is coming!"

The three people in the reception hall were shocked. Li Wuding wanted to avoid arousing suspicions: "General Sun, I'll take my leave."

AD

The old General Sun waved his hand, and Li Wuding left the reception hall. He wanted to go through the side door, but he didn't expect to collide with the Emperor, so he had to kneel down and pay his respect: "Weichen Li Wuding pays his respects to His Majesty."

Xiao YuAn just told Xie Chunguin to wait for him outside, and out of nowhere, someone bowed and kneeled in front of him. For a long time he couldn't react, and after coming out of his initial shock, he repeated the man's name twice, and then, sighed inside his heart.

Li Wuding?!

This, this, this, Isn't this the second male?!

In the original book, after General Sun got so angry at the Emperor that he returned to his hometown, there were two candidates for the General's position.

One of them was a close friend of General Sun, Li Wuding. Li Wuding is a brave and resourceful man.

And the other one was just another good for nothing4 that won a military post due to his relationship with Wunning Wangye. Attempting nothing and accomplishing nothing5, relying on his force to bully others6.

In any case, the general's position should've been given to Li Wuding, the old General Sun's close friend. However, the Young Monarch, who was daily courting disaster, gave that position to that Fan Tong instead. From then on, the Northern Kingdom's army had become sloppy; the soldiers didn't have any motivation, and even the scandals that they were oppressing the common people were being reported almost every day.

When Yan HeQing led his army to fight over the territory, Li Wuding was sent to the front line to defend against the enemy by General Fan Tong. And his strategy was to not give the army any food! On a snowy and freezing day, the soldiers on the front line were not given any rations, they were simply forced to die!

Li Wuding left the following sentence behind him: It's not worth to sacrifice our lives for a country where treacherous officials are in power. Then, he led his troops to Yan HeQing's side.

Yes, he's a traitor!

Later, when Yan HeQing ruled the whole world, Li Wuding made great contributions to his cause.

However, this is a stallion novel!

And he's the right-hand of the stallion protagonist!

Generally speaking, the last part of this book goes something like this: While Yan HeQing was flirting with a young woman, Li Wuding was studying the art of war. While Yan HeQing was unlocking a new posture in bed, he's studying the art of war. When Yan HeQing is looking for a new girl, he's studying the art of war. Yan HeQing has received a new member to his harem, and Li Wuding is still studying the art of war.

Then, when Yan HeQing said: "Let's fight the Eastern Wu."

He just said, let's go.

After the territory of the Eastern Wu was captured, Yan HeQing continued to flirt with the young girls of the Eastern Wu, and Li Wuding, the right-hand, continued to study the art of war in the Eastern Wu.

While Yan HeQing was surrounded by so many beautiful women that it resembled clouds. What surrounded the right-hand of the protagonist…Was a pile of military books.

They're fighting for the same cause, however, how come the difference between them is so big?

It's… Too… Awful.

Although, as the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, Xiao YuAn resented Li Wuding; as a reader, how could he…

Do anything but laugh?

"Get up." Xiao YuAn coughed softly to cover up his smile. "What are you doing in the General's official residence?"

"

"

"Answering to His Majesty." Li Wuding got up. "I came to pay a visit to General Sun."

Xiao YuAn nodded and went towards the reception hall of the General's official residence. Madam Sun had already left, and the old General Sun was kneeling on the ground.

Xiao YuAn quickly picked him up and helped him to sit down on the chair, then, he explained the intentions of his visit.

"The youngest son of the Xie Family, Xie Chungui?" General Sun was surprised.

"Yes, it's him."

Since he was appointed by the Emperor, General Sun naturally didn't dare to neglect, so he quickly got up and went to meet him. Unexpectedly, the young manservant outside the door suddenly ran in with a roar: "Daren, it's bad, Daren. General Li and his Majesty's companion are f-f-fi-fight-…"

Xiao YuAn: "The… the river flows eastward7….?"

The young manservant finally managed to say it in one breath: "They're fighting!"

Chapter 45: The Necessary Condition Of An Invisible Attraction.

General Sun was really stunned at first, then his face became gloomy and he rushed out in a hurry.

Fighting?! The Emperor is still here! These young brats, do they want to die!

Xiao YuAn followed closely, hurrying to keep up with him.

Fighting?! Is it really so interesting? Then let's go and watch the fun!

The two of them rushed to the courtyard and found that Xie Chungui's arms were tightly held by Li Wuding, he couldn't move at all. Li Wuding helplessly said: "All right? The victory has been decided."

Xie Chungui gritted his teeth fiercely. While struggling to break free, he managed to turn around and punched up. But Li Wuding evaded it easily, he held the fist, twisted it, and then pressed Xie Chungui to the ground.

General Sun's face went blue: "Li Wuding! What are you doing! What is this scandal? What is this scandal ah!"

Li Wuding panicked and quickly released Xie Chungui, then he knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, General Sun, I….."

Without leaving him to finish his words, Xie Chungui knelt beside him: "Your Majesty, General Sun, I was the one that insisted General Li on fighting."

This was, in fact, the truth. Originally, Li Wuning planned to go straight home, but he was suddenly interrupted by someone.

"Are you General Li?" Xie Chungui looked at him with surprise and fear in his eyes.

AD

"You are…" Li Wuding was suspicious.

After Xie Chungui introduced himself, Li Wuding suddenly realized something: "Xie Chungui, I know you."

"Y-you know me?" Xie Chingui was extremely happy.

"I met you when you were 10 years old. Damn, I actually went to your house just to drink wedding wine." Li Wuding chuckled, his face was majestic, and although he was laughing, it wasn't with a bad intention.

Xie Chungui gathered courage, took Li Wuding's arm, and excitedly said: "Li, General Li, I've admired you for such a long time! I want to be your deputy!"

Li Wuding was stunned at first, he rubbed his head and smiled embarrassedly. Actually, he looked quite silly: "Alright, alright, but my deputies can beat me. You have to work hard."

Li Wuding spitted nonsense and the young man was completely excited at once. After patting his shoulder for encouragement, he was ready to leave once again.

Who would have thought that Xie Chungui wouldn't let him go just like that. Instead, he started to fight with him without uttering a word!

After listening to the explanation, Xiao YuAn asked Xie Chungui with wide eyes: "Do you admire him?"

