After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 18

The lamb skewers sizzle with droplets of oil. With a bite, the meat juice permeates through the crispy surface, blending the spicy aroma of spices in the mouth. The skewered meat is golden and crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside. The lean meat is tender and smooth in the mouth, while the well-cooked fat releases its oil, enhancing the flavor.

Zhou Xun seldom eats such things.

Since the incident in his childhood, his digestive system hasn’t been great. His mother provided him with nourishing but mostly soft and bland food to aid in his recovery. As he grew into adolescence, his health improved, but his dietary habits remained fixed. Later, upon entering the royal palace, his heart turned ashen, and the desire to savor delicacies vanished.

The taste of these lamb skewers differs from the congee and plain food he’s accustomed to. The spices explode on the taste buds, like a dagger piercing through the icy exterior, bringing an irresistible, cheerful warmth. In his confusion, the flavor rushes into his throat, pulling him in.

—Just like the feeling an emperor gives.

Zhou Xun is not oblivious to the emperor’s peculiarities. How could such a keen and intelligent person not sense it?

Yet the majesty of the emperor is inviolable, and apart from that, he wasn’t originally interested.

However, amidst the taste of the lamb skewers, Zhou Xun realizes that he…

wants to understand him.

It’s a subtle sensation.

He wants to know the person sitting across from him, not just as a subject understanding the “emperor,” but out of genuine curiosity.

This sudden and shallow thought quickly fades from his mind, as if cast aside, but it’s like the crack in the winter ice in a pond, suddenly revealing ripples.

“That’s right.” The emperor sees him take a bite and happily says, “Eat more meat; it gives strength, allowing one to live longer. Starting tomorrow, have an egg and a glass of milk every day. In the evening, I’ll accompany you for a run or walk. If someone dares to hit you, hit back!”

Zhou Xun:…

… Is the emperor trying to make him as robust as Consort Zhao? Zhou Xun finds it somewhat amusing.

He lightly smirks and swallows the piece of meat. Seeing him finish it, the emperor becomes even more delighted, his face turning slightly red.

Zhou Xun waits for the emperor to speak.

The emperor called him out so late; there must be something he wants to discuss.

“I want to reform the imperial examination system!” Before Zhou Xun could finish his thoughts, the emperor continues, “Recently, I’ve been thinking of adding a few departments. I want to recruit talents for a new science department and an engineering department. In addition, I plan to establish a specialized medical department to systematically research and train medical professionals. I’ll recruit those interested in practicing medicine, provide uniform health knowledge training and assessment, establish local health bureaus from the capital to various regions, conduct public health education, manage irregular medical practitioners, and grade medical institutions…

“There will also be a patent office, encouraging civilian research and inventions, with annual awards. Oh, and a centralized institution for cultivating researchers… let’s call it Qingbei University…” The emperor seems a bit intoxicated as he continues, “And there’s a touring theater group nationwide performing healthcare and medical education plays… um… inventors of outstanding patents can be rewarded with official titles and nobility…”

Zhou Xun patiently listens as the emperor’s ideas soar like a wild horse, attentively asking questions from time to time. After understanding the detailed meaning of autonomous enrollment, he suggests, “This matter shouldn’t be rushed…”

The emperor looks at him with raised eyebrows, “Oh?”

Somehow, Zhou Xun feels a hint of aggrieved expression in the emperor’s eyes. He says, “I’m not denying your ideas…”

The emperor prompts, “Hmm, go on!”

In a sense, the emperor is also someone with strong convictions about his own ideas. Thinking to himself, Zhou Xun continues, “If it’s rushed without establishing a complete supervisory system, some influential individuals will undoubtedly misuse it, even buying inventions as a means of advancement…”

The emperor ponders for a moment and agrees, “True, but…”

“With you by my side, we can think of a way together. We can definitely make it work!” The emperor says cheerfully, “Although there are specialized fields, you… let’s work hard together!”

