The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 10

For Yin Yuan, as soon as he entered the palace, he embraced the determination of certain death.

 

The reason was simple: no matter where he was, Yin Yuan always thought about the common people and the people of the world. He couldn’t stand the incompetence of Emperor Qiu Junyao. Coupled with his youthful vigor, he impulsively made a decision that went against the ancestral traditions.

 

When he laid hands on Emperor Qiu Junyao, Yin Yuan had already anticipated the risks that might arise once the truth was exposed. Being well-versed in the laws of the realm, he had prepared an escape route early on—only to find himself a step behind when he unexpectedly discovered that Emperor Qiu Junyao, though foolish, was not incompetent. This revelation threatened to expose his true intentions, leaving him in a dilemma.

 

Now that Emperor Qiu Junyao had shown “great mercy” by sparing his life but demanded three tasks in return, Yin Yuan pondered over his options. Unable to find another way out, he decided to agree for the time being, to see how things would unfold.

 

With this in mind, Yin Yuan maintained a calm façade and respectfully bowed to Emperor Qiu Junyao, showing impeccable etiquette:

 

“Your Majesty, please give your orders.”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao was very pleased with Yin Yuan’s tactfulness and didn’t dwell on the suspicions he had during Yin Yuan’s earlier silence. He made his first request:

 

“First, I want you to ensure my safety until the end of my life.”

 

Because in the original text, “the death of the incompetent Emperor Qiu Junyao” was largely due to Yin Yuan’s resentment towards the previous owner. However, one person’s power was not enough, so he cunningly manipulated several of the previous owner’s sons to inflict the most brutal death upon Emperor Qiu Junyao—a fatal stab through the heart.

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao couldn’t be sure of the extent to which his sons and Yin Yuan had developed their relationship, so he dared not harm Yin Yuan recklessly, lest he sow seeds of resentment among the princes, making the situation even more uncontrollable.

 

If this one stab turned Yin Yuan into the moonlight that accelerated their corruption, it would not be worth it.

 

However, Yin Yuan couldn’t understand Emperor Qiu Junyao’s good intentions. He was a little confused and said:

 

“Your Majesty, I am neither a physician nor a guard.”

 

So how could he ensure the safety of His Majesty?!

 

“I know,” Emperor Qiu Junyao said:

 

“But I encountered a dream from the Emperor Star Constellation, informing me of a disaster three years from now that only you can avert.”

 

“I see.” Upon hearing that he still had value, Yin Yuan finally let go of his anxious heart:

 

“I understand.”

 

He said, “No matter what happens, if Your Majesty is in danger, I will ensure your safety and well-being.”

 

“Very well,” Emperor Qiu Junyao said:

 

“Now, for the second matter…”

 

He paused, seeing Yin Yuan’s nervous expression, and quietly uttered a few words:

 

“Help me with the official documents.”

 

“It’s… huh?!” Yin Yuan was dumbfounded. “Official documents?!”

 

“Yes.” Emperor Qiu Junyao wasn’t from ancient times and hadn’t received complete training in imperial governance, so he was hesitant to take full control of this vast empire, fearing that he might inadvertently cause chaos. It wouldn’t matter if he perished, but he was concerned about the suffering of the people under his rule, especially if they were to encounter an unreliable ruler:

 

“I know you are renowned as the most talented woman in the capital and have been influenced by your family’s scholarly tradition. Surely your talent is no less than that of your brothers.”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao temporarily didn’t plan to expose Yin Yuan’s male identity to avoid stirring up trouble again. After a pause, he joked:

 

“It’s just that your acting skills need some work.”

 

He said, “Your crying was too fake just now.”

 

Yin Yuan: “…”

 

He gritted his teeth and held back:

 

“But women are not allowed to intervene in politics in the harem…”

 

“You don’t speak, and I won’t speak. Who else will know?”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao said, “Rest assured, I’m just asking for your assistance, not asking you to overstep your bounds. There’s no need to be so fearful.”

 

Yin Yuan originally had a heart full of talent and ambition that he couldn’t unleash. Emperor Qiu Junyao’s request wasn’t demanding; instead, it paved a way for him.

 

With Emperor Qiu Junyao’s ailing health, he might pass away in a few years. At that time, if he left a decree for Yin Yuan to leave the palace and regain his identity to participate in official selection, it wouldn’t be impossible.

 

With this in mind, Yin Yuan felt a hint of joy in his heart, but he didn’t show it on his face:

 

“I will wholeheartedly assist Your Majesty.”

 

He paused, then continued, “As for the third request…”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao supported his temple with his fingertips, his expression unusually gentle under the candlelight as he smiled at him:

 

“As for the third request…”

 

He said confidently, “I haven’t decided yet.”

