After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 109

“You are my warm gloves, and the cold beer…”

“When you are old, with gray hair, and feeling drowsy…”

“People can live on carbon dioxide alone, as long as there is love.”

“What is carbon dioxide?”

At last, Zhou Xun’s question came from the window. The emperor immediately put down his book and replied seriously, “It’s a molecule composed of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom connected by covalent bonds…”

Zhou Xun: …

He put down his book and rubbed his temples. “I completely don’t understand what you’re saying.”

The emperor: “Oh.”

They were currently in Zhou Xun’s Bamboo Language Hall. Zhou Xun was reading by the window while the emperor lounged outside on a deck chair, basking in the sun.

It was now winter. They had quietly spent the autumn together. During this autumn, the emperor focused on governing, and Zhou Xun on his studies. The capital was free of the unpleasant families, and both were content with their lives.

Before leaving the capital, Zhou Cai had specially come to see Zhou Xun. He said to Zhou Xun, “Do you think you’ll keep being this lucky?”

Zhou Xun just smiled at him, his demeanor calm, not saying a word more.

Accompanying Zhou Xun were Zhou Hong on a stretcher and Zhou Fu. Zhou Mu and Zhou Wanwan remained in the capital. Although they could have followed their father and brother, Zhou Wanwan cried and refused to leave.

She said she was at the marrying age, and there were no good families in the northwest. Zhou Mu agreed and, though reluctantly, stayed in the capital with her.

However, she had not considered that with the Zhou family’s infamous reputation, who in the capital would dare to marry a Zhou daughter?

Yet there was one thing that Zhou Xun found quite intriguing. Liu Zhe, the only son of the Northern General, was also present in the farewell party for Zhou Cai. Zhou Xun didn’t remember when these two had become acquainted, but he didn’t mind.

He simply focused on his own affairs. The ginkgo trees in the Bamboo Language Hall bloomed and shed their leaves. The maple leaves turned red and fell. The emperor, standing in the Bamboo Language Hall, looked at the leaves and said to Zhou Xun, “Those leaves look like scrambled eggs with tomatoes.”

They still held hands, walking together under the leaves, saying nothing.

Yan Jia had not sought him out again—not because he was completely restrained by his father since the court hearing but because one night he suddenly ran out from the Yan family to see Zhou Xun. His hair was wet from the rain, but he still asked, “You deliberately gave the sword tassel to my father, didn’t you?”

Zhou Xun remained silent. Yan Jia continued, “You deliberately got to know me, didn’t you? You intended to use that letter to publicly take revenge on my family, just because our families are in-laws, right?”

Zhou Xun simply asked him, “Will your sister marry Zhou Cai and go to the northwest?”

Yan Jia was taken aback. After a long time, he stepped back, forcing a bitter smile. “My sister won’t go to the northwest; my mother can’t bear to part with her. She will stay in the capital, but the marriage agreement with the Zhou family won’t be canceled. She will wait for Zhou Cai to return from the northwest—once Zhou Cai is back, they will marry.”

Zhou Xun smiled and said, “That’s much better than going to the northwest.”

Much better? How is it better? Yan Jia had countless questions for Zhou Xun, but he knew even if Zhou Xun explained, he wouldn’t believe him and would only fall into deeper suspicion.

Sometimes an answer doesn’t solve a problem; it only brings more questions. It’s like two people from opposing camps—no matter what, they can’t become friends.

In the end, he only told Zhou Xun, “I will also take the imperial exams next spring. I promised my father I would become the top scholar. I know you will also take the exams next spring. When we meet again, we will be enemies.”

Zhou Xun nodded and said, “Alright.”

Yan Jia left.

This friendship ended in a deadlock. Ultimately, only the Minister Yan might have felt satisfied. Although the Zhou family’s reputation was ruined, he sacrificed a daughter, and his own reputation rose. Recently, it was said he often mingled with Minister Lu, and the two seemed to have become friends.

The turmoil in the court no longer concerned Zhou Xun. He cared only about himself. Even if the sky fell, Old Shen would be there to support him, and if not, there was always the emperor.

His days were as peaceful and leisurely as ever.

Zhou Xun finished reading the page. The emperor was still contemplating the issue of carbon dioxide and oxygen. He put down his book and said, “Your Majesty didn’t come to find me just to discuss carbon dioxide and oxygen, did you?”

“And nitrogen… just kidding,” the emperor scratched his head and said, “Actually, I…”

Zhou Xun: ?

The emperor said, “Never mind, forget I said anything.”

Zhou Xun: …

Zhou Xun continued reading. After a while, he heard the emperor say, “I think I’ve figured out how to explain what carbon dioxide is.”

“What?”

Zhou Xun put down his book. The emperor said, “Come closer, or better yet, I’ll come over.”

He moved closer.

Zhou Xun was puzzled.

The next moment, Zhou Xun’s chin was lifted. His breathing was cut off by the other person’s lips and tongue.