Xie Chungui nodded firmly.

Xiao YuAn was so startled that he almost bit his tongue off.

How can Xie Chungui admire Li Wuding!

AD

In the original book, the intersection between them was during the half-month of Xie Chungui's guarding the Northern Kingdom border. Li Wuding, the traitor, sent someone to persuade him to surrender like he did.

Xie Chungui looked up at the sky with a smile, then he laid down and gave up with a sigh: "Go back and tell Li Wuding, that man, that as long as I'm alive, I will never let the enemy's cavalry step foot into the Northern Kingdom's territory. The hypocrites that dare to disturb the morale of the troops are disgusting, go!"

Now looking at this, if Xie Chungui admired Li Wuding ever since he was a child, this is actually…a little bit sad?

Seeing that Xiao YuAn wasn't upset, General Sun angrily scolded Li Wuding with a few words, and then let him take his leave. Li Wuding saluted with a fist1, got up and walked for a few steps, but then, he suddenly returned: "Your Majesty, General Sun, the youngest son of Xie's family has an extraordinary military force, and I happen to lack a deputy, so I beg His Majesty to allow him to become my deputy!" He expressed his thoughts.

What happened?

The plot of these two is going in the opposite direction. If you contain them in the same place, what will happen next is truly a mystery!

What a decadent moral!

It's indeed a paradoxical situation!

Really …

It's so amusing!

Xiao YuAn nodded: "Yes!"

Xiao YuAn returned to the Palace from the General's official residence, but instead of directly going to the Imperial bedchamber, he went towards the secondary room.

AD

Usually, most of the Imperial Guards don't often live in the Palace, so that's why they take turns. But the Imperial Bodyguards are different, they have to be around the Emperor all the time.

The secondary room is not as fancy as the Jing Yang Palace's wing rooms. This one is simple and clean, but it's comfortable to live in.

Xiao YuAn knocked on the door, but no one answered after a long time.

Xiao YuAn snorted in surprise and decided to go back to the Imperial bedchamber. But after walking a few meters away from the secondary room, he stopped.

At the entrance of the Imperial bedchamber, there were several Imperial bodyguards, and Xiao YuAn stared at one of them.

As if feeling that he was looking at him, Yan HeQing turned his head and stared back.

He was wearing a soldier uniform with red lapels, a three-finger wide belt that had a pattern of burning clouds, and black boots. His black silk-like hair was tied in a high ponytail, giving him an imposing aura that was out of the ordinary. And between his eyebrows, is the boundless wind and the moon.

Xiao YuAn suddenly began to worry about the little girls in the Palace. Although they haven't reached the second half of the story, Yan HeQin's face value is completely against the rules! Xiao YuAn smiled at Yan HeQing in a friendly way, and Yan HeQing suddenly looked away.

Ah? What's wrong with him?

Xiao YuAn, who didn't know what just happened, walked over to the door of the Imperial bedchamber. When the Imperial bodyguards saw that the Emperor came back, they knelt down in unison. Xiao YuAn said with a smile that the comrades had been working hard, and then glanced at Yan HeQing two more times. As a result, he was able to notice that the sleeve of his right hand was slightly turned up, forming an unsightly fold.

Xiao YuAn passed by the several Imperial bodyguards that were kneeling and bowing their heads. When he walked to Yan HeQing's side, he made sure that no one was paying attention to him. Then, he reached out quietly and fixed his sleeve for him. After that he put his hand behind his back and continued walking towards his bedchamber.

If Xiao YuAn turned around at this instant, he would've been able to see that Yan HeQing pursed his mouth and bent the corner of his mouth shallowly.

AD

Ever since she didn't need to take charge of the Jing Yang Palace, Hong Xiu was able to take care of everything in serving Xiao YuAn. But in recent days, her work was full of mistakes, she looked very absent-minded.

Early this morning, when Xiao YuAn touched the cold water inside the basin, he asked Hong Xiu: "What's wrong Hong Xiu, are you sick?"

Hong Xiu's face turned pale, she then knelt on the ground: "This maidservant was careless, I beg His Majesty to punish me."

Xiao YuAn quickly helped her up: "Get up quickly. If you're sick, then hurry up and go to the Taiyi hall to get checked. "

Hong Xiu shook her head: "Answering to His Majesty, Hong Xiu is not ill."

"So why have you been so anxious and preoccupied recently?"

Hong Xiu bit her lower lip, hesitated for a long time, and suddenly looked up: "Your Majesty, Hong Xiu has something to ask for."

Xiao YuAn said softly and gently: "Don't worry."

"Your Majesty, a few days ago this maidservant received a message from outside the Palace that my sister is seriously ill. This maid… this maidservant wanted to go out of the Palace to see her." Hong Xiu lowered her head.

She held her head with both hands, anxiously waiting for the answer.

There was an unwritten rule in this deep Palace: the maids that enter the Palace can never leave it. After all, their duty is to always serve the Princess and the Emperor. If they leave the Palace there's three things to be afraid of. The first one is that the secrets of the Palace will be leaked outside, the second one is that they will be bought by someone with bad intentions, and the third one is that they're not able to stand the loneliness of the deep Palace, so they will run away.

Hong Xiu didn't hold any hope at all. Xiao YuAn suddenly slapped the table and scared her all over: "Don't be angry Your Majesty, this maid…"

"Why didn't you say that your sister was ill earlier? You should go back and see her as soon as possible. Yes, wait a moment, I'll give you a hand. Go to the Taiyi Hall and take an Imperial Physician with you to see your sister." Xiao YuAn said while looking for paper and ink.

Hong Xiu heard Xiao YuAn's words with a stunned face, and then her eyes became red and choked with sobs: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

When she was at the age of 18, as the oldest daughter, she didn't hesitate to enter the Palace for the sake of her siblings. Five years had passed since then, and she knew that she would be buried in this cold deep Palace her whole life.

But now it seems that she doesn't regret it.

On the afternoon of the same day, Hong Xiu left the Palace with the Emperor's written instructions with her. That night though, Xiao YuAn wasn't surprised to find himself with….

Insomnia.

Chapter 46: Xiao YuAn May Have Lost His Opportunity To Sleep.

