After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 116

Tu Run, as an ordinary rural scholar, naturally had no hidden weapons. Although it was quite normal for the emperor to check for such things, Zhou Xun couldn’t help but glance at the emperor.

 

The emperor looked up at the sky, pretending nothing had happened.

 

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, Zhou Xun naturally invited Tu Run to his home for a visit. Tu Run was delighted and said, “Great, I’ll first return to the inn and bring some gifts! It’s not proper to come all the way here without bringing something.”

 

The inn where he was staying was not far from the restaurant, so Tu Run hurried off. The carriage was left with just Zhou Xun and the emperor. The emperor said, “Your old friend is a good person.”

 

“We met back in the academy. I was young then and had offended Zhou Cai, so the Zhou family sent me to a countryside school near Jiangzhou, a place called Xiushui. He took good care of me there,” Zhou Xun said with a smile. “He was very kind.”

 

The emperor slapped his thigh, “He’s a good guy! I must thank him for taking care of you—”

 

Before he could finish, the curtain was lifted, and Tu Run, with a beaming smile, entered carrying a large watermelon. “Xun’er, Young Master Cha, here is an early-ripened watermelon from my hometown!”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Somehow, Zhou Xun noticed the emperor’s throat seemed to be stuck, and his shoulders shook slightly. Zhou Xun glanced at him in confusion, while Tu Run continued enthusiastically, “Let’s go, we’ll have some watermelon at Xun’er’s home!”

 

The emperor: …

 

The three of them took the carriage to Zhou Xun’s residence. Along the way, Zhou Xun noticed that the emperor was clearly trying to move in a direction away from Tu Run. However, Tu Run remained blissfully unaware. Upon arriving at Zhou Xun’s residence, Zhou Xun got out of the carriage and, while Tu Run was still admiring the surroundings, quietly asked the emperor, “What’s wrong with you?”

 

“Nothing,” the emperor replied, “I’m just a bit worried about getting a watermelon seed stuck in my teeth.”

 

Zhou Xun: ??

 

The emperor’s face once again displayed a strange and frosty smile that Zhou Xun hadn’t seen in a long time. He patted Zhou Xun on the shoulder and said with a serious but tacit understanding expression, “With you around, everything’s going well. We can finally eat watermelon…”

 

What used to be Zhou Xun’s private space now became a stage for three. They sat in the pavilion, with the emperor silently eating watermelon while Zhou Xun and Tu Run chatted. Tu Run took a good look at Zhou Xun and said happily, “It’s been seven years since I last saw Xun’er!”

 

“Yeah, we used to study under the jujube trees in the academy. We often read books and played games under the jujube blossoms…”

 

“We were the ones making up games. You didn’t like to move much back then; you just liked watching us,” Tu Run said. “Later, when you returned to Jiangzhou, I tried to find out about you but learned you had become a young master of the Zhou family, so I felt embarrassed to meet you again. We never thought the Zhou family’s young master would end up in our countryside school…”

 

After saying this, Tu Run suddenly remembered something and looked at Zhou Xun cautiously, “Did I say something… inappropriate?”

 

“It’s nothing. The days at the academy were actually happier than the days at the Zhou family,” Zhou Xun said. “How is the teacher?”

 

“Teacher now…”

 

Tu Run went on and on about the academy. Over the years, the teacher had aged, and the children who used to study there had grown up. The academy now had few students left, and there were hardly any children left who used to pick jujubes or throw stones under the trees.

 

“…If I pass the exams, I plan to return to Xiushui and become a county official. I can’t leave my old place,” Tu Run said, scratching his head awkwardly. “It might sound a bit unambitious, right? But Xun’er, you must be different. You’ve always been smart. You’ll definitely stay in the capital and become an important official. And my parents have already arranged a marriage for me in Xiushui… Oh, by the way.”

 

He suddenly remembered something and looked at Zhou Xun, “Xun’er, are you engaged now? Young Master Cha, what’s wrong?”

