After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 110

After the emperor returned to the palace, he was still pondering the question of “cold or not.” He sat on the dragon throne for a while, waved his hand, and ordered someone to summon his friend, Chu Yunkuo.

 

I need relationship advice, the emperor thought calmly.

 

Instead of Chu Yunkuo, the first to arrive was the fussy Xie Zhengqing. Xie Zhengqing was handsome but had the demeanor of a Tang Seng; in modern terms, he would be an exemplary street office worker. The emperor felt a pang of anxiety when he saw him.

 

Xie Zhengqing came in from outside, covered in frost that carried a hint of sweet fragrance. The emperor sniffed and noted that the fragrance had a touch of powder. After Xie Zhengqing finished reporting on military affairs, the emperor teased, “I just realized Xie Qing is already in his twenties. You were stationed in the northwest before and had no family. Now, it seems that good news is on the horizon?”

 

Xie Zhengqing, usually quick-witted, was slow to react today. He stared blankly for a moment before coming to his senses and stammered, “Your Majesty… I…”

 

Seeing Xie Zhengqing’s panicked state, the emperor was genuinely surprised: “Damn, are you hiding something from me?”

 

Xie Zhengqing: “N-No, not yet.”

 

The emperor: …

 

Xie Zhengqing hurriedly left, and next came the love guru and carefree Chu Yunkuo. Seeing Xie Zhengqing flee, Chu Yunkuo asked the emperor, “What did you say to him just now? And wait, what’s that smell…”

 

He closed his eyes and sniffed the lingering fragrance. “It smells really good!”

 

The emperor: “Bah, it’s just the sour smell of romance.”

 

Chu Yunkuo: “Romance?? Who??”

 

The emperor: “Who just ran out of the palace?”

 

Chu Yunkuo was taken aback for a moment before he said, “Oh, right, Xie Daren has indeed been visiting the Yanliu Lane recently. Seems he has taken a liking to one of the courtesans there.”

 

The emperor: …

 

Chu Yunkuo: “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

 

“The happiness is all for others,” the emperor forced a dry smile, “I have nothing, haha.”

 

Chu Yunkuo: …

 

He scratched his nose and said to the emperor, “Your Majesty is still thinking about matters with Young Master Zhou, aren’t you?”

 

The emperor: “Wait a moment.”

 

With that, he ordered Little Li to bring in ink and paper and began writing vigorously. Chu Yunkuo watched the emperor’s strange reaction, initially puzzled, before finally asking, “What is the emperor doing?”

 

“Hehe,” the emperor said coldly, “Giving Xie Zhengqing some work to do.”

 

Chu Yunkuo: …

 

The emperor: “Damn Xie Zhengqing, he was supposed to be training as a special forces soldier but instead went off to romance. Recently, he even pleaded on behalf of the Zhou family. He won’t be celebrating the Spring Festival! He better be the strongest soldier now!!”

 

Chu Yunkuo: … Your Majesty, weren’t you here to seek relationship advice?

 

The emperor, exhilarated by assigning tasks to Xie Zhengqing, was now writing up tasks for everyone else. Thinking of Xie Zhengqing led him to think of the special forces camp, the weaponry camp, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Revenue, and all the idle officials who hadn’t worked hard… The capitalist, not the emperor’s imagination, could only advance rapidly in this layer.

 

When he had finally assigned tasks to everyone, he remembered his purpose of seeking out Chu Yunkuo. From afar, Chu Yunkuo was already slumped in a chair, yawning and asleep.

 

The emperor: … Damn it.

 

“Your Majesty, the palace gates are locked. Where should we put Chu Daren?” Little Dengzi asked. “Should we put him in the side hall?”

 

The emperor: “?? Don’t you know whose territory the side hall is??”

 

Little Dengzi then remembered that the side hall was Zhou Xun’s exclusive area. He quickly found another place for Chu Yunkuo to stay and sent him there.

 

In the middle of the night, the palace finally quieted down.

 

Little Li, holding a lantern, watched the emperor handle state affairs from beneath the eaves. Snow began to fall outside, bit by bit, soon settling on the brim of his hat. He watched the snow, thinking that winter had arrived.