Normally, Hong Xiu stood by the bed waiting for him to fall asleep before leaving, but now, there's no breathing sound beside him, so Xiao YuAn-Can't-Sleep.

After counting sheep, reciting mathematical formulas, studying english speeches, and others, he still can't rouse any sleepiness. Xiao YuAn rolled over and climbed up, no longer supporting his body.

He pondered for a few seconds, and then, went out of the window.

The window guard was a young man that had just been appointed as an Imperial bodyguard. When he saw that the Emperor wasn't sleeping in the middle of the night, he suddenly turned away from the window scared to death. Xiao YuAn was wearing a white undergarment and his long hair was scattered, he grinned at the young Imperial bodyguard showing his white teeth: "My friend?" The young Imperial bodyguard rolled his eyes and saw his dead grandfather calling him by his nickname across a river full of flowers at the other side.

Xiao YuAn woke up the young Imperial bodyguard, and he panicked: "Your Majesty what, what are you doing…"

"I can't fall asleep. I'll go out to write poems and watch the moon." Xiao YuAn waved his hand, don't panic over such a small scene. "My friend, can you recite poems? Come, let's face the moon and sing a song."

The young Imperial bodyguard was so frightened that he gave up thinking, he raised his eyebrows and hummed for a long time, then he said: "The moon is round, like a big jade plate."

Xiao YuAn soothed his palm: "Wonderful! It's neat, simple and easy to understand, hits straight to the heart. And now, add two more sentences."

The young Imperial bodyguard boasted and flustered: "If you look closely, it will look more like a scallion cake."

Xiao YuAn asked: "Are you hungry?"

The young Imperial bodyguard nodded while rubbing his belly, then he suddenly realized what he was doing, felt panicked, knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Weichen is talking nonsense and is lazy, I ask His Majesty to punish me!"

AD

Xiao YuAn didn't know whether to cry or laugh: "Get up, and go get something to eat."

"Where are you going, Your Majesty?" The young Imperial bodyguard raised his head and saw Xiao YuAn walking away in a leisurely way.

"I'll go find someone to talk about life."

Xiao YuAn walked towards the entrance of the main hall, standing far away. Because he didn't see Yan HeQing, he walked quietly towards the secondary room.

There wasn't any patrol around the secondary room where the Imperial bodyguards lived. Xiao YuAn swaggered to the door of Yan HeQing's room, raised his hand to knock but then stopped.

It was so late that Yan HeQing must have fallen asleep.

Xiao YuAn withdrew his hand and turned to leave. He was only wearing a thin coat, so when the cold wind blew at night, he shivered and sneezed.

It was so cold that he quickly went back.

Xiao YuAn rubbed his arms and the door behind him suddenly opened. Xiao YuAn turned around and grinned at the man that opened the door: "Why haven't you gone to sleep yet?"

"I patrolled the first half of the night and just came back." Yan HeQing took off his outer robe and wrapped it around Xiao YuAn tightly: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"It's no big deal." Xiao YuAn followed Yan HeQing into his room. The light inside was dim, except for the bright moonlight outside, there was only one candle light flickering on the table. "It's just that I can't sleep."

"Can't sleep?" Yan HeQing closed the door behind him.

AD

"Yes, I have an illness."

"I really do have an illness." Xiao YuAn repeated with a smile. "I can't fall asleep without the sound of breathing around me. I need someone to accompany me."

Yan HeQing stood silent, his eyes were hidden in the dark, after a while he finally asked: "How did you manage to fall asleep before?"

He doesn't know why, but Xiao YuAn felt that Yan HeQing's tone of voice wasn't good: "Hong Xiu will stay at the bedside waiting for me to fall asleep. This night I couldn't sleep because Hong Xiu left the Palace."

Yan HeQing calmed his mind and said: "When will she come back to the Palace?"

"Tomorrow."

"Then you can rest with me tonight."

"Huh? Is that really okay?" Xiao YuAn was pretending to be reserved, but in fact, he had already taken off his coat and laid down on the bed.

After all, suffering from insomnia is really difficult to bear.

Yan HeQing picked up the candle and without saying a word, he began to set the table and wooden bench.

"What are you doing?" Xiao YuAn, wrapped in the quilt, asked incredulously.

"I'm going to sleep here." Yan HeQing squeezed his clothes tight and started to lie on top of the table.

AD

Xiao YuAn lifted the quilt: "Come here, sleep on the couch, I'll sleep there."

"It doesn't matter."

"It does matter. Yan HeQing, in this world you're the only one that knows that I'm not the Emperor, so you can treat me as an ordinary person and you can do these kind of trivial matters with me. Either I sleep on the table or we sleep together, you choose."

Yan HeQing raised his head and stared at Xiao YuAn for a while, then Yan HeQing slowly walked towards the bed and looked down: "Are you sure?"

"Come in." Xiao YuAn shrinks into the bed to make room for Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing took off his coat and laid down on the couch. How big could a chamberlain's bed be? The two big men squeezed themselves to sleep, naturally, they could only lay sideways.

Xiao YuAn clung tightly to the wall, listened to the breathing sound beside him and closed his eyes ready to sleep, but suddenly he heard Yan HeQing's voice: "Why do you have that illness?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"You know everything about me, but I don't know anything about you."

Xiao YuAn didn't expect that Yan HeQing would care about this. After feeling uncomfortable and changing his position, he thought about how to approach the subject, and finally said: "I'm an illegitimate son. My mother, after being abandoned by my father, took my brother and me with her, after that we had a very difficult life. When I was a child, I was in poor health. I often woke up with nightmares, and then I will cry out of breath, so my mother will always accompany me to sleep. She used to say to me 'don't be afraid, if you listen to my breathing, you will know that I'm by your side.' But later…"

Xiao YuAn suddenly paused, and then continued: "Later, when I was six years old, I woke up in the middle of the night and went to listen to her breathing like I habitually did, but I ended up finding that I couldn't hear anything. That night, she overdosed on sleeping pills, she killed herself."

"Do you want to know what's the funniest part?" Xiao YuAn turned over and looked at Yan HeQing. In the dark, his eyes showed anger but he wasn't angry, they were hateful but without hatred; it was more like a big senseless self-deprecation smashing into his own heart. "The day after my mother died my so-called father came to see her. He was kicked out of his house because his wife discovered the things he'd done and the fact that he had cheated on her. Also, just because his wife was unable to give birth to a son, he recalled that my mother, my brother and I existed."