In an instant, his mouth was filled with the taste of the other person. He couldn’t breathe, only feeling the other’s breath flowing between his lips and teeth, from every gap in his teeth to his tongue’s base. The other person’s hands held the back of his head, pulling him closer.

“Mmm…”

He was released just before he was about to suffocate. The emperor, blushing, traced his finger over Zhou Xun’s lips, which were still gasping for fresh air.

“Everything you just breathed in was carbon dioxide,” he said.

Zhou Xun: …

He blushed, using the back of his hand to rub his lips where the emperor had touched. The emperor, seeing the moisture on his lips, looked up at the sky. After a while, Zhou Xun gently asked, “Did you learn that from Chu Yunkuo and the others?”

The emperor: “Huh?”

It took the emperor a while to realize that Zhou Xun seemed to have dug up his past misdeeds. He quickly waved his hands and said, “No, no, of course not!”

Zhou Xun: “Hmm?”

The emperor: “This time, it really isn’t…”

He touched his nose, feeling quite guilty.

Their first date had been chaotic, largely due to the ancient love guru Chu Yunkuo’s guidance. After Zhou Xun went home, he didn’t say much, but after a few days when their mood was right, he unfolded a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to the emperor, who had been trying to get too touchy…

Zhou Xun: “Be a bit more domineering? Hmm?”

The emperor: …

The emperor looked at the paper with a very guilty expression, confessing everything and retracting his hand.

Later, the emperor complained to Chu Yunkuo, who scratched his head in helplessness, saying, “Your Majesty, you can’t blame me. It’s not my fault your partner is too smart!”

The emperor: …

Chu Yunkuo: “To be honest, bringing up old grievances suddenly during intimate moments, your partner is really a bit… difficult.”

…It was then that the emperor realized that Zhou Xun, who usually appeared gentle, aloof, obedient, and beautiful, actually seemed to have a bit of…

…A calculating side?

…And it was the kind that could make someone suffocate with rage by bringing up old grievances at the last moment.

After that, Zhou Xun, in a very gentle manner, ignored the emperor for a month—though “ignored” might not be the right word. Whenever the emperor visited his residence, Zhou Xun didn’t refuse, and whenever the emperor asked him something, he answered. When the emperor wanted to hold his hand…

He also held his hand.

But…

How did it feel that the emperor, who was supposed to be the ruler, somehow felt that Zhou Xun was the one controlling the situation?

The emperor glanced again at Zhou Xun’s lips, which were slightly red from the lack of oxygen, and looked up at the sky.

…Autumn had passed, and winter had arrived. After contemplating for a while, the emperor decided to ask a question that sounded quite normal to avoid seeming too awkward… Yes, awkward, he was quite afraid of seeming awkward…

“Um,” the emperor hesitated for a moment, and said, “Now that winter has come, is it cold in this courtyard?”

Zhou Xun stopped flipping through his book when he heard him speak. He looked around the room and said, “The charcoal the emperor provided is sufficient.”

The emperor: “Oh…”

…If only he hadn’t given so much charcoal. The emperor grumbled inwardly, and after a moment, he tried again, “So, usually, when you’re reading here by yourself, is it cold?”

“Your Majesty, don’t you remember? You recently gifted me a valuable fur coat.”

The emperor: “Oh… So where is that coat now?”

As soon as the emperor said this, he wanted to slap himself.

…Damn it, this conversation is too lame, too easily led, and too unmanly!

Zhou Xun noticed the fleeting frustration and regret in the emperor’s eyes and smirked, “I had Lotus bring it.”

Lotus obediently brought the valuable fur coat. The coat was made of whole silver foxes, worth a fortune. It felt soft and precious, though it looked light, it was extremely warm.

Zhou Xun put it on, and as he breathed, the fox fur around his cheeks trembled with each breath, making one want to touch it to see if it was as soft and fluffy as imagined. The emperor stared at the fur coat for a long time… Yes, he was looking at the coat… not at the chin and the ears buried in the fur…

After a long while, he finally said, “Oh, it looks pretty.”

Zhou Xun smiled at him, “The fur coat does look good.”

The emperor: “Well…”

Until he left Zhou Xun’s residence, the emperor couldn’t bring himself to ask, “Are you cold when you sleep?” The emperor stood on the ground, heartbroken, staring at the sky.

Are you cold when you sleep?

Are you cold when you sleep?

He repeated this question in his mind over and over, heartbroken. Little Li, carrying a lantern, greeted him at the door. Seeing the emperor standing there in a daze, he asked, “Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace?”

The emperor reflexively blurted out, “Are you cold when you sleep?”

Little Li: ????

Little Li looked at the emperor in shock and then at Zhou Xun’s residence with trepidation…

The emperor: …

“Why are you looking at Zhou Xun’s residence?” The emperor said, annoyed. “What’s wrong? Are you afraid of him? Who is your master? What are you thinking? Do you think I’m being controlled by him?”

Little Li: “I’m wronged, Your Majesty!”

The emperor: “Hmph!!!”

He had a brief outburst of frustration and then, with a broken heart, left, tears streaming inside.