After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 20

The peach blossom fell into the palm, petals unfolding, translucent and sparkling, like a delicate dream on the verge of shattering.

 

Zhou Xun looked around, surrounded only by wind and snow; he saw no one else. The peach blossom seemed as if someone had placed it in his hands, like a dream bestowed upon him at the brink of death.

 

However…

 

As he gazed at the peach blossom and its lively joy, tears welled up in his eyes.

 

He didn’t question the origin of the peach blossom. His frozen body and sluggish mind dissuaded him from seeking the miracle that had descended from the heavens. He closed his hands, cradling the peach blossom to his chest, and closed his eyes to whisper softly.

 

“Mother,” he said.

 

“Mother,” he repeated.

 

“I will live. I will watch them face the consequences they deserve.”

 

A traveler on the verge of freezing to death could, amidst the ice and snow, catch a flower in their palm. So, why couldn’t a crushed ant find a miracle?

 

Snowflakes gently landed on Zhou Xun’s eyelashes, and he knew he would wait.

 

He would wait.

 

…

 

In the dead of night, with the cautious gazes of eunuchs and palace maids, the Emperor, his face flushed from excessive drinking, finally returned to the Yangxin Hall with the assistance of Xiao Li.

 

“I’m not drunk. I really am not,” the Emperor emphasized, staring straight ahead as he was helped into the hall. “I’m… very clear-headed now.”

 

Eunuchs and palace maids shifted their eyes to Xiao Li, who hesitated, saying, “Your Majesty, you really drank…”

 

The Emperor turned his head, “Hmm?”

 

Xiao Lizi: “Your Majesty didn’t really drink too much!”

 

The Emperor sat in the main hall, shaking his head. The palace maids brought hot towels and tea to sober him up.

 

“Xiao Lizi,” Hong Ling, a palace maid from the Yangxin Hall, expressed concern, “Tonight, Your Majesty…”

 

“The Emperor had a drink with Lord Zhou in the pavilion, accidentally drank…” Xiao Lizi was about to say “a lot,” but he noticed the Emperor suddenly raising his head, staring straight in his direction. He quickly changed his wording, “Drank just enough.”

 

Trying to please the Emperor, Xiao Lizi smiled, but soon realized…

 

The Emperor wasn’t looking at him?

 

Xiao Lizi subtly shifted to the side, and the Emperor’s gaze remained unchanged, staring outside.

 

Carefully leaning to take a look…

 

Xiao Lizi: …

 

The Emperor is fixated on… the side hall?

 

Except for Lord Zhou…

 

Who else could it be?

 

A bold idea flashed in Xiao Lizi’s mind as he looked at the Emperor’s focused gaze. Suddenly, he felt a sense of realization.

 

—No one understands the Emperor better than he does!

 

“Your Majesty,” Xiao Lizi said, “Lord Zhou has already retired to the side hall. You…”

 

Before he could finish, the Emperor stood up!

 

His face still showed signs of alcohol, and his outer robe had been removed. Yet, he suddenly walked towards the main hall’s exit!

 

“Your Majesty!” everyone exclaimed.

 

In the midst of these calls, the Emperor abruptly turned around, sharp eyes scanning the eunuchs and palace maids.

 

“I have to do something very important,” he gestured with his fingers, and then, amidst the shocked gazes of everyone…

 

Stumbled towards the direction of the side hall in the Yangxin Hall.

 

The side hall.

 

Not the main hall.

 

The side hall.

 

Eunuchs and palace maids: …

 

“Your Majesty, is this…” Xiao Deng muttered, “Are you planning to stay in the side hall tonight?”

 

The eunuchs and palace maids exchanged glances but dared not speak. Then, Lü Yao said, “What are you waiting for? Hurry, follow.”

 

Finally realizing, they followed the Emperor in a grand procession to the entrance of the side hall, but the Emperor suddenly turned around.

 

“No one is allowed into the side hall tonight,” he said sternly, “I and Mr. Zhou have…”

 

Xiao Lizi quickly interjected, “This servant understands! I will not let anyone disturb Your Majesty and Lord Zhou!”

 

Emperor: “Good!”

 

Xiao Lizi: “It’s my duty! Your Majesty, rest assured!”

 

The Emperor, satisfied, smiled and left with a promise of a reward increase tomorrow. He then pushed the door and entered the side hall.

