Chapter 45: For You, I Forsake the Throne

Yan Wangchen closed his eyes.

In his mind, Ji Xiao had already torn Wei Yan limb from limb.

Did Wei Yan not understand the impact his words would have in such a setting—before thousands of soldiers and citizens, before the court officials?

Even if Ji Xiao refuted the claims now.

The seed of doubt was already planted in people’s minds.

Even if they knew it wasn’t true, it would inevitably invite gossip and speculation.

Ji Xiao refused to let Yan Wangchen become the target of their obscene fantasies.

His gaze darkened. “Bring him back. Let him speak.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Bring him back!”

At Ji Xiao’s command, the guards who had been dragging Wei Yan away brought him back.

Wei Yan was not fearless.

In fact, his eyes were red with terror.

But recalling how Ji Xiao had forcefully restrained Yan Wangchen in the military camp, dragging him away, Wei Yan steeled himself:

“Your Majesty, you cannot indulge your every whim with General Yan just because he is loyal and you are the sovereign!”

Ji Xiao regarded him calmly. “How have I indulged my whims with the general?”

Wei Yan fought back his fear. “When I was rescued by you, in the carriage, I was already awake. I heard…”

Yan Wangchen’s voice was icy. “What did you hear?”

Wei Yan faltered at his voice.

The “whispers” of those around him reached his ears, and his face paled.

He should not have spoken in such a place.

Doing so would only let the whole world know the general had been dishonored!

But if not here, when would he ever have another chance?

He only wanted—while the general had rendered great service and everyone respected him—to expose Ji Xiao’s plot, to let all know what a tyrant their emperor was!

“I…”

Ji Xiao swept his gaze across the assembly. “Ministers.”

All looked up at him.

“Since ancient times, the sons of the Yan family have never bent their knees.”

His voice was not loud, but it carried to everyone.

“The Qin Kingdom has seen unrighteous emperors before. In the past, Emperor Mingchang sought to forcibly marry a daughter of the Yan family, disregarding her existing engagement, and tried to seize her for his harem. What came of it?”

Ji Xiao did not give them time to answer. He continued:

“The Yan family did not yield. Emperor Mingchang’s second son could not bear his father’s folly, forcibly ascended the throne, and the matter was dropped.”

This was no secret among the people.

And that second son, later Emperor Ren’an, had no thought of hiding family shame; the tale was passed down as a warning.

“The Yan family is loyal, but not blindly so. Look at General Yan—does he seem like a man who would submit to humiliation out of loyalty?”

The crowd instinctively turned to Yan Wangchen.

He stood expressionless, his murderous aura as if it could never be washed away.

Wei Yan stared dumbfounded as Ji Xiao spun his tale. “You lie! I clearly heard you doing that deed! In the camp, you admitted you forced the general!”

Ji Xiao shot him a cold glance.

Wei Yan’s heart chilled. He knew he would not escape unscathed.

He couldn’t help looking at Yan Wangchen. “General, don’t be afraid. If you are unwilling, even if he is the emperor, he cannot force you…”

Yan Wangchen’s voice was hoarse. “You misunderstand. He did not force me.”

Ji Xiao had once called him foolish and dense; indeed it was true.

“General…”

“Perhaps you heard something, but you are mistaken.” Ji Xiao glanced at Wei Yan, then walked to Yan Wangchen and took his hand. “The general and I are not coerced. We are in love.”

A thunderous gasp erupted.

The crowd buzzed with disbelief.

Their emperor… truly had feelings for the general?

“Eunuch Hou.”

“This s*ave is here.”

“Draft an edict.”

“As you command.”

“My fourth brother, Zhao Lingqian, accomplished in both civil and martial arts, has overseen the state for over a year with excellent governance, showing the conduct of a wise ruler. I hereby abdicate to my fourth brother, effective immediately.”

Another bombshell.

Ji Xiao tightened his grip on Yan Wangchen’s hand. “I am willing to lay down the throne for you, General. Are you willing to lay down your military power, remove your armor, return to the fields, and be ordinary with me, far away from here?”

Yan Wangchen looked at him, the turbulent emotions suddenly calming. “Does Your Majesty mean this?”

He could have silenced Wei Yan, prevented him from speaking further.

He could have denied the rumors, kept their relationship secret.

He could have chosen many paths to erase Wei Yan’s accusations and remain emperor, the supreme sovereign.

But he chose to abdicate.

“Of course I mean it.”

Yan Wangchen gripped his hand in return, so hard it hurt.

Wei Yan, not far from them, was dazed.

What had he heard?

One willing to give up the throne, the other willing to give up military power.

They were in love, not coerced.

Then what had he done?

But in the camp, Ji Xiao had said…

Ah, now he realized—those words weren’t really an admission…

Wei Yan understood, tears streaming down like rain.

Ji Xiao only smiled gently, turning to the stunned Zhao Lingqian. “Fourth brother, I entrust the people of this realm to you.”

Yan Wangchen’s heart steadied. He relaxed his grip, wincing at the red marks on Ji Xiao’s hand.

He bowed deeply toward General Yan’s father. “Your son is unfilial.”

Yan’s father stood tall, looking ahead, silent.

Yan’s three older brothers also remained taut-faced and mute.

Ji Xiao released Yan Wangchen’s hand, walked to his horse, mounted, and reached out to Yan Wangchen. “Achen.”

Yan Wangchen took his hand, following his pull to sit behind him.

“Hyah!”

The two rode away on one horse, heading opposite the city gate.

