Chapter 39: The Imperial Bath and a Royal Expedition

Yan Mansion.

Madam Yan glanced at the sky, her brows furrowing slightly. “The Young Master hasn’t returned yet?”

Xiaolan, the maid, spoke softly. “I’ve already sent Li Sheng to keep watch at the gatehouse. He’ll report back as soon as the Young Master returns.”

“Mm.”

Madam Yan lowered her gaze slightly.

‘I wonder why His Majesty summoned Chen’er to the palace.’

Not long after, Li Sheng arrived.

Madam Yan looked rather surprised. “What did you say?”

Li Sheng bowed his head. “An imperial decree has arrived from the palace. His Majesty wishes to study martial arts and has requested the Young Master to reside in the palace to instruct him.”

Madam Yan frowned. “They’ve known each other for so many years. Why would he suddenly want to learn martial arts now?”

The servants dared not comment on the Emperor, lowering their heads in silence.

Madam Yan waved her hand, dismissing them.

‘Perhaps, now that he’s Emperor, he no longer wishes to be inept in both scholarly and martial arts,’ she mused, ‘and has decided to apply himself.’

****

The Imperial Palace.

Having been invited to bathe together in the imperial bathhouse, Yan Wangchen’s gaze held a hint of turmoil as he looked at Ji Xiao.

Ji Xiao merely had wine and pastries arranged by the bath’s edge before dismissing everyone, choosing not to be served.

He shed his robes and stepped into the water.

Yan Wangchen averted his eyes.

Leaning against the edge of the pool, Ji Xiao poured two cups of wine. “A’Chen, won’t you join me for a soak?”

Yan Wangchen: “…”

‘A soak then, a soak it is.’

His light armor was placed on the bank. Yan Wangchen, clad in shorts, entered the water. He walked over to Ji Xiao’s side, accepting the wine cup offered to him, a flicker of inquiry in his eyes.

“Is Your Majesty no longer afraid of me?”

Ji Xiao took a sip of wine and smiled faintly. “I’ve had a change of heart.”

Yan Wangchen: “Oh?”

Ji Xiao merely chuckled. “If I’m not the one on the bottom, then it won’t hurt, will it?”

Yan Wangchen: “…”

There was no refuting that.

His usually stern face softened slightly. “Is Your Majesty suggesting…?”

‘One ‘Your Majesty’ after another.’

Ji Xiao drained his cup, placing it on the side. He no longer called him A’Chen, stating indifferently, “Is General unwilling?”

Yan Wangchen silently drank the wine in his cup.

He had not expected Ji Xiao to harbor such a thought.

That time, he had been too drunk to remember anything.

However, Zhao Lingxiao had seemed utterly terrified afterward, refusing any intimacy.

‘Was it truly that painful?’

“Is General afraid of pain?”

Ji Xiao leaned closer, stroking a strand of his hair, his voice soft. “I am not as rough as General. I promise to be gentler. Don’t be afraid, General.”

Yan Wangchen: “I have never been afraid of pain.”

‘How could a son of a military family fear pain?’

Ji Xiao gently embraced him. “Is General willing?”

Zhao Lingxiao had never enjoyed martial arts; his flesh was soft, unlike Yan Wangchen’s firm, hard physique.

Yan Wangchen relaxed his body, careful not to bump him.

Sensing his intent, Ji Xiao leaned in and kissed him.

****

Outside the hall.

“Have His Majesty and the General been bathing for quite a while?”

“The sounds are rather loud. Are they perhaps fighting?”

“His Majesty kept the General here precisely to learn martial arts, didn’t he? Perhaps they’ve already begun?”

Eunuch Hou overheard two young eunuchs whispering at the foot of the stairs. He walked over to them and chastised, “Speaking ill of the Emperor? Do you no longer value your heads?”

“Mercy, Eunuch–”

“Silence! Guard diligently and watch your words.”

“Yes, this servant understands his mistake.”

****

Lying on the imperial bed, Yan Wangchen turned his head slightly to look at the person beside him, unable to resist saying, “If you applied this much effort to martial arts, you wouldn’t even be able to defeat a single guard.”

Ji Xiao closed his eyes and snuggled closer to him. “With General here, why would I need to exert myself?”

“So you don’t want to learn anymore?”

“Learn, learn, learn! Alright, A’Chen, I’m a little tired. Let’s sleep now. We still need to rise early for court.”

“…”

‘Now he’s tired? Who was it that refused to stop just now?’

