After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 22

Madame Zhou sat on a chair, nervously twirling a wooden bead between her fingers. Seeing a maid in a water-green dress approaching from outside, she immediately asked anxiously, “How is Cai’er now? Is he still throwing a tantrum?”

 

“Mad… Madame,” the maid stammered, trembling, “Mas… Master, he, he won’t let me into the courtyard!”

 

“This is so sinful, truly sinful…” Madame Zhou’s voice quivered with tears.

 

She tossed the Buddha bead in her hand onto the table, causing it to clatter and roll off onto the floor with a crisp sound. A nearby maid, seeing the bead fall, exclaimed and hurried to pick it up—it was a Bodhi bead blessed by the revered Master Jing Xu in the Lingying Temple! Madame Zhou cherished that bead dearly, even a slight scratch would make her heart ache for a long time!

 

“Mother, what’s wrong with eldest brother?” Zhou’s younger sister, Zhou Wanan, was equally anxious. “Hasn’t everything passed already? Eldest brother went to court five days ago, and when he returned, he was so cheerful…”

 

Madame Zhou had two sons and a daughter. The eldest was her beloved Zhou Cai, followed by Zhou Hong, and then her only daughter, Zhou Wanan.

 

Zhou Wanan had always been fond of her elder brother Zhou Cai since childhood. In her heart, her elder brother was the legitimate heir of the Zhou family, a remarkable genius, born noble, and graceful from childhood. Everyone liked him—even the emperor had an exceptional fondness for her brother! When had her brother ever behaved like this?

 

“How would I know?” Madame Zhou furrowed her brow. She didn’t even look at the broken Buddha bead, feeling utterly lost.

 

Clearly… everything had been going well for the past two days!

 

Five days ago, Zhou Cai attended the palace banquet. Four days ago, the Vermilion Guards surrounded the Zhou residence, led by none other than the usually antagonistic Lu Xian. The people of the Zhou family didn’t know exactly what had happened, but seeing the menacing appearance, they thought disaster was imminent. The maidservants and servants whispered to each other, secretly plotting to escape.

 

However, Lu Xian’s swaggering display at the Zhou residence lasted only one day, as the emperor personally ordered the withdrawal of the Vermilion Guards. The entire Zhou residence was preserved intact, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

 

Afterward, Madame Zhou finally learned the truth from the Fifth Prince’s mouth. She had initially thought it was Zhou Xun’s misconduct at the palace that had offended someone. When she learned the truth, she turned pale with fright and fainted directly.

 

This, this was treason, the crime of exterminating nine clans!

 

What was even more shocking to her was—

 

As soon as the emperor heard that Zhou Cai had collapsed in front of the palace gates, he immediately suppressed the entire incident!

 

What kind of favor was this!

 

Madame Zhou knew that the emperor had always cherished Zhou Cai, but she never expected this love to be so terrifying!

 

Zhou Cai was not just someone the emperor held dear; he was… someone who could tap dance on the emperor’s heartstrings!

 

However, Zhou Cai seemed unwilling to discuss this matter further. Madame Zhou could see the melancholy in his expression and understood it.

… Since the emperor values Zhou Cai so much, then what he seeks must not be something as simple as a return like “harmony between ruler and subjects.”

 

Although Zhou Cai has been betrothed to the daughter of the Minister of Rites, Miss Yan, they have not yet married due to Miss Yan’s filial obligations. What does the emperor have in mind for Zhou Cai…

 

However, being highly regarded by the emperor was undoubtedly a great fortune, something that others could not beg for! At least before the emperor made his intentions clear, this was a good thing, a talisman that allowed Zhou Cai to stand tall in the court!

 

Zhou Cai returned from court early in the morning today with a smile on his face. After the lifting of the ban on the Zhou residence, the noblewomen in the capital sensed the change in atmosphere and continued to visit the Zhou residence. Madame Zhou heard from a familiar noblewoman that Zhou Cai mentioned the epidemic during the morning court session, presented a memorandum, and the emperor praised him for caring about the people, saying it was a great fortune for the common people, and that he would look carefully at his memorandum when he returned home.

 

However, tonight, after Zhou Cai returned from the court session, his face remained dark as if he were extremely angry. Zhou Wanan called out to him at the door, but he didn’t listen. When Madame Zhou asked him about it, he, who had always been filial, ignored her and went straight into his courtyard, slamming the door behind him.

 

Then, there was the sound of something being smashed in the courtyard! 

 

Once he went in, he didn’t come out for the whole night. He even sent away the maids who brought him food.

 

Zhou Hong gritted his teeth and stood up from his chair. “Elder brother has never been so angry before. I’ll go talk to him…”

 

“What’s wrong with Cai’er?” 

