After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 41

Zhou Xun walked under an oil-paper umbrella along the palace path, which was drenched in rain. The June rain pelted the umbrella, decorated with blue peach blossoms.

 

“It always rains in the palace come June,” said a palace maid leading the way. “Be careful not to get your shoes and socks wet.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded.

 

As he passed through a palace gate, he overheard two palace maids sheltering from the rain under the eaves.

 

“Another spring has passed. Will the next one be far behind?”

 

“Why are you so happy, sister?”

 

“My beloved is taking the spring exam next year. He said he will marry me once he passes. I’ll be twenty-five next year and can leave the palace…”

 

Spring exams…

 

Without realizing it, two years had already passed since Zhou Xun last took the imperial exam.

 

Two years ago, he had thought he could succeed through the imperial examinations, but…

 

Zhou Xun suddenly paused.

 

A startling thought emerged in his mind.

 

The palace maids’ voices and the sound of the summer rain gradually faded behind him. As he approached another palace gate, he saw someone in the distance, hurrying over as if they had dropped something.

 

From afar, Zhou Xun found the person somewhat familiar. Before he could speak, he stumbled over something.

 

Looking down, he saw a piece of jade.

 

As he bent to pick it up, the hurried individual bumped into him, rain splashing around them.

 

“Sorry, sorry,” the person said quickly, looking up at him.

 

In that instant, both were stunned.

 

Zhou Xun said, “Chancellor Lu…”

 

“Lin…” The person, seeing him through the rain, was momentarily surprised, then bowed, “Young Master Zhou.”

 

The person was Chancellor Lu. He apologized, explaining that he had just left the imperial library and realized he had lost a cherished item, so he was searching for it. In his haste and due to the slippery ground, he accidentally bumped into Zhou Xun.

 

Zhou Xun smiled politely, “No harm done. May I ask what you’re looking for? I might have seen it along the way.”

 

Chancellor Lu wiped his hair, his usually composed face now looking a bit disheveled. “It’s…a jade pendant.”

 

“Is this the jade pendant you’re looking for?”

 

Zhou Xun handed him the jade pendant, causing Chancellor Lu to beam with joy, his middle-aged face lighting up. “Yes, this is it!”

 

He carefully put the jade pendant away. Although Zhou Xun wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs, he couldn’t help but ask, “You cherish this pendant so much. Is it an old family heirloom?”

 

Chancellor Lu smiled, “Just a keepsake from an old friend.”

 

The two nodded to each other and went their separate ways. The rain had soaked Zhou Xun’s shoes, making his socks damp and uncomfortable.

 

By the time he entered the imperial library, his shoes and socks were thoroughly wet. Through a screen, Zhou Xun saw the emperor hunched over a table, intently studying a booklet.

 

A blue cover.

 

It was his booklet.

 

“Oh? Xun, you’re here?” The emperor, seeing him, closed the booklet and put it aside, then ordered Xiao Li to bring a “sofa.” “The rain is so heavy. How did you get here? Are you cold? Have some hot water.”

 

Zhou Xun sat on the sofa, eyeing the booklet the emperor had been reading. The emperor, a bit embarrassed, laughed, “Hehe, just started learning, so it’s still a bit slow, but I’ve made a lot of progress these days! Soon I’ll be able to…”

 

“Your Majesty hasn’t summoned me to the library in recent days,” Zhou Xun said.

 

He noticed the papers on the emperor’s desk, the same type of secret letter he had seen before, with faint writing on them. The emperor, seeing him, casually left the letter out in the open, not at all concerned about him reading it.

 

This confirmed Zhou Xun’s suspicion.

 

“Just like you said, one day I’ll be able to rely on myself to read things,” the emperor said, scratching his head, somewhat embarrassed. “Since you’re here, might as well learn more…”

 

With the sounds of wind and rain outside the window, and the flickering candlelight in the imperial study, Zhou Xun looked at the emperor, his gaze unwavering.

 

“Your Majesty doesn’t want to involve me in the dark affairs, does he?”

 

The emperor was stunned.

 

“The documents from the Black Robe Guards made Your Majesty decide to study on your own… It’s because of this matter, isn’t it?”

 

When it came to matters he cared about, Zhou Xun was always straightforward and unpretentious. He continued, “Your Majesty hesitated before, and I noticed. When it comes to handling the intelligence documents of the Black Robe Guards, I am the most suitable person.”

 

“First, unlike the available officials in court today, I have no entanglements with any influential families or factions. I am an absolutely ‘clean’ and solitary person. My former friends have long since severed ties with me. I have also fallen out with my family. I have no old acquaintances, no relatives or children, and no personal assets. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to have any personal motives. You could say I am ‘bare and exposed.’” Zhou Xun spoke calmly and rationally about his cruel and painful past, as if making an objective analysis. “This is the first reason.”