 

Just as he finished speaking, the emperor started coughing, having choked on a piece of watermelon.

 

Zhou Xun glanced at the emperor and pressed his hand on the back of the emperor’s hand. “Not yet.”

 

“Oh, I see!” Tu Run said without suspicion. “I wondered why there were no signs of a lady of the house here! I don’t know what kind of girl could match Xun’er… Now that the exams are over, when do you plan to get married?”

 

Zhou Xun coughed and said, “I don’t plan to get married.”

 

“Is it that Xun’er’s standards are too high? Do you remember County Official Xu from Xiushui? He has now been promoted to the capital, and his sister, the girl who used to secretly watch you read under the jujube tree, I heard she’s still unmarried and still remembers you…”

 

Without waiting for Zhou Xun to speak, Tu Run continued, “Miss Xu is gentle and virtuous, knowledgeable, and is a legitimate daughter… She’s a great match. Xun’er, don’t you think…”

 

Splash!

 

A piece of watermelon rind suddenly hit Tu Run on the top of his head. Tu Run: ???

 

“Sorry, my hand slipped,” the emperor said expressionlessly, seemingly quite displeased. “Why the rush to arrange a marriage? The exams have just finished; the results aren’t out yet…”

 

“Oh, yes, yes,” Tu Run said cheerfully. “Once Xun’er becomes the top scholar, he should definitely marry a high-ranking official’s daughter… like the daughter of a Minister…”

 

Zhou Xun heard the sound of the second piece of watermelon rind being crushed.

 

Tu Run suddenly remembered something, glanced sideways, and said quietly, “By the way, I heard other candidates say there’s another piece of good news. It’s said that when the top scholar parades through the streets, many daughters of high officials will secretly watch from the upper floors. And the emperor too!”

 

The emperor straightened his back instantly, showing an expression of “How did you know I would also secretly watch Zhou Xun’s parade from above?”

 

At the same time, he was somewhat pleased with Tu Run’s survival instincts.

 

But Tu Run continued, “I heard that the emperor will also hold a Qionglin Banquet, inviting the scholars. At that time, various high officials and dignitaries will attend. Xun’er, maybe…”

 

He patted Zhou Xun’s shoulder cheerfully and said, “The emperor might even matchmake you with a princess!”

 

“Impossible!”

 

The emperor’s thunderous voice startled Tu Run greatly. The simple-minded Tu Run frowned in confusion and asked, “Why is it impossible? I heard that the eldest princess is still unmarried, and Xun’er is talented and so handsome…”

 

“If I say it’s impossible, it’s impossible,” the emperor said firmly, his face dark as coal. “Don’t even think about it, it’s not going to happen!”

 

“Why is it impossible!” Tu Run was a bit upset. “Oh, do you look down on Xun’er? How do you know it’s impossible? Are you the emperor or something?”

 

“I certainly…” The emperor started angrily but trailed off, snorting, “You don’t understand!”

 

Tu Run: …

 

The pleasant gathering ended on an unhappy note. Zhou Xun sent Tu Run off and then turned to see the emperor sitting in the pavilion, sulking with his face buried in watermelon rind.

 

Zhou Xun looked at him and sighed, “Are you upset?”

 

The emperor: …

 

He suddenly grabbed Zhou Xun fiercely, hugged his neck, and gave him a hard kiss.

 

“Hmph! How ungrateful!” He took out his anger on Tu Run outside the door, then hugged Zhou Xun again. “The Dragon King returns!!”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The emperor said, “I really want to tell the whole world that you’re mine.”

 

“I’ve always been yours,” Zhou Xun said, holding his face and soothing him.

 

… After sulking for a while, the emperor finally calmed down. After some time, he suddenly hugged Zhou Xun again and kissed him.

 

For a moment, Zhou Xun’s eyes were glistening with tears, and his eyes were red. After a while, he heard the emperor’s deep voice, “Your eyes…”

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

The emperor, blushing, struggled to say, “You have… such big dark circles under your eyes.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The emperor said, “Let’s… um… you should get some rest.”

