After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 17

“This…”

 

Cold sweat soaked through Zhou Cai’s outer garment. Zhou Xun stared coldly at him.

 

If he wanted to elaborate further on this matter, Zhou Xun could say much more. For example, Zhou Cai’s impartiality in giving gifts to him and his subordinates, or the numerous oppressions and mistreatments by the Zhou family towards him…

 

But he found it uninteresting.

 

All he wanted to do was to remove Zhou Cai’s hypocritical mask, and that’s why he said those things. Since the goal had been achieved, why be a chattering rural peddler, laying out every detail of his joys and sorrows for everyone to scrutinize under the broad daylight?

 

Zhou Cai was silent for a long time, unable to utter a word. Eventually, he awkwardly said, “Perhaps… perhaps I remembered it wrong.”

 

Zhou Xun’s mouth, when did it become so sharp!

 

Zhou Cai’s fingers under his wide robe clenched into his palm, leaving deep bloodstains. In his memory, Zhou Xun had always been a silent and reserved person—rarely speaking, rarely complaining, and rarely lamenting.

 

—Who could have imagined that he would be lethal as soon as he opened his mouth!

 

“Forget it, no need for you to go searching,” the emperor said. “The items in the palace are far more abundant than those in the Zhou family. I’ll take you to the library later, and you can see if there’s what you’re looking for.”

 

The first “you” was directed at Zhou Cai, and after saying that, the second “you” was directed at Zhou Xun.

 

It was difficult to discern from his expression whether he had seen through Zhou Cai’s true face under the hypocritical mask or if he just thought it was too troublesome for such a trivial matter as a book. Regardless of the possibilities, Zhou Cai could feel the emperor’s strong differentiation between him and Zhou Xun.

 

At this point, saying anything more would be useless. The more he said, the more wrong it would be. Zhou Cai had no choice but to stammer a few words and finally say, “I… take my leave, Your Majesty.”

 

The prime minister still stood by the door. He saw Zhou Cai leave in embarrassment and then turned his eyes to the young man in water-colored attire.

 

The young man was probably about to reach adulthood, tall and graceful, with thick and elegant features that carried a chilly and dignified air that didn’t match his age. The evening light enveloped his robe, blurring his face. Looking at him, the prime minister seemed to recall someone.

 

“Little scholar,” the girl smiled and said to him, “be careful when walking in the future. If you accidentally bump into someone with a bad temper, you’ll be in trouble.”

 

“Little scholar. The road of life is long. Don’t be sad. The journey is still far from over.”

 

…

 

“Marquis Lu,” the chief academician said cautiously behind him, “everyone else has left. Shall we go too?”

 

He withdrew his thoughts from that pouring rain and replied with a “good.”

 

‘The road of life is long. Don’t be sad. The journey is still far from over.’

 

The clear voice of the girl still lingered in his ears.

 

Marquis Lu smiled.

 

If he had a child, he would probably name him… Lu Luxiu.

 

The emperor and Zhou Xun walked back along the small path covered with pebbles. On both sides were flowers of late spring and early summer, swaying in the evening breeze.

 

Zhou Xun knew that the emperor had witnessed everything today.

 

He witnessed the conflict between himself and the prince, witnessed the intense confrontation when he exposed his elder brother’s mask. The emperor saw all of his sharpness… and all of his shortcomings.

 

What would he think?

 

Perhaps anyone else would consider his reaction inappropriate, lacking in dignity and elegance. The court of Jing Dynasty valued Confucianism, advocating self-discipline and ritual, promoting gentlemen-like behavior. If one is a gentleman, they should maintain a harmonious appearance, no matter how many conflicts they have or even if they endure internal struggles, it should never be exposed openly.

 

Even if he himself was the victim.

 

But Zhou Xun never learned the art of smooth dealing, especially not in front of Zhou Cai and the fifth prince. He would rather confront someone openly than scheme behind their back. Otherwise, he would not be standing here but would have become a “favored concubine” in the royal residence.

 

“Don’t you want to ask me something?” Zhou Xun suddenly said.

 

“Ask… ask what?” The emperor seemed momentarily lost in thought.

 

He appeared to have just been daydreaming.

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Emperor: “Oh, what do you want for dinner? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Emperor: “Do you want braised pork elbow?”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Emperor: “Hehe, I feel like having that.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The emperor touched his nose and said, “Um… are you allergic to alcohol?”

 

Passing by the study, Zhou Xun noticed that the route was adorned with peaches.

 

The peaches hung heavily on the branches, round and large, resembling cheerful smiling faces in the twilight. The emperor said, “These peaches are specially grown for the royal family in off-season, cultivated in a fire-heated room—what they call a greenhouse.”

 

As he spoke, he reached out to pick a peach, looking delighted:

 

“Look at this, how big! How round! I specifically instructed Xiao Li to pick the ones with good appearance and hang them up. If you want to eat, just pick one…”

 

Emperor: …

 

He realized the peaches were hung quite high, just out of reach of his hand.

 

The emperor chose to maintain the dignity of a true dragon emperor between tiptoeing and a little jump. He quickly withdrew his hand, coughed, and said, “Have someone pick one for me; I won’t do it myself.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He touched his wrist; there was a slight bruise from the earlier confrontation with the prince. The emperor sneakily glanced at him, and when Zhou Xun looked back, he pretended nothing happened.