AD

"But because my brother was born with a leg disability, he didn't want to take care of him, so my brother and I were separated by our father. Afterwards, I took revenge on my father on behalf of my mother and went looking to find my brother. But when I found him, I discovered that he had mental problems. He believed that I had left him on my own initiative and he wanted me to die all the time…" Xiao YuAn's eyes darkened and he continued softly. "I've spent the rest of my life taking care of him, but in the end, he never stopped hating me at all…"

Yan HeQing remained silent for a long time, then, he stretched his hand to Xiao YuAn and caressed his back.

The sudden comfort made Xiao YuAn stunned, he twisted his body a little embarrassedly: "Don't worry, it was a long time ago. Afterwards I didn't let my father, who was not better than an animal, have an easy time."

"Well, you can sleep now." Yan HeQing said.

"Sweet dreams."

Like venting his nameless sorrow, Xiao YuAn just closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.

In the early morning of the next day, the sunlight was weak and the air was cold. Yan HeQing opened his eyes and found that Xiao YuAn was already awake. He was half-supporting his body on the bed, his black silk-like hair was falling down like a cascade from his shoulders to his waist, and a warm smile adorned his eyes and mouth.

Yan HeQing was about to speak but he was suddenly silenced by Xiao YuAn. He covered Yan HeQing's lips with one hand and extended a finger against his own lips with the other one, then he softly said: "Hush, listen."

Yan HeQing held his breath and listened attentively, he heard several birds singing. The sound of singing was melodious and clear, breaking through the clouds. Yan HeQing saw that Xiao YuAn was looking at him with a smile, his pure black pupils were fascinating, like they were capturing his soul, then, he said: "The warbler is singing and the swallow is dancing1. Spring is coming."

Chapter 47: She May Be The Pseudo-Second Female Lead.

Spring is coming, everything is reviving, and it's time for animals to meet again…mating season!

The early spring of the Northern Kingdom was covered with thin frost everywhere, and instead of warmth, it brought coldness to the bones.

As the snow melted, the Northern Kingdom had two major events.

The first one, the birthday of the young Emperor is approaching, which is a great event of universal celebration. Although Xiao YuAn prepared everything to be simple in order to keep filial piety, some feasts for singing and dancing are still under intense preparation.

The second one, Xiao YuAn knowing the plot, had been uneasy about ever since the end of winter. This event was that the Western Shu Kingdom will send envoys to make friends with each other! In the original book, the young Monarch was seeking trouble as usual. He was disdainful of making friends with foreign nations, so he rejected the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom.

This annoyed the Western Shu Kingdom. In the end, when Yan HeQing attacked the Northern Kingdom, he joined forces with the Western Shu Kingdom.

In the original book, this plot passed very quickly; mainly to help the Western Shu Kingdom and Yan HeQing to become allies and join forces.

Naturally, Xiao YuAn wouldn't look for troubles. At the beginning of spring, during the Spring Festival, the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom were respectfully greeted into the Imperial City.

According to the protocol, the Northern Kingdom will place the nine guests to sit at the top of the main hall, and then a banquet will be arranged at the Palace Hall to entertain the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom. All of these ceremonies were extremely respectful, so it could be seen that Xiao YuAn attached great value to them.

In the main Hall, in order to show respect, Xiao YuAn was dressed in a complicated formal attire and arrived in advance. When he sat down, he almost stumbled over his broad sleeve, but Yan HeQing, who was standing right beside him, had quick eyes and hands, so he reached out to help him.

"These formal clothes are too troublesome. If it weren't for Hong Xiu, I wouldn't be able to dress myself for three whole days." Xiao YuAn, in a low voice, whispered to Yan HeQing.

AD

Yan HeQing nodded his head, without saying anything.

Xiao YuAn was sitting properly, he was looking nervous and expecting.

In the original book, the Western Shu Kingdom has an extremely particular existence.

Because it has a particularly powerful backer: Honorable Female Members!

Throughout the Western Shu Kingdom, there were many female Generals and Emperors. Such a sense of setting was naturally enjoyed by the male lead Yan HeQing.

One-third of Yan HeQing's harem were the women from the Western Shu Kingdom. The Princess, the Prime Minister and the Number one Scholar1 were all in his hands. Xiao YuAn estimated that the emissary sent by the Western Shu Kingdom should have one of Yan HeQing's wives, but he didn't know which wife would it be.

However, it doesn't matter which little wife is coming, she won't be able to enter Yan HeQing's eyes for the time being.

After all, the protagonist halo of Princess Yongning is still here in the Palace!

Xiao YuAn tuned his head and smiled at Yan HeQing.

If the protagonist dares to be unfaithful to the female lead, he will be still cut into pieces by the readers!

Yan HeQing was bewildered by his smile, and he was wondering if his clothes were perhaps too tight, which caused Xiao YuAn's head to lack oxygen.

According to the reports from outside, the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom had arrived, and Xiao YuAn was full of energy, sitting in an upright posture.

A group of people came from the outside of the Hall with gifts packed in boxes. Sure enough, most of the women had graceful slender bodies and their facial features were beautiful.

The envoy was led by a woman dressed in red.

She was dressed in a royal dress with a corset and no wrists, there wasn't any complicated decoration on her body. The underclothes were embroidered with white clouds and fire patterns, she looked proud and unrestrained, her hair was tied in a high ponytail. Her phoenix eyes were slightly raised, and between the waves of her eyes, was indescribable heroism.

Standing at the center of the hall, she bowed down in front of Xiao YuAn with her fist resting in her hand2; she was acting appropriately to the occasion, natural and relaxed. She said: "Xiao PingYang from the Western Shu Kingdom pays a visit to the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom on behalf of the Western Shu Kingdom, hoping that the two countries can make good friends with each other for generations."

Xiao YuAn stood up abruptly, his eyes were wide open, and all the people present in the Hall were immediately scared.

"Your Majesty?" Hong Xiu, who was waiting at his side, shouted softly.

"Cough…" He forced down the stormy waves inside his heart, Xiao YuAn sat down and said: "I'm alright, I'm just really happy."

To hell with happiness aahhh!

What the fuck3 aahhh!

