After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 84

In the palace, Zhou Xun stared at the novel on the desk, lost in thought.

 

Old Shen had said that books bestowed by the Emperor were full of meaning. When Emperor Gaozong gave him a military chronicle, it was to teach him the strategy of division and conquest. When Emperor Gaozong gave another official a Buddhist scripture, it was because he found his chatter too much.

 

So…

 

What could the Emperor mean by giving him “The Appreciation of Flowers”?

 

…It couldn’t be hinting at something related to sexual orientation, could it?

 

Zhou Xun pondered this and felt confused.

 

Regarding sexual orientation, he only knew about the yin-yang balance when he was young. Even though he had passed the age of admiring the young and talented, the pressure of life made marriage and childbirth seem like just a process everyone went through. He had no other expectations except mutual respect.

 

It was only after meeting the Fifth Prince that he learned about the mysterious affection between men, thanks to his older brother Zhou Cai, who was known for his charm and was almost considered a lord of such affections. However, after that, he grew to dislike people altogether, let alone whether he liked men or women.

 

In summary, he didn’t think he liked men or women; it was just… the Emperor was an exception.

 

But the Emperor?

 

The Emperor seemed like the most typical man who was only interested in women.

 

Otherwise, he wouldn’t… work so hard to avoid thinking about it.

 

Zhou Xun thought for a long time but couldn’t make sense of it. He casually shoved the book into a drawer. Before going to sleep, he still wondered if the Emperor had simply picked the wrong book.

 

…The Emperor could indeed do such a thing. He thought with his eyes closed.

 

—However, Zhou Xun was unaware that the Emperor had, after all, exceeded his imagination.

 

In the middle of the night, Zhou Xun was awakened by a strange noise.

 

He was a light sleeper by nature, even in the palace, so even a slight sound could wake him from his sleep.

 

In his half-asleep state, he initially thought it was a palace maid entering. He frowned and was about to call her out, but…

 

He stiffened, his eyes opening slightly in his sleep.

 

This wasn’t the sound of a maid!

 

The few palace maids and servants in the side hall were usually obedient to Zhou Xun and slept outside. Even if they needed to enter the inner chamber, they would never do so stealthily without a word. Moreover, the sound of footsteps…

 

No matter how he listened, it was the sound of a grown man!

 

He pretended to be asleep but kept his ears alert and sensitive. Unconsciously, he recalled a story his mother had told him when he was young, feeling a bit creeped out.

 

‘…If you wake up in the middle of the night and hear someone calling you, don’t turn around. At the witching hour, when the yin energy is strongest, there will be ghosts wandering around.’

 

The palace, after all, was a place that devoured people and was the most hidden place of bloody slaughter. Zhou Xun had heard many ghost stories related to the palace from the maids before, such as abandoned consorts in the cold palace, rotating consorts hung on the city gates, or deposed empresses who had their kidneys removed for their sisters…

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He couldn’t help but clutch the small quilt a little tighter but soon felt embarrassed by his childishness.

 

Then a thought suddenly came to him.

 

“There are no demons and monsters in this world!”

 

Thinking of the Emperor’s bright smile, Zhou Xun felt a warmth akin to the light of righteousness.

 

…Since it wasn’t a ghost, then. Zhou Xun’s eyes darkened.

 

Perhaps it was an assassin.

 

But soon, he heard the rustling sound of someone searching or rummaging through something.

 

Zhou Xun was stunned, thinking that with the palace’s strict security, it was unlikely for a thief to sneak in.

 

Moreover, it would be difficult to avoid disturbing the guards and maids inside and outside the room.

 

Could it be…

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He closed his eyes and finally shouted, “Who is outside?!”

 

The room instantly erupted into chaos, followed by the sound of a cupboard door being shut. Zhou Xun got out of bed and lit a candle.

 

He looked around the dark outer chamber, finding it completely empty—not even a palace maid was present.

 

Holding the candle, Zhou Xun prepared himself to face the unknown threat.

 

……

 

Zhou Xun held the candle and stared sternly at the cupboard.

 

The cupboard that had someone inside.

 

He stood still, and the cupboard remained still. The candlelight flickered, casting his shadow on the cupboard. He was outside, and the mysterious person was inside.