 

Zhou’s father’s voice sounded at the door. Zhou Hong was about to call him “father,” but his eyes lit up when he saw the young man beside Zhou’s father. “Thank, thank you, elder brother!”

 

Accompanying Zhou’s father into the hall was a handsome young man. He had a deep and handsome appearance, dressed in silver armor, with a noble air between his brows. Zhou Wanan blushed shyly as soon as she saw him.

 

“Thank you, elder brother, you’re back in the capital?” Zhou Hong exclaimed happily. “Why didn’t you tell us when you came back?”

 

Madame Zhou couldn’t help but feel bitter when she saw the newcomer.

 

Why did he choose to come now, of all times?

 

The Xie family had been marquises for five generations, and Xie Zhengqing was known as a prodigy in the Xie family. He had the reputation of being capable of stabilizing the country with martial arts and securing the nation with literature. As the legitimate descendant of the Xie family, he was honest and unwilling to rely on his elders’ influence. At the age of thirteen, he followed his uncle into the army. Despite his young age, he was already a general and had achieved several military merits, making him very famous in the court. This time back in the capital, he was bound to receive honors and rewards.

 

Xie Zhengqing was friends with Zhou Cai. If it were any other time, Madame Zhou would have been delighted for him to visit the Zhou family—she even hoped to marry her daughter to Xie Zhengqing, to soar to greater heights! 

 

But now… Madame Zhou looked at the chaotic scene in her home with embarrassment.

 

It was obvious that Zhou’s father had invited Xie Zhengqing to come home after encountering him on the road, unaware of the mess at home… Madame Zhou couldn’t help but feel resentful towards him. He chose to be so obsequious now, of all times!

 

However, Xie Zhengqing seemed oblivious to the chaos in the Zhou household, which relieved Madame Zhou somewhat.

 

He first bowed to Madame Zhou, then turned to Zhou Hong and said, “I just returned from Cangzhou a few days ago, dusty and tired, it’s not proper to disturb.”

 

Madame Zhou hurriedly invited him to sit down and ordered the maidservant to bring him tea.

 

Xie Zhengqing had sensed the unusual atmosphere in the Zhou residence as soon as he entered. He had heard something about the events of the previous two days but was not yet clear on the details. So after exchanging pleasantries, he asked, “What happened a few days ago when the Jinwei suddenly surrounded the Zhou residence?”

 

It would have been better if he didn’t ask, but as soon as he did, Zhou’s father broke out in a sweat. “Well…”

 

“It’s all because that Zhou Xun acted improperly in front of the emperor and offended him!” Zhou’s younger sister immediately exclaimed, her voice sharp. “He did something wrong himself, causing our whole family to suffer. That Vice Commander Lu even took advantage of the situation to break many things in our house!”

 

“Lu Xiandao is straightforward by nature, but he doesn’t have any bad intentions. There might have been some misunderstandings between him and Brother Cai.” Xie Zhengqing said somewhat helplessly.

 

He was friends with Zhou Cai and had an okay relationship with Lu Xiandao. However, for some reason, these two never got along. In the past two years, he had been away at war and rarely in the capital, so even if he wanted to mediate between the two, he didn’t have the time.

 

However, Zhou Xun… Xie Zhengqing furrowed his brows slightly, somewhat uncertainly saying, “That Zhou Xun… is your second brother?”

 

He didn’t have much impression of Zhou Xun personally, only having heard rumors from Zhou Cai and others in the Zhou family.

 

In his impression, that Zhou Xun seemed to have little interest in studying since childhood, preferring to engage in shady activities. After staying at the Fifth Prince’s mansion for a month and seeing the wealth there, he even gave up on taking the imperial examinations and became a male concubine in the prince’s mansion. The Zhou family was ashamed of him, and they kept this matter hidden.

 

Although Xie Zhengqing didn’t remember his appearance, based on these rumors, he didn’t have a favorable impression of the person himself either. Coming from a noble background and being upright by nature, he looked down on those who engaged in shady activities and lacked ambition.

 

“Yeah, it’s all because of him…”

 

“Wan’er!” Madame Zhou raised her voice, “Don’t speak nonsense!”

 

Zhou Wanwan’s eyes were red, and she closed her mouth, but before that, she said, “If he dared to do those things, why can’t I speak! I’ve never seen Brother Cai so angry before…”

 

Even Zhou Cai got so angry? Xie Zhengqing was startled.

 

He remembered that Zhou Cai had always had a good temper, so how could he get angry too?

 

If even Zhou Cai was angry, then Zhou Xun must have done something really bad. Xie Zhengqing’s dislike for Zhou Xun deepened subconsciously.