 

Zhou Xun: “Oh.”

 

Without saying a word, Zhou Xun let go of the emperor and went to his room to sleep. The emperor watched longingly as Zhou Xun entered his room and instructed Xiao Duo to tuck him in with his little quilt.

 

After confirming multiple times that the quilt was properly tucked in, the emperor finally left Zhou Xun’s residence. Outside, Xiao Li Zi looked at him anxiously and said, “Your Majesty…”

 

The emperor: “Speak if you have something to say.”

 

Xiao Li Zi: “I thought the emperor would spend the night at Young Master Zhou’s residence.”

 

The emperor: …………

 

“Do you understand the sense of ceremony?” The emperor snorted, “Of course, an overnight stay requires aromatherapy, candles, rose petals all over the bed, a heart-shaped bed…”

 

Xiao Li Zi: “Although I don’t quite understand, it just feels…”

 

The emperor: “Feels what?”

 

Xiao Li Zi: “A bit tacky.”

 

“Tacky, tacky your sister! Oh! I’m going to kick your butt with my boots!” The emperor roared, kicking Xiao Li Zi in the rear. “What’s with this? It’s not tacky when the tyrant indulges in debauchery, or when the tyrant engages in grand construction projects, but a bed with rose petals is tacky!”

 

Xiao Li Zi fled in a panic, holding his head, and said, “Your Majesty! You are the tyrant!”

 

The emperor: “No one understands being a tyrant better than me!”

 

Xiao Li Zi continued, “Your Majesty, now that Young Master Zhou has finished his exams, you should be more assertive!”

 

The emperor: “Xiao Li Zi, you’re dead!!!”

 

After a brief chase, an out-of-breath official arrived from afar. Seeing the emperor there, he quickly said, “Your Majesty…”

 

The emperor saw his serious expression and asked, “What’s the matter?”

 

“Your Majesty…” the official said, “The river in Qingzhou has breached its banks.”

 

…

 

Just as Zhou Xun had completed the top scholar exam, the river in Qingzhou had breached its banks.

 

The emperor immediately became engrossed in managing the flood disaster, leaving him no time to visit Zhou Xun.

 

Under normal circumstances, a flood shouldn’t have occurred in Qingzhou. However, after investigation, the emperor discovered that a few years ago, during the construction of a dam, local officials had embezzled materials meant for the dam and used them for personal gain. Before the emperor arrived, Rong Xuan had neglected state affairs, and the governor of Qingzhou, who had provided him with a lot of precious jewelry and paintings, had been indulged with leniency. It was too complicated to punish all the officials there.

 

As a result, the emperor sent a special task force led by Lu Xiandao to investigate, and also dispatched an honest official surnamed Hou to Qingzhou. He waited in the capital for updates, developing blisters on his lips from anxiety. Xiao Li Zi noticed this and thought the emperor was getting irritated.

 

He delicately suggested to Zhou Xun that the emperor’s appetite was poor at the moment. Zhou Xun could try making something like fish soup…

 

“With Young Master Zhou’s care, the emperor will definitely feel better soon,” Xiao Li Zi said with concern.

 

Zhou Xun, waiting for the results, thought this was a good idea.

 

Xiao Li Zi also advised, “Add some chives, loach, oysters, goji berries, and quail eggs to the fish soup to enhance the flavor.”

 

Zhou Xun, who didn’t know how to cook, nodded and said, “Thank you, Xiao Gong Gong, but will these ingredients…”

 

“No need to thank me. No need to thank me.” Xiao Li Zi smiled widely, “The emperor loves these.”

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

Xiao Li Zi waved his hand and left, concealing his achievements and reputation.

 

At Zhou Xun’s residence, after almost burning down the kitchen for the fifth time, Zhou Xun finally carried a pot of black, unidentifiable substance to the palace.