 

After a long pause, Zhou Xun said, “Come out.”

 

There was also a long pause from inside the cupboard before a voice, muffled by a pinched nose, responded.

 

“I-I am Bai Zhantang.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He sighed deeply.

 

“Your Majesty,” Zhou Xun said helplessly, “please come out of the cupboard.”

 

Cupboard: …………

 

“Oh.” After a long pause, a voice, trying to sound straightforward, finally replied.

 

……

 

The Emperor eventually emerged from the cupboard.

 

Not only did he come out of the cupboard, but his movements were also somewhat awkward. Especially his posture, which was very upright, giving off the impression of someone who had walked out of a door meant for people but left a small opening for a dog, yet walked out with a straight back.

 

Zhou Xun glanced at the Emperor’s waist and, unsurprisingly, saw a hard object inside, unable to suppress a sigh.

 

He indeed ended up doing that. Zhou Xun sat by the table, placed the candlestick on it, and rested his forehead, looking at the sneaky nighttime visitor, the Emperor, and said, “Isn’t it embarrassing?”

 

“Not embarrassing,” the Emperor said, trying to hide the object at his waist. “I told the people outside that I needed to discuss confidential matters with you late at night, so I sent them away.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor continued, “Don’t worry, I looked very serious at that time. They were all scared, thinking we were discussing military matters.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He changed his posture, resting his forehead on one hand and tilting his head to look at the Emperor. “So, what confidential matter does His Majesty need to discuss with me?”

 

His voice was still a bit hoarse and lazy from just waking up. His forehead was smooth, with black hair hanging over his shoulder, and his collar was a bit crooked. He didn’t realize how he looked at the moment.

 

“Well…”

 

The Emperor tried to speak but then noticed the candlelight, which was like a warm glow in the collarbone of the young man across from him. Somehow, he got stuck.

 

Zhou Xun thought the Emperor was blushing out of guilt and got stuck. He pouted, stood up, and walked toward the Emperor.

 

Emperor: …

 

He heard his heart pounding loudly and then saw the long-haired beauty walk past him.

 

Just the ends of his hair brushed over the Emperor’s shoulder.

 

Emperor: …

 

…It’s all the fault of the long black hair. The Emperor thought blankly as he stared at the sky, while Zhou Xun had already pulled out a book from that drawer.

 

“‘The Six Records of Floating Life,’ this is a proper book now.” Zhou Xun held the book he had found, which had been replaced by the Emperor, and held it to his face like a pillow. “Isn’t it?”

 

Emperor: …

 

Seeing that the Emperor remained silent, Zhou Xun thought he was still feeling guilty and teased, “Be careful with book gifts in the future. Don’t casually send out random books. It’s fine if you’re in the side hall; you can exchange the book back. But if it were at an official’s residence, would the Emperor also have to wear night clothes to change it?”

 

Emperor: …

 

He saw the Emperor blush, lowering his head to rub his nose. This was the first time Zhou Xun had seen the Emperor like this after so many days.

 

It was very different from his usual self.

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He had originally intended to mock the Emperor, but somehow, he also felt a bit embarrassed and warm on his face. He said, “Well… It’s not a big deal if the wrong book was sent for a moment.”

 

“Is a man’s affection for another man something messy?”

 

Zhou Xun: !!… Huh????

 

Emperor: “Ah ah ah, no, forget what I said!”

 

The Emperor ran away as if flying. He grabbed his head and said to Zhou Xun, “Uh, you, you rest well… Wait, haven’t you read all the book yet?!”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He coughed and said, “I… flipped through a few pages.”

 

The Emperor looked as if he wanted to cry. He quickly said, “Don’t misunderstand, I really didn’t mean anything. I just bought the wrong book by accident. I hurriedly bought some books a few days ago and just took them away. I only realized today that there were a bunch of random things in it…”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

If it were usual, Zhou Xun would have believed the Emperor’s words. Moreover, the name “The Appreciation of Flowers” sounded refined, and the Emperor, who wasn’t very interested in literature, likely thought it was just a book on flower appreciation.