 

“Forget it, forget it,” he heard the emperor speak inside.

 

Little Li thought the words were directed at him and hurried towards the emperor’s direction. From a distance, he heard the emperor continue, “It’s not about the East Wind overpowering the West Wind or the West Wind overpowering the East Wind. Hmph, just let it be, Rong Ge doesn’t mind competing with you. There’s always tomorrow, always tomorrow.”

 

Little Li: ?

 

He saw the emperor holding something, a small blue booklet that had been flipped through many times and was becoming worn out. The emperor looked at the booklet with a tender smile. Little Li vaguely felt that in the snowy night, the emperor’s expression, while nostalgic, also carried a touch of tenderness.

 

Until he saw the emperor pick up the booklet, kiss it, and then place it beneath his hands.

 

The emperor: “Hmph, in the end, I’m still the one in control, hehe~”

 

There was a hint of rippling in the emperor’s final laugh. Little Li silently retreated.

 

The snow continued to fall outside. He watched the snow while the emperor thought about Zhou Xun, and he thought about his own family.

 

“Ah Ruo,” he sat down on the floor, setting the lantern aside and looking at the sky, “Tell me, where are you now?”

 

…

 

Outside, it was snowing, and Zhou Xun’s life was consumed by study.

 

With his brush, ink, paper, and stove, he created his own world. He placed the jade pendant left by his mother alongside the valuable fur coat gifted by the emperor. Every time he took a break, he looked at the pendant. When tired, he rested his face on the fur coat.

 

Occasionally, he would dream about the days when he secretly read books as a youth, and about his time in the rural school, followed by memories of the Zhou family’s proud faces and the stern visage of Minister Yan.

 

“Do you know?” Lao Shen, carrying wine, came to see him. Sitting beside Zhou Xun, watching him read and warming himself by the fire, he said, “Recently, Minister Yan has been quite active, attending many poetry gatherings and salons with Yan Jia, showing off his son to everyone in the capital. It seems quite successful; now, people in the capital are saying Yan Jia is a strong contender for the top spot in the spring exams next year.”

 

Zhou Xun turned a page in his book and said, “Do you think so?”

 

Lao Shen asked him back, “What do you think?”

 

Zhou Xun remained silent for a moment before slyly smiling.

 

“In a few days, there will be the Duke of the Protectorate’s grand birthday celebration. I was thinking of taking you there to make an appearance,” Lao Shen suddenly said. “The Duke’s birthday is on the third day of the lunar new year, so everyone will be gathered at the Duke’s residence. Minister Yan and his family will be there too.”

 

Zhou Xun’s hand paused. Lao Shen patted his shoulder and said, “But don’t worry, with me around, no one will dare to disrespect you.”

 

Zhou Xun agreed. Lao Shen was pleased, rubbing his hands together and gazing at the snowy sky, seemingly reminiscing about the past. After a while, he added, “Has the emperor not come to see you recently?”

 

“It’s the end of the year; the emperor is busy.”

 

“Busy or not, you should still meet,” Lao Shen stubbornly reminded him. “Sometimes, people just drift apart when they get too busy.”

 

Zhou Xun glanced at him and said, “Master, you rarely speak in such philosophical terms. Are you thinking of your own past?”

 

Lao Shen was taken aback. “I don’t have… Never mind.”

 

He shook his head. “I can’t explain such things to you young people.”

 

When it came to key matters, Lao Shen always evaded. After he left, he let out a groan, and Zhou Xun asked him about it, but he said it was nothing. Zhou Xun sat alone in his room after he left. He thought about how he really missed the emperor.

 

The emperor, being busy with state affairs, couldn’t come to see him. So he would go to see the emperor himself.

 

After all, revising was endless, and a day or two didn’t matter.

 

He put on a warm undershirt, fastened his hairpin, and draped himself in the silver fox fur coat. After getting ready, he saw the snow falling outside and took an umbrella with him.

 

However, when he opened the door…

 

**”Achoo!!”**

 

A thunderous sneeze came from outside the door.

 

Zhou Xun: ???