His smile is bright, radiating a touch of irredeemable idealism and innocence. However, Zhou Xun doesn’t dislike this expression of his.

He smiles lightly in his heart, “Okay.”

The two talk late into the night and end up quite intoxicated. The emperor, with a slightly slurred speech, says to him, “Those… are things of the past, it’s fine. I don’t mind at all.”

Zhou Xun stares at him, clenching his hands. But the emperor’s gaze is sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

He truly doesn’t mind.

Yet, in the end, Zhou Xun still asks him, “Do you really have no questions for me?”

The emperor continues shaking his head. Zhou Xun looks at him and adds, “Just this once, whatever you want to ask, I’ll tell you.”

Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, Zhou Xun inexplicably becomes a bit stubborn. His cheeks are flushed, and he stares at the emperor, as if waiting for him to speak.

The emperor:…

Being stared at by Zhou Xun, he seems a bit uneasy and absentmindedly touches his nose, “Well…”

Zhou Xun is still looking at him.

The emperor: “You…”

Zhou Xun: “Speak.”

“This… this…” The emperor’s forehead seems to be sweating, not because of alcohol, “Are you… are you really…”

Zhou Xun: “Speak.”

The emperor: “Are you… are you drunk?!”

Zhou Xun still holds onto his sleeve, persistently saying, “Speak.”

The emperor: “When others are drunk, they go crazy, but when you’re drunk, why do you become like a personified version of Zhihu…”

Zhou Xun: “Speak.”

The emperor struggles with his head for a while, then suddenly has an idea, pulling out a fennel seed.

“This character ‘hui,’ how many different ways can it be written?”

Zhou Xun:…

“One, one, three…”

Zhou Xun manipulated his fingers, seemingly intoxicated while calculating something. The emperor, observing him, patted his shoulder and said, “Stop calculating. I forgot; that section is not in the mandatory curriculum…”

Zhou Xun replied, “Don’t bother me; I’m counting.”

Emperor: …

Zhou Xun identified three types and suddenly became cheerful. He gestured with his fingers to the emperor, saying, “It’s three!”

The emperor said, “It’s four!”

Zhou Xun insisted, “Three!”

The two argued for a while, and the emperor finally said, “Alright, three it is. Let me help you back…”

Suddenly, his hand was slapped onto the chilly stone table.

Zhou Xun, holding his finger, responded evasively, “Do you want to hear a story?”

The emperor, puzzled, asked, “A story from a book? Which one…”

Before the emperor could answer, Zhou Xun began, “Once upon a time, there was a mountain, and at the foot of the mountain, there was a city. In the city, there lived a family surnamed Zhou…”

The emperor looked at his expression and suddenly understood.

Zhou Xun wasn’t asking him what story he wanted to know.

Instead… he wanted to tell him, but was afraid he wouldn’t want to listen.

Somehow, a hint of bitterness welled up in the emperor’s heart. Zhou Xun continued, recounting past events.

In the seventh year of Jinghe, a son was born in the Zhou family. Three years later, in winter, a son from a concubine was born.

Compared to the older brother, the birth of the younger son went unnoticed. The father hired a special tutor for the legitimate son, while the other had to study at home.

…

Zhou Xun spoke for a long time, and eventually, he said, “…I truly hate them. I wish I could send them to hell… of course, I’m already in hell myself…”

Saying this, he smirked self-mockingly.

Seeing his expression, the emperor felt strangely uncomfortable.

Without thinking, he grabbed Zhou Xun’s hand.

Zhou Xun instantly stiffened, unable to move. The emperor, in a muffled voice, said, “Don’t go to hell…”

“Then where else can I go?” Zhou Xun murmured.

The emperor stared at him intently, “I am the emperor; you must believe in me.”

“In this world, there are no ghosts, no gods, and no hell. After death, dust returns to dust, and soil returns to soil.” The emperor asserted, “The world operates based on science.”

After saying this, he smiled, revealing a set of white teeth.