 

Everyone: …

 

The Emperor’s figure disappeared. Xiao Deng whispered, “So, tonight, the Emperor is staying in the side hall?”

 

“What does it matter where he stays?” Xiao Lizi crossed his arms, “Why are you all still standing here? Go about your own business!”

 

Finally, the crowd dispersed. Only Xiao Deng remained, looking at the door of the side hall. He gave a thumbs up to Xiao Lizi, “Xiao Lizi Gonggong truly understands the Emperor the best!”

 

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lizi once again revealed a proud smile.

 

…

 

The Emperor swiftly entered the side hall. If he were sober at this moment and aware that Xiao Lizi once again “understood” him, he would probably be very pleased and might kick him again.

 

The side hall remained dim. Several eunuchs and palace maids attending to Zhou Xun were originally in the outer room. Seeing the Emperor arrive, they all stood up, “Your Majesty…”

 

“Retire,” the Emperor waved his hand, “No one is to enter the hall tonight unless there is an emergency.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The eunuchs and palace maids withdrew. As they left, a senior palace maid said, “Your Majesty…”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Should we summon the court historian to record Lord Zhou’s name?”

 

“Courthistorian? What’s that?” The Emperor, still intoxicated, waved his hand mysteriously, “I want his name recorded in history!”

 

Eunuchs and palace maids: …

 

The eunuchs and palace maids left. In the side hall, only the Emperor and Zhou Xun remained. He was a bit dizzy from the alcohol, taking steps toward the bed with hanging curtains.

 

Zhou Xun had been awakened by that dream.

 

The snow from when he was eighteen seemed to be floating above his head. Opening his eyes from the dream, traces of tears still lingered at the corners of his eyes.

 

The sensation of the peach blossom falling into his palm remained in his hand. Sitting up, he looked at his palm and suddenly smiled.

 

What he dreamed of was indeed the miraculous encounter he had experienced when he was eighteen, wanting to seek death.

 

Slightly dizzy from the remnants of alcohol, he didn’t hear the noises from outside. When the chaotic footsteps echoed in the inner room, Zhou Xun looked towards the curtain outside the bed.

 

“Emper…”

 

Someone lifted the curtain.

 

Zhou Xun unexpectedly met eyes with the Emperor. The Emperor’s face was against the light, making it impossible for Zhou Xun to see his expression, but he could sense the strong scent of alcohol on him.

 

“…or.”

 

Before he could say anything, the Emperor’s breath suddenly rushed towards him!

 

Zhou Xun, with nowhere to retreat, braced himself on the bed. His waist was seized, and he was lifted upward. The Emperor’s actions were decisive, leaving Zhou Xun no time to struggle before being lifted off the ground.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

He had just exclaimed and instinctively grabbed the Emperor’s collar, preparing himself to be thrown onto the bed, but instead…

 

The Emperor lifted him up.

 

…And spun around.

 

…Spun for the second time.

 

…Spun for the third time.

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Initially, he thought he would be terrified when about to be touched by the Emperor to the extent of his eyes widening. However…

 

At the moment when the Emperor truly embraced him, Zhou Xun found that he wasn’t afraid or repulsed.

 

…Even though he was being spun around.

 

After the spinning, the Emperor lifted him again. Looking down from the suddenly elevated height, Zhou Xun lowered his head to see him.

 

His long hair fell onto the Emperor’s face, and the Emperor shook his head to move them aside.

 

“Why do you feel a bit heavy?” Zhou Xun heard the Emperor mutter, “Wasn’t it easy to spin with just one finger before?”

 

Zhou Xun: ???

 

Spinning with just one finger… could lift him?

 

Zhou Xun looked at the Emperor with an indescribable expression. The Emperor continued.

 

“Tonight, I’ve dismissed everyone else. No one will come in here.” The Emperor spoke seriously, “It’s about time. I want to tell you…”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

“Say it…”

 

The Emperor’s lips touched his ear, carrying a warm scent of alcohol, causing Zhou Xun’s earlobe to tremble.

 

“I want to tell you a secret!” he heard the Emperor’s rich whisper.

 

“I am the descendant of a dragon! I am the successor of socialism!”

 

Zhou Xun: ???

 

He began to doubt if he had really woken up from the dream.