 

“Secondly, Your Majesty can easily control my life and death. I reside in the palace, have no relatives or friends, no mentors. My loyalty lies with Your Majesty. If Your Majesty wanted to eliminate me, you could do so at any time—”

 

“Hey!” The emperor, initially shocked, was now somewhat angry. “What nonsense are you spouting? How could I ever—”

 

“Your Majesty, let me finish.” Zhou Xun said calmly. “If Your Majesty wanted to eliminate me, you could do so at any time without fearing any retaliation. Someone like me, my life and death are at Your Majesty’s whim. The little peace I have is also granted by Your Majesty. I could never harbor any disloyalty. Even if enemy spies tried to approach me, they would find it difficult to get close to me, let alone tempt or control me. Secrecy is paramount in espionage work, and I am a man without a past…”

 

He was still speaking when the emperor stood up and walked towards him, his expression unprecedentedly grim. “Stop talking!”

 

“Third…” Zhou Xun lowered his head, then looked up at the emperor with a smile. “Your Majesty must trust my talents, and as for matters in the shadows, I can handle them too.”

 

He had the talent and the resolve to undertake such tasks. He could identify Xie Zhengqing’s identity at a glance. He anticipated the worst outcome for Zhang Lingsu upon hearing about her.

 

—He was suited for this kind of work.

 

“If Your Majesty is not comfortable entrusting me with such heavy responsibilities, you could keep me for now and train me as a minor leader first…”

 

“I told you to shut up!!”

 

The emperor roared. Xiao Li, who was about to enter the study with a bowl of health water, was so frightened that he trembled.

 

Very perceptive of the atmosphere, Xiao Li retreated with the health water in his hands. The palace maids at the door also heard the emperor’s roar full of anger, and their necks shrank like quails in fright.

 

“Li… Eunuch Li…”

 

“Quiet, the emperor is in a rage.” Xiao Li hurriedly put his finger to his lips. “Be silent, lest you incur the emperor’s wrath.”

 

A thunderclap boomed in the sky, followed by heavier rain. The emperor grabbed Zhou Xun’s hand. Zhou Xun said nothing. The emperor gritted his teeth and said, “Will you be quiet now? Hmm?”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Outside the study, the rain was pouring down. The emperor seemed genuinely furious, taking deep breaths as if to calm his agitation and anger. After a long time, his face finally settled.

 

“Do you think I haven’t considered it?” he said. “Do you think I don’t know you’re the most suitable candidate? Do you think I don’t know… you’re the best choice?”

 

Zhou Xun said, “I know Your Majesty knows.”

 

“You know these things, what I know, you know too.” The emperor’s grip on Zhou Xun’s wrist was painful. He seemed genuinely angry. “Do you know what you mean to me?”

 

Zhou Xun’s wrist hurt. His wrist was thin, and the emperor’s grip was too strong. He knew there would be heavy bruises the next day, but he didn’t try to pull his hand away. Zhou Xun said, “Your Majesty considers me… a friend.”

 

He said this with his head lowered, sitting on the “sofa,” while the emperor stood before him. The emperor could look down and see the swirl of hair on top of his head, the tip of his nose under the black hair, and his thick eyelashes.

 

There was an unintentional, almost obedient, tone in his demeanor. Neither he nor the emperor seemed to realize it.

 

“Since you understand, you shouldn’t say such things,” the emperor said. “Do you think I don’t know what you’re saying? Of course I know you’re the most suitable candidate in terms of benefits. I’ve certainly considered you, but…”

 

“But how could I let you do such a thing? I promised you, I promised to bring you into the light. This is my promise to a friend. Therefore, I can’t break my promise for the sake of some benefits. Just thinking that I once considered you for this makes me feel guilty and unable to accept my own thoughts,” the emperor said. “Yes, some things need thorough consideration and maximizing benefits. But when it comes to my friends and promises, it’s different…”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

“Hmm,” he murmured softly.

 

In his heart, he knew the emperor was being sentimental. If no better solution was found later, he would still propose “himself” as the solution.

 

Even now, he didn’t fully agree with the emperor’s thoughts. The emperor was a romantic idealist, while Zhou Xun was more realistic. He didn’t consider how this would affect “himself.” He only thought that if the emperor acted this way, there might be trouble in the future.

 

But he also knew and felt that, at this moment, it was best not to say anything against the emperor.

 

The emperor was a very endearing person, romantic and naive, but also very stubborn. Zhou Xun vaguely knew that under these emotional circumstances, it was best not to say anything.

 

This wasn’t about trust; he just felt that this way, things would be better.

 

Seeing Zhou Xun’s soft “hmm,” the emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief. He then noticed that he had been gripping Zhou Xun’s wrist the whole time.

 

“Your… your wrist… Xiao Li! Call the imperial physician!”