Before all this, for the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom, Xiao YuAn had thought about countless possibilities.

But! He! Really! Didn't! Expected! Her! To! Come!

Xiao PingYang ahhh!

AD

Xiao PingYang was the second female lead in the original book, "The History of the Four Kingdoms."

Since Princess Yongning was the first woman that Yan HeQing fell in love with, she was worshipped as the first female lead by readers.

However, it wasn't Xiao PingYang's fault that she was the second woman that Yan HeQing took a fancy at.

The reason why she's in this novel with all kinds of girls flying over the world, and that no one dares to shake her position as the second female lead is because…

She's the last wife of Yan HeQing. She becomes Yan HeQing's Empress after he finally unified the countries into one nation.

Chapter 48: This Might Be The Pseudo-Harem.

The magic of Xiao PingYang doesn't lie in the fact that she made the stallion protagonist stop accepting more members into the Harem. After all, even if he doesn't add more girls into his Harem anymore, the girls that Yan HeQing once brought were enough for him to die1.

The most amazing thing about Xiao PingYang, was that her and Yan HeQing's bedtime scenes were never written in the original book!

They don't exist!

Not a single sentence, nor a single word, nor a punctuation mark, nothing!

In the second half of the novel, almost every member of the harem and Yan HeQing rolled the sheets for three whole chapters. But only Xiao PingYang didn't!

This was also the most incomprehensible thing for the readers.

In Yan HeQings's harem, apart from Xiao PingYang, only Princess Yongning had such treatment. But Princess Yongning didn't had the opportunity to be intimate with Yan HeQing because she was killed by the author. So, why did Xiao PingYang, the Empress, never been described in a bed scene?

Moreover, Xiao PingYang's role in the original book was also quite extraordinary.

Although she's the Princess of the Western Shu Kingdom, she has another identity: General of the Western Shu Kingdom. Yes, she's a young but powerful female General!

When Yan HeQing attacked the Northern Kingdom, it was Xiao PingYang who was sent by the Western Shu Kingdom to support him.

That was the first time that Xiao PingYang and Yan HeQing met in the original book. Like a clear stream or water, Xiao PingYang naturally won't be like the other girls where in the first chapter they met and in the second chapter she's pushed down.

"

"

In short, after helping Yan HeQing defeat the Northern Kingdom, Xiao PingYang returned back home.

Just when the readers thought that this heroic girl wouldn't become a part of the Harem, the author raised their giant palm and slapped everyone in the face.

In the original book, when Yan HeQing successfully recovered the Southern Yan Kingdom, captured the Northern Kingdom and the Eastern Wu Kingdom one after another, everyone thought that Yan HeQing would continue to attack the Western Shu Kingdom, but contrary to that, Yan HeQing didn't make a move.

Just when everyone thought that the pattern was one big country after a smaller one, Xiao PingYang ascended the throne and became the Emperor of the Western Shu Kingdom. Then, Yan HeQing sent troops to fight over it!

And when everyone thought that when they encountered each other at the battlefield they would fight for their lives, unexpectedly, Yan HeQing asked Xiao PingYang to marry him. On the battlefield!

Everyone was so confused!

What the hell is happening?

It was even more confusing, because Xiao PingYang knew that she couldn't beat Yan HeQing, and she didn't want the people of the Western Shu Kingdom to be trampled by war. In the end, she agreed to Yan HeQing's proposal and married into the Northern Kingdom becoming the Empress. Naturally, after that, the Western Shu Kingdom belonged to Yan HeQing.

Surprisingly, Yan HeQing successfully unified the four countries into one Kingdom!

Just because he married a wife!

Married a wife!

Others would fight for their father and mother, but Yan HeQing fought for his wife! This progress made people speechless!

As a reader, Xiao PingYang was probably Xiao YuAn's favorite wife from Yan HeQing's harem.

There's no need to explain that it isn't just because Xiao PingYang and he share the same Xiao2 surname, but because Xiao PingYang's temperament is so heroic that there's not need to explain further.

In the original book, the author never described her smile. She was always cold, acting cold, and being icy cold. People gave her the nickname: "The Iron Masked Lady3". And Xiao YuAn gave her the nickname: "Xiao popsicle".

Also, because there was a lot of readers that live for the bed scenes, at that point, they analyzed the second half of the book and came to the conclusion that Xiao PinYang may not like Yan HeQing at all.

But it was precisely because of her strong nature that she was able to control Yan HeQing's harem. Besides, his harem is so huge, how can there not be a single evil woman. If it weren't for Xiao PingYang, those who were gentle and weak in nature, would've been killed long ago.

Xiao PingYang's identity is so special, and now she's suddenly standing at the main Hall of the Palace. Xiao YuAn felt that his heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys were trembling.

Why did she appear so early!

Does she really want to take the male lead away from Princess Yongning?!

To be honest, the only one in Yan HeQing's harem that is comparable to Princess Yongning is Xiao PingYang!

After the ceremony, all the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom took their seats, and Xiao YuAn didn't took his eyes away from Xiao PingYang.

Standing behind Xiao YuAn, Yan HeQing could clearly see all of Xiao YuAn's actions, and his eyes were very gloomy as he followed Xiao YuAn's gaze directed at Xiao PingYang. He held his sword at his waist and clenched it silently.

Xiao YuAn eyes were faintly burning. When he turned his head around quietly, he saw that Yan HeQing was intensively looking at Xiao PingYang, and without saying a word, his heart thumped.

AD

Damn it!

So this is the situation. He couldn't see his first wife yet, so he wants to take advantage of the second wife first!

How will the plot develop from now on!

Chapter 49: They May Have Been Pseudo-Seduced.

At the end of the banquet, they had a very good talk. Xiao YuAn felt like his mind could rest at ease if Hong Xiu was the one to take Xiao PingYang and the rest of the envoys to visit the Imperial City of the Northern Kingdom.

There was still snow covering the Northern Kingdom. While in the Western Shu Kingdom, it wasn't possible to withstand such a beautiful scenery wrapped in white at all. The group of girls were freezing and their cheeks were flushed red because of the cold, but that didn't matter to them, they were still very excited.