 

Yin Yuan: “…”

 

Such a terrible attitude, he was indeed the incompetent emperor he had in mind!

 

“Well, I’m tired too. Let’s end it here for today. We’ll leave the third request for later. Let’s go to bed first.”

 

After saying that, Emperor Qiu Junyao yawned and walked back to his **.

 

“You should rest early too.”

 

Yin Yuan watched Emperor Qiu Junyao’s back, hesitated for a moment, and cautiously asked:

 

“…Your Majesty, do you still want to stay here with me?”

 

“Yes.” Emperor Qiu Junyao turned around and asked, “Don’t you want me to?”

 

“No, I don’t.” Yin Yuan quickly denied. He didn’t know if Emperor Qiu Junyao was deep or just simple-minded. Even after being betrayed once in his own palace, he still dared to sleep here.

 

Truly unpredictable.

 

As he walked towards Emperor Qiu Junyao, Yin Yuan reached out his hand, wanting to help Emperor Qiu Junyao take off his outer robe:

 

“Let me serve you.”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao glanced at him and for some reason, suddenly smiled.

 

He was already handsome, but with this smile, his aura seemed even more flawless, emitting a soft light like flawless white jade. Yin Yuan couldn’t help but stare blankly, and even the fingertips unbuttoning Emperor Qiu Junyao’s clothes trembled slightly. Amidst the deafening heartbeat, Emperor Qiu Junyao leaned down, meeting Yin Yuan’s eyes as he helped him unbutton his clothes, and smiled:

 

“Don’t pretend to be such a virtuous wife.”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao said, “It doesn’t fit your character.”

 

“A… snake?” Yin Yuan was puzzled. “I’m not a snake.”

 

“…Boring.” Emperor Qiu Junyao felt that ancient people really lacked a sense of humor. He pursed his lips, turned over, and rolled into the **.

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao had already crossed over into the book, and his body still belonged to his innocent virgin self, but he had been transformed into a state of physical deficiency by an invisible force, following the requirements of the original text.

 

His sleeping posture and habits were inherited from his original self, and when his nerves relaxed, his sleeping position became extremely unrestrained. Several times he fought with Yin Yuan for the blanket, leaving Yin Yuan shivering from the cold.

 

In the end, Yin Yuan couldn’t bear it anymore. He gently woke Emperor Qiu Junyao and cautiously told him that he was cold. In a half-asleep state, Emperor Qiu Junyao, like a stingy hamster, opened a small opening in the blanket and let Yin Yuan in.

 

Yin Yuan hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn’t withstand the cold of the snowy night and crawled into Qiu Junyao’s blanket.

 

Surprisingly warm.

 

Qiu Junyao’s body was weak, but because of his weakness, he sweated easily, while Yin Yuan’s body was cooler. The two complemented each other, causing Qiu Junyao to sleep comfortably without tossing and turning.

 

In front of him was Qiu Junyao’s chest, and Yin Yuan’s fingertips rested on it. He knew that if he harbored any thoughts of harming Qiu Junyao at this moment, the hidden guards or attendants might burst in through the door.

 

Then, there wouldn’t be a second chance for him.

 

Even though he still had value, Qiu Junyao would absolutely not allow a person who posed a threat to stay by his side for a moment.

 

Yin Yuan was still thinking about how Qiu Junyao would treat him afterwards, but the heavy scent of medicine and plum blossoms on Qiu Junyao’s body made him feel drowsy, and soon he unconsciously leaned over and fell asleep on Qiu Junyao’s chest.

 

The next day, Qiu Junyao was awakened by the warmth.

 

He groggily opened his eyes and saw Yin Yuan curled up in his arms, sleeping soundly. Strands of hair intertwined where their bodies met, resembling a pair of mandarin ducks.

 

Outside the bed curtains came the soft, hoarse voice of a servant, “Your Majesty, it’s time for court.”

 

Qiu Junyao subconsciously covered Yin Yuan’s ears and mumbled:

 

“What time is it?”

 

“The hour of the tiger.”

 

Qiu Junyao: “…”

 

Damn, who gets up for work at four in the morning???

 

Qiu Junyao felt bitter in his heart, but he couldn’t say it.

 

Suppressing his drowsiness, Qiu Junyao carefully climbed over Yin Yuan and got out of bed to freshen up.

 

Because he had been ill, he had skipped court for several days. If he didn’t go to work soon, this country would be in trouble sooner or later.

 

Qiu Junyao took his seat under the gaze of civil and military officials, then propped up his chin and listened to their reports one by one.