 

A snowball, complete with a pair of firecrackers in each hand, was squatting on the ground. Seeing Zhou Xun, it smiled with its eyes and eyebrows scrunched together. “Happy New Year!!”

 

Before the happiness could be fully enjoyed, the snowball sneezed again, covering its face with snot and tears.

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He pulled the emperor out of the snow. The first attempt failed; the emperor’s legs were stuck, and the ground was slippery. When he pulled, they nearly rolled into a heap. On the second try, Zhou Xun successfully pulled the emperor up, but as the emperor stood, he could clearly feel a deliberate downward pull…

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Then he was deliberately pulled down by the emperor.

 

The two of them ended up rolling around in the snow. Fortunately, they were both wrapped in fur, so it wasn’t too painful. Zhou Xun was on top of the emperor, feeling both exasperated and amused. “What are you doing?”

 

“Just wanted to give you a hug,” the emperor said. “Don’t we look like two furry balls in the snow?”

 

Zhou Xun paused for a moment and then said, “I think we look like two silly ferrets.”

 

The two silly ferrets got up from the ground. The emperor, realizing he had made a mistake, rubbed his nose. After Zhou Xun stood up and brushed the snow off his clothes, he asked, “What are you holding?”

 

The emperor: “Two firecrackers. Do you want me to set them off for you?”

 

Zhou Xun: “…No need.”

 

“Tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve. I have official duties in the palace and can’t celebrate with you,” the emperor said, spreading his arms. “So I came today to wish you an early New Year!”

 

New Year’s Eve… today is already the 29th of the twelfth month?

 

Zhou Xun suddenly realized how quickly time had passed. The emperor rubbed his hands and entered Zhou Xun’s home, sitting by the stove to warm up. Zhou Xun came in after him, and the emperor took Zhou Xun’s cold, stiff hand and said, “Let me warm you up.”

 

“Forget it, your hands are colder than mine,” Zhou Xun said, speechless. “Why were you waiting at my door? For so long?”

 

“Ah, I was planning to give you a surprise. Who knew Lao Shen would talk so much, I nearly fell asleep in the snow. I originally thought, when you opened the door, you’d see me, and then I’d set off the firecrackers and wish you a Happy New Year…”

 

Zhou Xun: “…Forget the firecrackers.”

 

The emperor: “…Oh.”

 

As the New Year approached, fireworks were being set off both inside and outside the city. They set up a kotatsu, which the emperor called a “tatami,” under the fireworks, and enjoyed Laba porridge and then steaming hot dumplings. The emperor handed Zhou Xun a plate of dumplings and said, “Try these. One of these dumplings has a coin inside. If you find the coin, your wish will come true. You should wish to top the exams.”

 

Zhou Xun looked at the plate of crystal-clear, aromatic dumplings. He knew about the tradition where a coin was hidden in one dumpling for good luck during the New Year. He shook his head and put a dumpling in the emperor’s bowl, saying, “I don’t leave things to fate.”

 

“Come on, try it,” the emperor insisted. “I’ve given you all my luck with this dumpling.”

 

Zhou Xun glanced at him suspiciously and took a bite of the dumpling—only to bite into something hard.

 

He spat out the object and held it in his palm; it was a round coin.

 

The emperor immediately beamed with joy. “I knew it! You were bound to get the dumpling with the coin. Out of so many dumplings, you got the best one—good start!”

 

Zhou Xun looked at the coin and then glanced at the table.

 

He raised an eyebrow. “What about the rest of the dumplings?”

 

The emperor: “The rest of the dumplings? What rest? Oh, I had Lian Rong take them away.”

 

Zhou Xun: …??

 

“Come on, have Lian Rong bring them back,” the emperor said with a very serious expression.

 

So Lian Rong brought the dumplings back. Zhou Xun looked at the emperor and used his chopsticks to poke open one of the dumplings—

 

It had filling but no coin.

 

“Ah, are you being suspicious again?” the emperor teased. “Why don’t you trust your own luck?”

 

Zhou Xun poked open a second dumpling, and it was the same. Then he looked at the emperor’s bowl.