 

“No need to call the physician,” Zhou Xun grabbed his sleeve as he was about to dart out, and said softly, “It’s just a bruise, it will heal quickly.”

 

“Oh…” the emperor said awkwardly, “I just… I got too worked up, I…”

 

Zhou Xun shook his head, “It’s not Your Majesty’s fault, it’s my constitution.”

 

Since childhood, his skin had been sensitive, easily bruised from collisions.

 

The emperor seemed very guilty about bruising his wrist, still scratching his head, “Um… should I massage it for you? Wait, your shoes are wet?”

 

Zhou Xun then looked down at his feet. The shoes and socks that had been soaked in the rain were now completely wet, the cold seeping into his bones.

 

“I’ll have Xiao Li bring you a new pair of shoes,” the emperor ordered Xiao Li. Then, he squatted down, “Take off your shoes. Wearing wet shoes and socks can make you catch a cold.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded. He sat on the sofa, bending over to untie his shoes and socks.

 

His black hair, originally tied back, slipped down on either side of his cheeks as he bent over. When he arched his back, the white nape of his neck appeared under the strands of hair, his spine forming a feline curve down to his back.

 

“Your shoes are completely soaked. I’ll have Xiao Deng come in and wipe them for you.” The emperor, still squatting, watched him and continued to chatter, “You…”

 

Zhou Xun’s right foot finally emerged from the wet shoes and socks.

 

He stretched his toes, his pale foot arched, suspended in the air, with a slight pink tint at the ankle from blood flow. The lines from his calf to his toes were slender and beautiful.

 

At that moment, his shoes and socks fell to the floor with a “plop.”There was an unintentional, almost obedient, tone in his demeanor. Neither he nor the emperor seemed to realize it.

 

“Since you understand, you shouldn’t say such things,” the emperor said. “Do you think I don’t know what you’re saying? Of course I know you’re the most suitable candidate in terms of benefits. I’ve certainly considered you, but…”

 

“But how could I let you do such a thing? I promised you, I promised to bring you into the light. This is my promise to a friend. Therefore, I can’t break my promise for the sake of some benefits. Just thinking that I once considered you for this makes me feel guilty and unable to accept my own thoughts,” the emperor said. “Yes, some things need thorough consideration and maximizing benefits. But when it comes to my friends and promises, it’s different…”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

“Hmm,” he murmured softly.

 

In his heart, he knew the emperor was being sentimental. If no better solution was found later, he would still propose “himself” as the solution.

 

Even now, he didn’t fully agree with the emperor’s thoughts. The emperor was a romantic idealist, while Zhou Xun was more realistic. He didn’t consider how this would affect “himself.” He only thought that if the emperor acted this way, there might be trouble in the future.

 

But he also knew and felt that, at this moment, it was best not to say anything against the emperor.

 

The emperor was a very endearing person, romantic and naive, but also very stubborn. Zhou Xun vaguely knew that under these emotional circumstances, it was best not to say anything.

 

This wasn’t about trust; he just felt that this way, things would be better.

 

Seeing Zhou Xun’s soft “hmm,” the emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief. He then noticed that he had been gripping Zhou Xun’s wrist the whole time.

 

“Your… your wrist… Xiao Li! Call the imperial physician!”

 

“No need to call the physician,” Zhou Xun grabbed his sleeve as he was about to dart out, and said softly, “It’s just a bruise, it will heal quickly.”

 

“Oh…” the emperor said awkwardly, “I just… I got too worked up, I…”

 

Zhou Xun shook his head, “It’s not Your Majesty’s fault, it’s my constitution.”

 

Since childhood, his skin had been sensitive, easily bruised from collisions.

 

The emperor seemed very guilty about bruising his wrist, still scratching his head, “Um… should I massage it for you? Wait, your shoes are wet?”

 

Zhou Xun then looked down at his feet. The shoes and socks that had been soaked in the rain were now completely wet, the cold seeping into his bones.

 

“I’ll have Xiao Li bring you a new pair of shoes,” the emperor ordered Xiao Li. Then, he squatted down, “Take off your shoes. Wearing wet shoes and socks can make you catch a cold.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded. He sat on the sofa, bending over to untie his shoes and socks.

 

His black hair, originally tied back, slipped down on either side of his cheeks as he bent over. When he arched his back, the white nape of his neck appeared under the strands of hair, his spine forming a feline curve down to his back.

 

“Your shoes are completely soaked. I’ll have Xiao Deng come in and wipe them for you.” The emperor, still squatting, watched him and continued to chatter, “You…”

 

Zhou Xun’s right foot finally emerged from the wet shoes and socks.

 

He stretched his toes, his pale foot arched, suspended in the air, with a slight pink tint at the ankle from blood flow. The lines from his calf to his toes were slender and beautiful.

 

At that moment, his shoes and socks fell to the floor with a “plop.”