Xiao PingYang reached out and grabbed the snow on top of the branches. The snow gradually became transparent and melted in her hands, before finally only the cold water remained; these wonderful changes were unexpected and interesting to her. The architectural style of the Northern Kingdom was slightly different from that of the Western Shu Kingdom. The Palaces of the Northern Kingdom were even more magnificent, with nine dragons and golden crows carved everywhere.

These were also snowflakes flying around, which made Xiao PingYang fascinated. She looked up and her eyes fell on a building.

Xiao PingYang pointed to that place and asked: "What's that?"

Hong Xiu looked down at her eyes and explained: "Ah, that's the Yuhua Tower. In a few days it will be the Emperor's birthday, and he will feast with one hundred officials there."

Xiao PingYang was quite interested: "Since that's the place where the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom will celebrate his birthday, is there anything special about it?"

Hong Xiu said: "There's a lotus pond in the middle of the building."

"Lotus pond? Wouldn't that be just a scene of dead branches and fallen leaves on an icy and snowy day?"

Hong Xiu covered her lips and smiled lightly: "It's not a real flower, but a Lotus carved out of Gold, it's extremely delicate and lifelike. In the middle of the lotus pond, there's a White Jade Platform. In this country, only Princess Yongning is allowed to dance on the White Jade Platform."

Xiao PingYang nodded and asked: "Can I go and have a look?"

AD

Hong Xiu hesitated a little, but still led Xiao PingYang and her companions towards the building.

Although it was only a few days before the birthday, Yuhua Tower had already been decorated with lanterns and it looked extremely festive. Many servants were cleaning outside the Pavilion, but the place was in complete silence.

A richly ornamented building, the pavilion was layered with precious burning incense, and the wooden beams and cornices were each more delicate and exquisite than the other.

The Golden Lotus and White Jade Platform was located on the fifth floor.

Hong Xiu then realized that the Pavilion was actually too quiet. It was something strange for sure, but it was already too late. The envoy just stepped inside the fifth floor, when a woman dressed in green clothes with a very large figure shouted: "Hey!"

The envoys were suddenly scared out of their wits, and when they turned around they saw that woman twisting her body and her face was blushing: "What are you doing? Has no one told you that Princess Yongning is practising her dance here? Disgraceful, leave quickly?"

Hong Xiu quickly bowed down and apologized, leading the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom to leave the Pavilion in a hurry.

But Xiao PingYang didn't seem to hear her at all. She looked at Cui'er and then fixed her eyes on the inside of the fifth floor.

On the Jade Platform, singing and dancing rising at the top of the platform, a woman wearing a plain white cloud skirt waved her sleeves. Xiao PingYang looked at her and saw that she was smiling and dancing gracefully, dancing with a simple hand is the world's best move.

Upon hearing the noise, Princess Yongning jumped off the White Jade Platform strangely, and walked a few steps with light steps like a swallow.

"Princess Yongning, this maidservant didn't know that you were practicing your dancing here. I ask the Princess to forgive me." Hong Xiu knelt on the ground.

"It doesn't matter, you can get up." Princess Yongning waved her sleeves and her eyes fell on Xiao PingYang. She asked strangely: "Who are these sisters?"

AD

"Answering to the Princess, they're the envoys from the Western Shu Kingdom." Hong Xiu said.

"Xiao PingYang from the Western Shu Kingdom salutes Princess Yongning, the Princess of the Millennium." Xiao PingYang was, according to the etiquette, very attentive and courteous.

"Western Shu Kingdom?" Princess Yongning murmured, then she smiled cheerfully: "Are you also a Princess?"

Xiao PingYang said: "Yes."

"Are you visiting the Imperial City?"

"Yes."

Princess Yongning suddenly grasped Xiao PingYang's hands and held them up in front of her chest. She wasn't hiding her joy: "Let me show you around!"

Xiao PingYang was stunned and asked softly: "Don't you have to keep practicing the dance?"

"Ah, it's alright. It's a dance prepared specially for my Imperial Brother's birthday, I'm already familiar with it." Princess Yongning picked up her skirt and said: "I'll go change my clothes, wait for me here." After saying that, she trotted into the fifth floor.

The envoys from the Western Shu Kingdom looked at each other and someone whispered: "She's a very warm Princess…"

Cui'er sighed: "You girls might not know, but there's few women of the same age as the Princess in our Palace, so she actually lacks playmates. Naturally, she's very delighted to see you."

Xiao PingYang nodded, and deep in her eyes, there was a hint of tenderness.

"

"

Inside the Palace, the tributes of the Western Shu Kingdom were neatly arranged in two rows. Xiao YuAn's face showed a baby-like intrigued expression, he was looking at each box in that way with Yan HeQing standing behind him.

"Should this be the one?" Xiao YuAn looked around the box filled with silks and satins and rare antiques.

Yan HeQing followed behind Xiao YuAn and was a little confused, just when he was about to ask him what he was looking for, Xiao YuAn stopped abruptly and rejoiced: "This is it!" In front of him was an Ice Basin1 completely sealed in wax, with cold handles.

Xiao YuAn pushed the lid but realized that it won't budge an inch, so he asked Yan HeQing: "Can you open it for me?"

Yan HeQing pulled out his sword and cut the wax seal, embedded the sword into the gap of the ice basin, and pushed it away with force. Inside the Ice Basin were sealed three layers of porcelain boxes, the bigger one was covering the smaller one and the gap between the third layer and the second layer was full of melted ice water, only the first layer had some floating ice.

Xiao YuAn opened the innermost layer and his eyes were filled with a warm smile: "Ah, sure enough."

Yan HeQing looked closely at the box and saw that there were many red fruits inside it, the skin was raised, it was quite strange: "What's this?"

Xiao YuAn picked up one, and after peeling it, that fruit showed it's white flesh. Xiao YuAn was about to put it in his mouth when Yan HeQing grasped his wrist and blocked this action.

"What?" Xiao YuAn was confused.

"It could be poisonous." Yan HeQing frowned.

"Pff—–" Xiao YuAn sneered and handed the fruit to Yan HeQing: "Then will you test the poison for me?"

Yan HeQing was slightly shocked, and the fruit was then stuffed into his mouth, it's taste was very sweet and cold.

AD

"Delicious?" Xiao YuAn asked, "Hey! don't' forget to spit out the pit! The black one in the middle, spit it out!"

Yan HeQing spit out the black pit and held his breath, after a while he said: "It shouldn't be poisonous."