 

After listening to a round of reports, he realized that the court was actually quite peaceful in the Great End Dynasty—largely due to the old minister, Yin Min, who had been firmly in control of the court. Although the previous owner had intentions to reform the court, he lacked significant capabilities and had been relying on medicine to stay alive, which only worsened his condition, creating a vicious cycle.

 

Qiu Junyao wasn’t particularly ambitious or career-oriented. With someone else worrying about court affairs for him, he welcomed it. So, he simply replied with “You’re right” and “That makes sense,” and the morning court was quickly wrapped up.

 

The officials were satisfied that Qiu Junyao had come to morning court normally today and hadn’t kept them waiting outside the palace due to medicine. After the morning court, many of them remarked that the Emperor had changed—

 

He had become even more handsome.

 

When Qiu Junyao finished court, a pile of memorials was brought to the Hall of Diligent Governance. Qiu Junyao smiled faintly at this sight—

 

Then he threw all those memorials to Yin Yuan.

 

Looking at the mountainous pile of memorials, Yin Yuan inexplicably felt that he had been tricked.

 

From morning to night, Qiu Junyao and Yin Yuan had clear division of labor—

 

Qiu Junyao frantically studied the contributions and policies of the previous emperors while Yin Yuan helped him with the memorials. When they encountered matters that couldn’t be decided, they would also consult Qiu Junyao.

 

Qiu Junyao wasn’t very adept at handling them either, but he was good at extrapolating from examples. Seeing the decisions made by the previous emperors, he would follow suit and provide annotations.

 

But most of the time, he was lazy. Generally, it was him dictating while Yin Yuan wrote, and the two of them worked together. It took them a full three hours to finish sorting through the memorials.

 

“I’m exhausted…,” Yin Yuan complained.

 

Qiu Junyao was visibly irritable. “Can’t Governor Liu Jiang stop asking me if I want to eat rat litchis? He’s asked me four times in a row!”

 

“Liu Jiang is far from the palace. Rat litchis would have rotted by the time they reached the palace.”

 

Yin Yuan paused, then continued, “But I’ve been to Liu Jiang to investigate the local customs, and their rat litchis are indeed delicious.”

 

During the years when he was deposed, Yin Yuan traveled extensively and served as a clerk for many officials, so discussing such exotic items came naturally to him, effortlessly.

 

“Really?” Qiu Junyao glanced at him and said, “Then after three years, when I set you free, you can go eat them again.”

 

Yin Yuan didn’t respond, paused for a moment, then stiffly changed the subject:

 

“Your Majesty, these past few days, you’ve been busy with the memorials, and you haven’t summoned the princes. They asked me when you would be free to check their homework.”

 

Working was exhausting enough, and now he had to tutor three children?!

 

Qiu Junyao simply wanted to scream.

 

He leaned wearily against Yin Yuan’s shoulder, his face slightly puffed up from the pressure, adding a hint of youthful cuteness. He mumbled:

 

“Next time.”

 

Honestly, deep down, Qiu Junyao didn’t want those children to mature too quickly, to become too powerful, and thus threaten his position as emperor. But what troubled him was that the previous owner seemed to have had a distant relationship with the three princes for a long time, suddenly wanting to build a relationship with them, hoping to influence them with familial bonds and change his own fate. It seemed impossible.

 

And regardless of whether Yin Yuan could truly keep his promise to keep him safe in three years, Qiu Junyao still needed a backup plan, a way to balance the power of these three princes to ensure his own survival.

 

But where could he find that plan B?

 

Qiu Junyao was already weak, unable to endure long periods of exertion. Feeling tired, he lay down on Yin Yuan’s thigh, eyes open, watching Yin Yuan’s face.

 

Unable to ignore Qiu Junyao’s overly obvious gaze, Yin Yuan touched his cheek and asked in confusion:

 

“Why does Your Majesty keep staring at me?”

 

“I’m thinking about something,” Qiu Junyao said. “Until I come up with a solution, don’t meet with the eldest, second, and fourth princes for now.”

 

“What?” Yin Yuan hesitated. “I’m their stepmother. They should pay their respects to me three times a month. Should I also avoid seeing them?”

 

“Don’t see them,” Qiu Junyao played with Yin Yuan’s ponytail nonchalantly, wrapping it around his fingertip and then releasing it. “Just pretend to be sick.”

 

Yin Yuan asked, “Can Your Majesty tell me the reason?”

 

“Because I don’t like you seeing other men,” Qiu Junyao said casually. “Got it?”

 

Yin Yuan: “…”

 

“Empress, what’s wrong with you?” A moment later, Qiu Junyao’s puzzled voice echoed in the hall, making the eunuchs and palace maids around them couldn’t help but exchange knowing looks and chuckle softly:

 

“Why is your face as red as a monkey’s butt… Are you feeling hot???”

 

Yin Yuan: “…”