No one dared stop them.

Yan Wangchen guided the horse into a mountain forest. At an isolated spot, he dismounted, pinned Ji Xiao against a tree trunk, his eyes red-rimmed.

“A Xiao, I thought…”

Ji Xiao looked up. “Thought I would abandon you?”

“I asked you twice, and you gave no response. You even instructed me to govern the realm. I…”

“I had already decided that once I stopped being emperor, I would no longer listen to those old ministers pressuring me to take a queen and consorts. Naturally, there would be no harem.”

“I didn’t know…”

“I thought, as a son of the Yan family, you love war and battle. I feared you wouldn’t give up power to leave with me, so I let you have your fill. When the time came…”

Yan Wangchen could no longer hold back. He kissed Ji Xiao.

…

They had left so carefree.

Zhao Lingqian, however, was left to deal with the mess.

Wei Yan was thrown into prison.

Most court officials had already wanted Zhao Lingqian to take the throne; now they were both surprised and delighted.

The Yan household was not so calm.

Yan’s father went personally to appease Yan’s mother.

Yan’s three older brothers sat solemnly around a table.

“Big brother, second brother, do you think little brother truly loves him… or was it influenced by loyalty, unable to refuse the emperor?”

The eldest was the most composed. “We all know Achen. No one can force him.”

The second asked, “What if the em… Prince Xiao used tricks?”

The third coughed lightly. “I think maybe they really are in love. After all, Prince Xiao’s face… ahem.”

The eldest said, “They’re gone. It’s pointless to dwell. Now we need to think: can Father appease Mother?”

As he finished.

The door nearby was kicked open, and Yan’s father was booted out, followed by a spirited female voice: “Get lost!”

“….”

In the dungeon.

Wei Yan sat pitifully against the wall, eyes swollen from crying.

He sobbed, “I called the emperor a tyrant.”

An older prisoner said, “You’re insane.”

“Wuwu, I said it in front of the emperor, all the ministers, all the soldiers, and all the people—that the emperor forced the general to submit to him, that he…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

The older prisoner quickly backed away.

“If you want to die, don’t drag me with you! I have two months left before release. Leave me some hope.”

He didn’t want to be charged with slandering the emperor.

Wei Yan buried his head and wept.

Nearby prisoners all played dead, determined to ignore Wei Yan.

Meanwhile.

Ji Xiao and Yan Wangchen had already reached the nearest city from the capital. They rented a room at an inn and ordered two buckets of hot water, clearly intending to have a fierce battle.

The Black Cat saw a blurry mosaic and felt its eyes hurt, frantically messaging the leader:

[Uninstall it! Uninstall my mosaic program!]

No response for a long time.

It could only curl up resentfully in the depths of Ji Xiao’s consciousness to catch up on dramas.

At least this mission was probably complete, right?

The goal was to have Yan Wangchen conquer enemy states, unify the realm, remove external threats, and then somehow make him willingly lay down his arms.

Not only had Yan Wangchen laid down his arms, Ji Xiao had also abdicated.

If Zhao Lingxiao—who had reincarnated—knew how this mission was completed, he’d probably die of anger.

His original intention was definitely not to give up the throne and elope with the general.

After that.

Ji Xiao took Yan Wangchen traveling across the Qin Kingdom, including the former lands of Chang, Yun, and Mo, living a carefree life.

When they ran out of money, they performed on the streets or took other odd jobs. When they had money, they moved on to the next place. Only occasionally did they return to the capital to visit family.

And so they traveled for decades.

Until both were white-haired, they finally returned to the capital, moved into the Xiao Prince mansion arranged by Zhao Lingqian, and spent their remaining years in peace.

On his deathbed, Yan Wangchen gripped Ji Xiao’s hand. His once stern face had softened over the years, and his murderous aura had vanished completely.

“For me, you gave up the position of ruler of the world. Do you regret it?”

Ji Xiao leaned down, close to him. “And you gave up your military power to live as an ordinary man. Do you regret it?”

“No regrets…”

“Nor do I.”

Yan Wangchen’s vision was already blurry, but he still tried to make out Ji Xiao’s face. “For you, I could give my life. What is mere military power?”

Ji Xiao kissed his hand. “Achen, go first. I will follow soon.”

Yan Wangchen closed his eyes, his hand falling limp.

The tenderness in Ji Xiao’s eyes faded, his expression clear. “Let’s go.”

Black Cat: “Yep~”

Back at that small hill.

Ji Xiao didn’t rush the Black Cat to send him to the next world.

The Black Cat approached him curiously, its tail brushing his leg.

Ji Xiao stiffened and backed away.

Black Cat: “I thought you weren’t afraid of me anymore.” Still such a coward.

Aren’t cats cute?

Why be afraid?

Stupid host!

Ji Xiao looked away, not meeting its eyes. “Put down the cigarette and lighter, then go far away.”

Black Cat: “Hmph.”

But it didn’t make things difficult. It put down the items and ran off.

[Leader, he rejects me!]

This time, the leader replied: [It’s okay. He’s just narrow-minded, can’t tolerate a cat.]

Black Cat: [You’re narrow-minded! My host is broad-minded!]

Even if he fears cats, he still completes missions properly!

Even if he fears cats, he still talks to me!

Leader: […]

Black Cat: [Leader, about that mosaic program…]

Leader stopped replying.

Ji Xiao finished a cigarette, tilted his head without looking at the cat, one hand in his pocket. “On to the next world.”

“Got it~”

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