Xiao YuAn laughed out loud: "I already know that it isn't poisonous, otherwise, how could I let you taste it? This is called Lychee fruit2 and it's a speciality of the Western Shu Kingdom."

It's also one of the foods that Yan HeQing likes the most in the original book. In the original book, every time the lychee fruit matures, Yan HeQing will go to the Western Shu Kingdom and eat lychee while holding a member of his harem, living the happy life.

Xiao YuAn wondered if such a famous special product, the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom would regard it as a tribute, fortunately he was right.

"By the way, do you know this ancient poem?" Xiao YuAn picked up a lychee and held it in his palm to rub and play with it. He looked at Yan HeQing, his smile was full of emotions: "One horseman in red dust approaches the gates making a concubine smile happily, no one else knows that it's because the lychees have arrived3."

Yan HeQing stared at Xiao YuAn for a long while, and he suddenly pulled the corner of his mouth showing a very stiff smile.

Xiao YuAn was dumbfounded and the lychee on his hand almost rolled to the ground. When he finally reacted, he stretched out his hand and pointed tremblingly at the ice basin: "They're all yours!"

He was astonished!

In order to be able to eat lychees, the stallion protagonist wouldn't hesitate to show his true colors!

The men and women shed silent tears! The readers are crying! The big and small wives are crying themselves blind! Don't cry, it's not this world's protagonist fault!

Yan HeQing, actually, didn't feel happy at all. He recovered his cold expression and with a light tone, he said: "It's too much."

AD

"It's alright, the weather in the Northland can keep them consumable. That is, just don't eat too much a day or your stomach will get upset." Xiao YuAn was slightly scared while pushing the Ice Basin to Yan HeQing'a side.

Yan HeQing sighed: "Thank you."

Xiao YuAn patted Yan HeQing: "You're welcome." The male lead laughed, all of this just for a few lychees.

After the lychee situation was settled, Xiao YuAn looked at the other gifts curiously. This time, the Western Shu Kingdom came with sincerity, so the tribute was dazzling. Xiao YuAn's eyes glanced over a box of jewelry and silk, he abruptly stopped, reached out and picked up a cinnabar red hairpin engraved with flowers. After looking at it for a while, he held it in his palm and put it away: "The rest will be sent to Yongning Palace."

Chapter 50: This May Be The Pseudo-Plot Of A Birthday Celebration.

When the tribute ceremony was sent to Yongning Palace, Xiao PingYang was resting there. After all, Princess Yongning dragged her around the whole Imperial City until finally she said that she wanted to take her to her Palace, of course, Xiao PingYang didn't refuse.

"The Emperor seems to love you very much?" Xiao PingYang looked at the tribute and then asked her.

"Yes!" Princess Yongning nodded exaggeratedly: "My Imperial Brother is very kind to me. How about you, do you have an Imperial Brother1?"

Xiao PingYang said: "I have many Royal Brothers, but there's only one that I get along with."

"Come this way." Princess Yongning took Xiao PingYang to sit at the table, Xiao PingYang saw a gold needle and silver thread on top of the table. There was also a sachet halfway embroidered, but this sachet was crooked and looked unsightly.

Princess Yongning's face was blushing red, she entered into panic and then she was in a hurry to hide it.

"Wait a minute." Xiao PingYang reached out and took the needle and thread. "Can I embroider it?"

"You, you know how to do needlework?" Princess Yongning asked incredulously.

Seeing Xiao PingYang nodding her head, Princess Yongning said: "Yes, you can embroider it."

Xiao PingYang twisted the needle and thread, turned her fingers, and after a while, the oddly shaped sachet was completely transformed, becoming delicate and refined. Princess Yongning exclaimed: "Oh heavens, it's amazing, but Hong Xiu told me that you were a General?"

Xiao PingYang squeezed the thread and said softly: "I can do needlework and also lead soldiers to fight."

AD

"Wow, are all the women in the Western Shu Kingdom like this?"

"No, but we can do whatever we want." Xiao PingYang paused, suddenly raising her head at Princess Yongning, her voice fluttered softly: "I can also love anyone I want."

"Awesome." Princess Yongning put her hands on her face and smiled innocently: "I really want to visit the Western Shu Kingdom."

Xiao PingYang lowered her head, hooked her lips and smiled: "There will be opportunities."

"By then, you must show me around the Imperial City."

"Yes, a promise is a promise."

In the spring night, the cuckoo cries loudly at the moon.

Hong Xiu worked the whole day, and she didn't have the time to take a break. Even then, she hurried to the Imperial bedchamber to wait for the Emperor to sleep at night.

Xiao YuAn was dressed in white and he was reading the memorials with the light of candles. When he saw Hong Xiu, he waved at her: "Hong Xiu."

"Your Majesty". Hong Xiu stepped forward and saluted him.

"Come, take it. This is for you." Xiao YuAn took out a small makeup box and handed it to Hong Xiu.

Hong Xiu took it doubtfully, and when she opened it, she was even more surprised. Inside the box was a cinnabar red flower hairpin. It was made with exquisite workmanship, gorgeous and elegant.

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"I think it suits you very well, so please accept it." Xiao YuAn smiled tenderly and softly as the calm waters.

As the President of a Company!

As the President of a Company with proper life values, he should respect the elderly, cherish the young, and spread positive factors!

Xiao YuAn used to say: For the subordinates, it's important that we show them that we're on their side by telling them the truth, that'll arouse their sympathy!

Hong Xiu looked at the flower hairpin in a determined way, and suddenly knelt down with a choked voice: "Thank you, Your Majesty! For such a valuable reward, this maidservant will work extremely hard for I don't have a way to reciprocate it in this lifetime."

Xiao YuAn was astonished, what she said was out of the question, so he hurriedly helped Hong Xiu to stand up.

This flower hairpin can't be returned? How harsh the Young Monarch used to be! There's no wonder that the Northern Kingdom destroyed itself, after all, how can the supreme leader lack affinity! There's no cohesion!?

"It's just a flower hairpin. It's not very expensive, besides, you already help me a lot everyday." Xiao YuAn helplessly glanced at the tearful eyes of Hong Xiu.

"This, this maidservant will wait for His Majesty, for His Majesty to wash himself." Hong Xiu was still sobbing.