 

The emperor: …Oh no.

 

He had forgotten that Zhou Xun had also put a dumpling in his bowl.

 

“Oh, I still have one here!” the emperor said, as if he had discovered a new continent, and eagerly added, “I’m quite hungry, so I’ll eat it!”

 

Then, with lightning speed, he put the dumpling into his mouth.

 

…The emperor and Zhou Xun faced each other across the table. After a long while, Zhou Xun finally said helplessly, “Aren’t you going to spit it out?”

 

The emperor mumbled through his full mouth, “It’s all for fun…”

 

**”Every dumpling in that plate had a coin, right?” Zhou Xun said. “Each one had a coin, giving me your luck.”**

 

Emperor: …

 

Zhou Xun: “Alright, I get it now. Spit out the coin.”

 

The emperor was about to spit it out, but before he could say anything, he suddenly turned pale, clutching his throat.

 

Zhou Xun: ?!

 

He stood up in panic and rushed towards the emperor, who was still clutching his throat and shouting, “Goose, goose, goose, goose, goose—”

 

“You…”

 

—Choked on it?!

 

Before he could pat the emperor’s back, the emperor grabbed his wrist and then…

 

Pushed him onto the couch.

 

“Help me roll it out with your tongue.”

 

The emperor held his chin and kissed him. After a while, when both were catching their breath, the emperor released his chin and said triumphantly, “There are skilled lip-readers in the capital!!”

 

He flicked the coin in his hand and smiled elegantly.

 

Zhou Xun, with his hair still scattered on the couch, propped himself up on one side, catching his breath, and wiped his back with his other hand.

 

The emperor, feeling very pleased, ruffled Zhou Xun’s long hair. “Gotcha, didn’t I?”

 

Zhou Xun turned his head away and muttered, “It tastes like chives.”

 

Emperor: …

 

The emperor’s heart was once again shattered. But fortunately, his heart never stayed broken for long. He first drank three cups of Pu’er tea very seriously, secretly rinsed his mouth, and stealthily checked his breath before saying, “Let’s each make a wish with a coin!”

 

As he spoke, a firework exploded in the distance. The emperor said, “Let’s make our wishes as the next firework explodes?”

 

When the next firework burst, both closed their eyes. After a moment, they opened their eyes, and the emperor asked Zhou Xun, “What did you wish for?”

 

Zhou Xun looked into his eyes and smiled, “Not telling you.”

 

He thought for a moment and then asked, “What did you wish for, Your Majesty?”

 

Emperor: “Um…”

 

Zhou Xun: “What?”

 

The emperor scratched his head. Under Zhou Xun’s persistent questioning, he finally stiffened his neck and looked at the sky, saying:

 

“I wish to rid myself of being a wizard next year…”

 

Zhou Xun: “A wizard??”

 

Emperor: “Well, um, I mean, rid of… rid of being a…”

 

Zhou Xun: ?!?

 

It took him a while to understand, and his ears turned red. Seeing Zhou Xun’s red ears, the emperor quickly changed the topic:

 

“What did you wish for??”

 

Zhou Xun turned his face away. “Nothing much.”

 

Emperor: “Ah?? You’re lying! You said we would exchange secrets!”

 

That night, Zhou Xun still didn’t reveal his wish. They spent the night in the warm room, like a snow ferret and a purple ferret, lying back-to-back as they slept. The emperor seemed truly exhausted and did not do anything else once on the bed. He merely held Zhou Xun, rubbed his face against Zhou Xun’s neck as if sniffing and lightly biting it, marking his territory.

 

In the warm atmosphere, Zhou Xun relaxed every part of his body and fell into a deep sleep.

 

Before falling asleep, he thought to himself that he hadn’t told the emperor he had greedily made two wishes.

 

The first wish: May the emperor always be healthy and happy.

 

The second wish: May the emperor not leave.

 

If there was a conflict, the first wish must be fulfilled.

 

At that time, he did not know what would happen in the coming spring. Before that, everything was fine, and time stretched long.

 

In the spring of the following year, the river broke its banks, and the Northern Wei army suddenly moved south.