 

The maid brought in the warm soup again, so Xie Zhengqing said, “I’ll go see Cai.”

 

There was no problem with two friends going to check on each other. Xie Zhengqing followed the maid to the courtyard where Zhou Cai lived.

 

Before he even entered, he heard a loud crash of something falling to the ground from inside.

 

Xie Zhengqing pushed open the courtyard door.

“Young Master,” Zhou Cai was still angry, and the servant hurriedly ran in, whispering in his ear, “Xie Zhengqing is here.”

 

Xie Zhengqing? Zhou Cai was stunned.

 

“Young Master, this room…” The servant was sweating, “It won’t be cleaned up for a while…”

 

“No need.” Zhou Cai suddenly came up with an idea and said decisively, “No need to clean up.”

 

He smiled and said, “Since he did such a thing, others should know about it too.”

 

Xie Zhengqing, coming from a noble background, straightforward, and speaking without mercy, now with his recent achievements…

 

— He’s the perfect tool.

 

Before Xie Zhengqing entered the study, he saw the mixed figures inside.

 

“Young Master, Young Master!” He heard the servant’s crying, “Don’t torture yourself with others’ mistakes…”

 

Then came the sound of Zhou Cai’s pain: “As the eldest son of the Zhou family, it’s my fault for the Zhou family. As the eldest brother, I should have set a good example, but…”

 

“The Zhou family has a bastard son who climbed the dragon bed. How can I face our ancestors? What will people say about the Zhou family? Hundreds of people in the Zhou family, all ruined because of him. If only I could have restrained him earlier…”

 

“Young Master, how could you restrain him!” The servant cried, “When he broke Madam’s memorial tablet, Master wanted to punish him, but you protected him and sent him to the prince’s mansion. But what did he do? He held a grudge against you and then against the prince… Now he’s envious of wealth and climbed into the emperor’s bed…”

 

“I… sigh!” Zhou Cai’s voice sounded like he was crying blood, “Don’t bother with me anymore! Just let me…”

 

Xie Zhengqing stood in front of Zhou Cai’s door, clenched his fists.

 

“Zhou Xun…” He repeated these two words, his eyes extremely cold.

 

“Tomorrow,” he said to the servant beside him, “come with me to the palace.”

 

He wanted to see what kind of person this male favorite who had captured the emperor’s soul was…

 

—

 

The emperor slowly woke up from his slumber.

 

His brain still hurt from the hangover, and he rubbed his temples hard, not knowing where he was.

 

The first thing he saw was the light blue canopy.

 

“Hmm… canopy… on the bed…” he muttered incoherently, “wait a minute, this doesn’t seem to be my bed??”

 

The emperor’s body stiffened.

 

The memories from the night before, fragmented due to intoxication, replayed in his mind.

 

The emperor: …

 

“Darn it, I didn’t just climb into any concubine’s bed, did I?”

 

The images of the concubines appeared in his mind, and the emperor nervously reached behind himself.

 

The emperor: …

 

Thankfully, he was safe… wait, next to him…

 

It seemed like there was someone?

 

The emperor: …

 

“A true hero faces the bleakness of life with courage,” he murmured, “if it’s not behind, it’s in front, facing the dripping…”

 

He turned his head.

 

And upon seeing the sleeping face beside him, the emperor –

 

Cracked open.

“I…” the Emperor’s voice trembled, almost on the verge of tears, “What have I done…!!”

 

—

 

Half an incense stick later.

 

Xiao Li entered the side hall amidst the Emperor’s weak cries.

 

“Xiao Li.” The Emperor sat cross-legged on the bed, beside him lay Zhou Xun, asleep, but his complexion was ashen, “Bring me my knife.”

 

Xiao Li: ??

 

“Your Majesty…” Xiao Li trembled, “Your Majesty, what are you going to do?”

 

The Emperor glanced at him, then at Zhou Xun, and then looked down at his own legs.

 

“To atone,” he said coldly.

 

Xiao Li: …

 

Xiao Li tremblingly brought the knife, and the Emperor grasped the small knife adorned with gold and jade, looking down at his legs, swallowing hard.

 

“Buddha, Buddha,” the Emperor painfully stretched his neck, “You! Worse than beasts! You! Completely heartless! You, you, I’ll atone with death!”

 

With that, he lifted the knife high, trembling, aiming it in a certain direction.

 

Zhou Xun woke up.

 

His consciousness was still hazy, just as he opened his eyes, he saw the Emperor’s strange actions.

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

“What is the Emperor doing…” he murmured his thoughts in his confusion, “Do you still want to carve the character for morning somewhere?”

 

The Emperor: …