****

The following day, during the morning court session.

The ministers once again proposed the matter of selecting consorts.

Ji Xiao watched Prime Minister Lin, who was at the forefront, prattle on incessantly. He said coolly, “How about this: I hear Prime Minister Lin’s wife passed away many years ago, and he has not remarried since. Why don’t I send a group of women, and Prime Minister Lin can take his time choosing?”

Prime Minister Lin, whose hair was already streaked with white, looked bewildered. “?”

He immediately knelt. “This humble subject is already old; I beg Your Majesty to retract your command.”

Ji Xiao rose. “I see you have no urgent matters. Court dismissed!”

“Court dismissed!”

“Your Majesty–”

Yan Wangchen, also holding a general’s post, was present in the morning court’s ranks.

As he left, he was stopped by several elder ministers.

Prime Minister Lin asked, “Young General Yan, you and His Majesty have known each other since childhood, with many years of friendship. Do you know why His Majesty is unwilling to select consorts?”

Yan Wangchen replied, “This humble general does not know.”

“Before His Majesty ascended the throne, he had already come of age, yet he never married a princess consort. I heard that even the Empress Dowager once tried to arrange a match for him, but he refused…”

“Prime Minister,” Yan Wangchen interrupted him, “he is His Majesty.”

Prime Minister Lin, exasperated, stroked his beard. “How could I not know this? Precisely because he is His Majesty! Now, only His Majesty and Prince Wen remain in the imperial family. His Majesty has no heir, and Prince Wen only has two county princesses. The imperial lineage…”

“Prime Minister, this humble general has urgent matters to attend to. I bid you farewell.”

“Eh, Young General Yan…”

Watching Yan Wangchen’s hurried departure, Prime Minister Lin’s aged face wrinkled. He turned to the other equally helpless elder ministers and whispered, “Could His Majesty be… Perhaps we should consult the imperial physicians?”

“Indeed, this is…”

“I heard Imperial Physician Jiang has always taken His Majesty’s pulse. Shall we go ask him?”

“Let’s go ask.”

At the Imperial Hospital.

Imperial Physician Jiang stated, “His Majesty’s health is excellent; there are no abnormalities whatsoever.”

Prime Minister Lin pressed, “What about… that aspect?”

****

Ji Xiao led Yan Wangchen to the Imperial Study, gazing at the table laden with memorials. He said languidly, “General, please help me review these memorials.”

Yan Wangchen immediately refused. “Your Majesty, do not be absurd.”

“Then let them sit there. I get a headache just looking at those memorials.”

“Your Majesty, you are the monarch.”

“I am the monarch, yet you refuse to help me review memorials. What is the point of being a monarch then?”

“…”

Yan Wangchen’s voice grew colder. “You said that if you became Emperor, you would be a wise ruler.”

“Fine, I’ll review them myself. But after I ascended the throne, my eyes hurt from reading too many memorials. You read them to me, and I’ll approve them. How about that?”

“Your Majesty…”

“If you don’t agree, I won’t read or approve any of them.”

“…I will read them to you.”

Yan Wangchen had just opened a memorial and hadn’t even begun reading when Eunuch Hou’s voice echoed from outside.

“Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin and several Grand Secretaries from the Grand Secretariat request an audience.”

Ji Xiao slapped the table. “Drag them out and behead them!”

Eunuch Hou gasped. “Yes, this ser—”

Yan Wangchen put down the memorial. “Your Majesty.”

Ji Xiao said irritably, “Don’t behead them. Let them in.”

“Yes.”

Eunuch Hou wiped away sweat. ‘His Majesty’s temper is becoming increasingly…’

When Prime Minister Lin and the others entered, Ji Xiao sat expressionlessly at the desk, watching them.

Yan Wangchen stood to one side, equally devoid of expression.

Prime Minister Lin said solicitously, “Your Majesty handles myriad affairs daily; we are truly concerned. We have specially invited Imperial Physician Fang to take Your Majesty’s pulse.”

Although Imperial Physician Jiang insisted that His Majesty was in perfect health, they remained uneasy and had specifically brought an older, more skilled imperial physician.

Ji Xiao suddenly smiled. “Do you think I am ill?”

Prime Minister Lin stiffened. “We are merely concerned…”

“Enough!” Ji Xiao said gravely. “Concerned about what? Concerned whether I have a hidden illness? Because I haven’t indulged your wishes by selecting consorts, you believe I am incapable, not a man?”