"Okay." Xiao YuAn smiled, "Wait a minute, by the way, when is the birthday feast taking place?"

"In five days from now, Your Majesty."

Ever since ancient times, for the Emperor's birthday was nothing more than two sentences: Everyone will celebrate this day, forget about the rest of the world.

AD

To put it bluntly, it's just like a holiday, blind and lively. The Imperial City is colorfully decorated with lanterns everywhere, the civilians and the military officials worship with rites and drink a ten thousand worth Birthday Wine. In the evening, they feast at the Yuhua Tower. The whole country is celebrating, and after that, take three days off.

In Yuhua Tower, where Xiao YuAn was holding the feast, he was drinking wine a little bit absent-minded.

It wasn't because Xiao YuAn didn't like festivities, but because he was looking at the Golden Lotus on top of the White Jade Platform in front of him and suddenly remembered a plot from the original book.

In order to celebrate the Emperor's birthday, Princess Yongning will sing and dance on the White Jade Platform every year. This particular year, she jumped and sprained her ankle, resulting in her falling into the water.

Yan HeQing, as the male lead, naturally reacted faster than ordinary people would, and jumped down towards the pool to save her without hesitation.

But now, the plot became a total mess. The male lead and the female lead hadn't even met yet, and Xiao YuAn can't guess what will happen next.

At this time, on the fifth floor of the Yuhua Tower, all the people sitting here are relatives of the Emperor; but in order to show respect, Xiao YuAn also invited the envoys of the Western Shu Kingdom. Xiao PingYang was sitting on the west side calmly drinking a cup of wine.

Xiao YuAn suddenly realized something. He turned his head and looked right behind him. As a close bodyguard, Yan HeQing was standing a few steps away from him, half hidden in the shadows silently watching the drinks and gamble lying together in the large group2 in front of him. When he saw that Xiao YuAn turned his head, Yan HeQing gave him a questioning look.

Xiao YuAn shook his head, turned around and grabbed his porcelain cup. For a while, he was unable to suppress his inner excitement.

The male lead, the female lead and the second female are all in the same room!

He can't wait for the male lead and the female lead to finally meet each other!

Will this plot turn into an epic love drama, a Shura scene3!

AD

Suddenly, he heard the sound of the stroke of four drums4 but he didn't know where it was coming from. It was sweet and clear, and the people that until that very moment were talking loudly, abruptly calmed down. Everyone looked at the Golden Lotus and White Jade Platform right at the center.

Four graceful dancers waved their wide sleeves around the Jade lake, their sleeves then fell to the ground and Princess Yongning appeared on top of the Jade Platform.

She was smiling extremely cheerfully, with rosy lips and ivory white teeth, she was looking just like the wind and the snow flying around the world.

With the sound of the strings, Princess Yongning danced gracefully, her appearance was as beautiful as fairies. From the beginning to the end, there weren't any flirtleritious intentions in her moves. It only made people feel that her dance wasn't indecent, instead it was truly stunning.

Xiao YuAn quietly looked back at Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing was tightly holding the handle of his sword. Although his eyes were looking at the White Jade Platform, he actually seemed careless and absent-minded, like he was thinking about something.

Wow, he really is the male lead!

Tch-tch-tch5, look at this calm attitude, look at this seemingly innocent expression, in fact, he had long been amazed and became speechless! This must be love at first sight! As expected, the female lead's aura is greater than the sky!

Xiao YuAn then glanced at Xiao PingYang.

Xiao PingYang's lips were slightly open, and she was looking at Princess Yongning's dancing on the White Jade Platform intensively. She was refusing to blink, like she was fearing to miss even a second of the spectacle.

Heavens!

The second female, she…

AD

She.

Is she shocked by the female lead's aura?!

Xiao YuAn was still thinking about it when Princess Yongning, accompanied by the sound of the Guqin, fixed her body, and ended the dance.

The whole audience inside the hall were completely shocked, and they instantly started to cheer loudly.

Xiao YuAn calmed down and was slightly surprised to find that Princess Yonging didn't fall into the water.

It seems that this plot was skipped?

He reached out his hands and applauded, then he saw that Princess Yongning while holding her skirt jumped down from the White Jade Platform and ran towards him.

Huh?

"Imperial Brother." Princess Yongning holds Xiao YuAn with both her hands, she smiled vigorously and exerted a little force, "Come with me! Yongning has a surprise for you."

"A-ah? What?" Xiao YuAn's face was confused. When he came to reality, he realized that he was already on top of the White Jade Platform.

"Imperial Brother! Look!" Princess Yongning pulled Xiao YuAn around for two times, and a strange fragrance left her waving sleeves.

Xiao YuAn was really confused, and then, out of nowhere, someone exclaimed: "Butterfly? Is that a Butterfly?"

AD

At the corner of the Yuhua Tower, an envoy of the Western Shu Kingdom opened a box, and a group of colorful butterflies spread their wings flying out! They were attracted by the exotic fragrance, flying right towards the Jade Platform, dancing around Princess Yongning and Xiao YuAn; they were even falling on the Princess' sleeves, shoulders and fingers. It could be said that the butterflies were all fragrant and had thick wings, they could be difficult to find among flowers.

"Imperial Brother, did you like it?" Princess Yongning asked with excitement.

"I like it." More than that, Xiao YuAn was shocked.

There's no such paragraph in the original book! What's more, the spring was still cold in the Northern Kingdom, and the snow haven't even disappeared yet. Where are these butterflies coming from!

"These butterflies?"

"They're part of the tribute from the Western Shu Kingdom! Xiao PingYang gave me this idea! For these butterflies, I've changed the dancing posture!"

Change the dancing posture?

Was this the reason that Princess Yongning didn't fall into the water pond?

Xiao YuAn nodded his head clearly, and then, he was pulled again by Princess Yongning for a few more times.

The butterflies gathered more and more, in the end, his eyes gradually became a bit dazed. Xiao YuAn stared right at Princess Yonging's feet, fearing that she would fall into the water, after all, it's better to avoid suffering the cold weather.

Princess Yongning had enough with playing around and cheerfully said: "Imperial Brother, let's go back to the feast."

"Yes." Xiao YuAn nodded with a gentle smile in his lips, but then, he turned around and stepped on the air, falling backwards.