 

The two returned to the palace for dinner. When Zhou Xun was not in the room, the emperor said to Xiao Li, “Come here.”

 

Xiao Li rushed over busily.

 

Emperor: “Fetch me a book.”

 

Xiao Li: “What book?”

 

Emperor: “What book…”

 

He scratched his head, looking towards the side hall with some confusion.

 

Emperor: “Do we have… math books?”

 

Xiao Li: “Huh?”

 

Emperor: “Books related to mathematics.”

 

Xiao Li took the order and retreated. The emperor sat at the table, thinking about Zhou Xun’s hand, recalling memorized texts, feeling utterly confused.

 

After a while, he suddenly shook his head vigorously.

 

“No, no, no… I can’t…!!”

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

He returned from the side hall after changing his clothes, only to see the emperor shaking his head and repeatedly saying, “I can’t.”

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

His thoughts oscillated between “What strange whim has the emperor taken now” and “Did I accidentally stumble upon some palace secret.” Then, he saw the emperor finally hugging his own head, howling to the sky, “I really can’t—!!”

 

Zhou Xun: ??

 

Emperor: ??

 

They locked eyes, creating an extremely awkward moment. Even Xiao Li, who had just finished the task of finding the book, felt equally awkward.

 

Emperor: “Uh, sir, your footsteps are so quiet…”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He silently swallowed his question about “what can’t you do” and sat down at the table for the meal. The emperor then turned to the equally dumbfounded Xiao Li, revealing a sinister expression that said, “If you dare speak, you’re dead.”

 

Xiao Li: …

 

He silently gave himself a gesture to “keep silent.”

 

Emperor: …

 

Filled with frustration at being misunderstood again, he finished the dinner. Zhou Xun, still thinking about the afternoon’s events, also found little pleasure in the meal. The emperor, eating and discreetly observing Zhou Xun’s reactions, was also not enjoying the food.

 

Dinner ended in this seemingly harmonious yet detached manner. After the meal, Zhou Xun returned to the side hall.

 

Feeling somewhat annoyed, he intended to sleep, but as he approached the bed, he noticed a book on the table.

 

A book… bound with thread?

 

A copy of “Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art”?

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He distinctly remembered it wasn’t there before he went out in the afternoon.

 

Thinking about the emperor calling Xiao Li before dinner, his hand trembled, accidentally tearing a page.

 

Zhou Xun sat down, opened “Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art,” and read through it page by page. In the end, he flipped the pages back to the one he had torn, staring blankly at the small tear.

 

It was actually a very small crack, barely noticeable without careful inspection. But as Zhou Xun looked at it, his heart couldn’t help but ache. He repeatedly used his fingers to gently trace it, as if trying to smooth out that tiny fissure.

 

He didn’t know what he was thinking.

 

It wasn’t until much later that he learned it was something everyone involuntarily does to things they cherish.

 

There was a rustling sound outside the door. Zhou Xun carefully closed the book and walked over, opening the door.

 

“Oh!”

 

The emperor covered his nose and fell flat on his back.

 

“…What are you doing here?” Zhou Xun looked at the emperor, puzzled.

 

The emperor nonchalantly got up, dusted himself off, and said, “Come, let’s go out for a drink.”

 

“Drink?” 

 

“Yeah,” the emperor grinned, putting his arm around Zhou Xun’s shoulder, “It’s late at night; let’s go out for drinks and skewers!”

 

Zhou Xun didn’t like drinking, but inexplicably, he followed him.

 

The emperor led him to a stone table in the imperial garden. The table was in a pavilion overlooking a lotus pond of early summer. The pond was covered with layers of lotus leaves and some lotus flower buds with pointed tips, revealing small faces.

 

Zhou Xun knew that in about ten days, all the lotus flowers here would bloom. By then, the pond would be even more beautiful.

 

They both sat down. On the table were a few bottles of wine and some glasses. Zhou Xun picked up a glass and took a few sips, remaining silent.

 

The emperor also took a few sips. His hearty drinking surprised Zhou Xun momentarily.

 

Next, he heard the emperor spit out, “Damn, mistook it for beer.”

 

…Beer?

 

The emperor said, “Snow beer, venturing across the world.”

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

The emperor once again revealed a somewhat “amused.jpg” expression.

 

He patted his thigh, “Just drinking is boring. Xiao Li, bring some snacks.”

 

The snacks were nothing more than those exquisite little treats that scholars liked. Therefore, when several plates of grilled meat skewers were brought in, Zhou Xun looked at the emperor with confusion.

 

Zhou Xun: “This is…”

 

Emperor: “This wasn’t my invention. I won’t take credit for inventing delicious food; I’ll leave that to other folks.”

 

The emperor then said to him, “You didn’t eat enough tonight, right? Come on, have a skewer, consider it a late-night snack.”

 

Looking at the oily skewer, Zhou Xun didn’t usually enjoy such food. However, under the emperor’s earnest gaze, he inexplicably took a bite.

 

The rich fat melted on his tongue, tasting like the worldly fireworks.