Prime Minister Lin and the others immediately knelt.

“Your Majesty, forgive us, we absolutely have no such…”

“Are our lands now prosperous, with favorable weather and no more disasters?” Ji Xiao rose and walked before them, looking down. “The Chang Kingdom eyes us covetously, constantly harassing our borders, while the Yun and Mo Kingdoms also covet Our Qin Kingdom.”

Prime Minister Lin and the others bowed their heads to the ground.

“Has the southern flood from last month been dealt with? Have the rampant bandits in the northwest been resolved?” Ji Xiao listed the problems plaguing the Qin Kingdom one by one. “External threats and internal strife! Instead of pondering solutions, you are fixated solely on my bed! Are these truly my loyal subjects?”

“Your Majesty, calm your anger…”

“Calm my anger? You are so concerned about my bedroom affairs. Then send your daughters into the palace! For your sakes, I shall bestow upon each one the title of consort.”

Prime Minister Lin stammered, “My daughters are all already married…”

“This humble subject also…”

“This humble subject also…”

“My unmarried daughter is only eight years old…”

Ji Xiao scoffed, “What does that matter? If they are married, they can divorce! I see how eager you are, fearing I might die tomorrow without leaving an heir for the imperial family. Now that I am willing, why do you still decline?”

Prime Minister Lin said bitterly, “Your Majesty, this cannot be. If it truly comes to this, the people of the world…”

“What about the people of the world?” Ji Xiao laughed. “The common folk only care if they have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear. Only you, my loyal subjects, care about my bedroom affairs!”

“…”

Ji Xiao turned. “General Yan.”

Yan Wangchen lowered his eyes. “This humble general is here.”

“Return and prepare. I shall personally lead the expedition to conquer the Chang Kingdom.”

Yan Wangchen’s head snapped up. He met Ji Xiao’s unwavering gaze, his throat working. “Yes.”

Prime Minister Lin and the others were aghast. “Your Majesty, you absolutely must not–”

“Guards! Prime Minister Lin and the others are weary. Ensure they are safely escorted home.”

“Yes!”

“Your Majesty–”

Only Ji Xiao and Yan Wangchen remained in the Imperial Study.

Yan Wangchen strode purposefully to Ji Xiao. “Why must Your Majesty personally lead the expedition?”

“The Emperor of Chang Kingdom is cruel and immoral, plunging his people into misery. Moreover, the Chang Emperor constantly probes and harasses our borders, plotting to conquer the Qin Kingdom,” Ji Xiao gripped his hand. “War is inevitable. Why should we wait for them to be fully prepared? We will strike first, and in doing so, rescue the suffering people of Chang Kingdom.”

Yan Wangchen’s face was taut. “War between two nations is no trivial matter.”

Ji Xiao met his gaze. “War is inevitable. Your family must have long received news of Chang Kingdom’s restless ambition, have they not?”

Chang Kingdom was waiting, waiting for what they deemed an opportune moment to launch an invasion.

Yan Wangchen’s eyelashes trembled. “Even so, Your Majesty need not personally lead the expedition. I am willing to…”

“I know; it was always meant for you to fight,” Ji Xiao embraced him, speaking softly. “I am merely going to make an appearance, to boost morale. I will remain in the rear throughout, with you leading the charge.”

Yan Wangchen closed his eyes. “Alright.”

In the past, Zhao Lingxiao had seduced him to use him to ascend the throne. These past two days, he had suddenly become intimate with him, and now he understood why.

Yan Wangchen reached out and clasped Ji Xiao’s lower back. “As long as Your Majesty gives the command, I will not disobey. So why did you…”

‘Why did you have to exchange yourself?’

Ji Xiao: “Hm?”

Yan Wangchen lowered his head, restrained, and brushed his lips against Ji Xiao’s, then quickly pulled away. “Your Majesty, I must return home to inform my mother and the others.”

“Good. I will announce this at tomorrow’s morning court. It’s good for you to inform your family in advance.”

“Mm.”

Yan Wangchen departed with heavy steps.

Ji Xiao called out, “Go invite Prince Wen.”

Prince Wen was the former Fourth Prince, Zhao Lingxiao’s fourth brother, Zhao Lingqian.

Someone outside responded.

Ji Xiao returned to the desk, showing no intention of flipping through the memorials.

He dismissed the two hidden guards.

[Cat, a cigarette.]

Black Cat: “Okay!”

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