 

However, while the Emperor’s mistake with the book was understandable, the excuse of just realizing it today and rushing through it seemed a bit far-fetched.

 

Zhou Xun had seen him secretly looking at the fire-avoiding diagram.

 

So Zhou Xun couldn’t help but look at the Emperor with an accusing gaze. The Emperor, feeling anxious, said, “Uh… don’t you believe it? I really didn’t deliberately buy this book or this kind of book, really.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Emperor: “Really, really.”

 

The Emperor’s expression was sincere, but Zhou Xun was quite annoyed. He thought, “Even the Emperor can lie now.”

 

So, as the Emperor turned to leave, Zhou Xun said softly from behind, “I saw it all.”

 

The Emperor turned around, confused, “What did you see?”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Did he have to force himself to say those words?

 

But the Emperor looked extremely puzzled, righteous, and was clearly unwilling to have his glorious image tarnished. Seeing Zhou Xun’s face full of hesitance and disdain, the Emperor continued to press, “What did you see??”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Zhou Xun struggled to articulate “The Fire-Avoiding Diagram” amidst numerous rhetorical attempts. The Emperor still looked confused. “The Fire-Avoiding Diagram? What’s that?”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

This time, Zhou Xun felt not only embarrassed but also angry.

 

Was the Emperor really going to play dumb to the end?

 

Zhou Xun grabbed a teacup, sneered a couple of times, and said, “What else could it be? Naturally… naturally…”

 

“Never mind.”

 

Emperor: ??

 

The Emperor was completely puzzled. Zhou Xun decided to give him an out and said, “Why did His Majesty suddenly decide to send me a book?”

 

Emperor: “Oh, I learned from a book.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Zhou Xun almost toppled under the table. “What book? What did you learn?”

 

“Uh…”

 

Although the Emperor found it odd to learn how to please a man, he thought if it was to please a friend, it would be fine. So he sincerely said, “Well… I thought, I can’t just keep asking you to drink more hot water all the time.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Emperor: “And I haven’t learned how to please male… friends before. Pleasing friends, haha, so I thought I’d take a look for reference? There’s no Zhihu or anything here…”

 

Zhou Xun was silent for a while and asked, “Why does His Majesty want to please me?”

 

Now the Emperor had something to say. He looked around, sat down, and said, “Because I want you to be happier. I want our relationship to be better.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor continued, “Actually, this is the first time I want to see how to gain more favor in interpersonal relationships… Uh, it sounds a bit weird and a bit effeminate. Sigh, anyway.”

 

He laughed heartily and patted Zhou Xun’s shoulder, “The intention is what matters, you understand!”

 

The pat seemed more like an awkward attempt at covering up, so it was especially hearty. However, his nightwear was different from his usual outer clothing, and they were sitting close, so this pat…

 

Wasn’t a pat, but a shove.

 

The shove made Zhou Xun’s collar fall down.

 

Both of them: …

 

Zhou Xun silently pulled his collar up. After their conversation, he realized he had made a misunderstanding, and while it was laughable, he also thought that the Emperor’s statement about “good intentions” was really…

 

Weird.

 

“By the way,” perhaps to ease the embarrassment, the Emperor quickly changed the subject, “Actually, I couldn’t sleep tonight because I remembered something…”

 

“What is it?”

 

“The matter of writing the sacrificial text to heaven. The censors said that I need to write it personally to show sincerity,” the Emperor said, scratching his head, “How am I supposed to write it myself?”

 

Zhou Xun knew that during the summer, there were often various droughts in the Great Jing, so offering sacrifices to heaven was normal. And indeed, it was a rule in Great Jing that the Emperor himself must write and recite it at the altar to show sincerity.

 

But this rule was mostly a matter of the books; usually, it was the Hanlin Academy who drafted it for the Emperor. The Emperor, complaining and fuming, said, “Hmph, these people are clearly taking the opportunity to vent their dissatisfaction with Zhou Cai recently. They keep saying Zhou Cai is so talented that no one else can write it. They’re deliberately making things difficult for me, expecting me to produce something inferior compared to last year’s piece, just to find a reason to criticize—”

 

He sighed, “But at that time, I was in a bad mood and agreed, now…”

 

“What if the Emperor writes something better?”