The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 25

Qiu Jinghe never thought that he would feel immense pressure from a single offhand remark made by someone.

 

The hand on his shoulder was light and without force, yet it felt as if it carried immense weight, making his body rigid and unable to move.

 

The air was still for a few seconds, and Qiu Jinghe could even feel the sensation of cold sweat sliding down his back, leaving him in a daze for a long time.

 

It was unclear how long passed; it might have been a moment, or just a few seconds. In the suffocating atmosphere, Qiu Jinghe struggled to part his lips, lowered his head, and looked at the jade pendant hanging from Qiu Junyao’s waist, his voice low:

 

“…I did not meet anyone before entering the palace.”

 

“Really?” Qiu Junyao asked again, “Truly?”

 

“…”

 

This time, Qiu Jinghe’s silence was noticeably longer. After a while, he shook his head firmly and said, “Truly.”

 

Qiu Jinghe racked his brains for a reason, his mind working faster than ever:

 

“Before entering the palace, I had drunk some wine, which might have left a bit of an alcohol smell on me, causing my younger brother’s displeasure, and thus he cried.”

 

Qiu Junyao squatted down to meet the kneeling Qiu Jinghe’s eyes. Qiu Jinghe raised his head and looked at Qiu Junyao frankly.

 

Qiu Jinghe didn’t plan to expose Qiu Jingming at this moment because he still needed Qiu Jingming’s strength to get rid of Qiu Jingxiu.

 

Thinking of this, Qiu Jinghe’s gaze towards Qiu Junyao became increasingly calm. Regardless of whether Qiu Junyao believed him or not, he had to stick to his story that he hadn’t seen anyone—

 

“Ah!”

 

The moment he felt the pain in his right cheek, the dark thoughts lingering in Qiu Jinghe’s mind suddenly snapped, and he instinctively cried out.

 

Qiu Jinghe was forced to pull himself together, unable to resist raising his hand to cover his aching face. He looked at Qiu Junyao in confusion as he pinched both his cheeks, then cupped his chin and squeezed his cheeks, making him pout like a silly fish:

 

“Drinking alcohol as a minor, you’re quite bold.”

 

Seeing Qiu Jinghe’s somewhat silly face due to the forced pout, Qiu Junyao couldn’t help but laugh and pinched his cheeks again, speaking softly:

 

“If I catch you drinking again, I’ll break your legs.”

 

Qiu Jinghe: “…”

 

Why could the Emperor say such cruel words in such a gentle tone?! 

 

Seeing Qiu Junyao’s expressionless face, Qiu Jinghe couldn’t decide how to react. But to completely dispel Qiu Junyao’s suspicions, he decided to make one last desperate effort:

 

“Father, I really only drank… I happened to pass by the Lotus Pond because Mother was praying behind closed doors and couldn’t see me. I was in a bad mood and wandered there.”

 

“Alright, I understand.” Qiu Junyao pinched Qiu Jinghe’s cheeks again and chuckled:

 

“You’re cuter when you’re not talking.”

 

Qiu Jinghe: “…”

 

Although he didn’t know whether Qiu Junyao believed him or not, after spending nearly half an hour in Pi Xiang Hall, Qiu Jinghe took his leave.

 

Once Qiu Jinghe left, Yin Yuan’s polite smile finally faded as he looked at Qiu Junyao and asked in a low voice:

 

“Your Majesty, do you believe what the Second Prince just said?”

 

Qiu Junyao walked over to him and squeezed his arm and shoulder, preventing Yin Yuan from getting tired from holding the child, and pondered:

 

“Half and half?”

 

“…Half and half?”

 

Yin Yuan looked up in confusion: “Which parts of what the Second Prince said are true and which are false?”

 

“The truth is, he did drink.”

 

Qiu Junyao smiled: “The false part is, he didn’t meet anyone.”

 

“How does Your Majesty know that his claim of not meeting anyone is false?” Yin Yuan was puzzled.

 

“Because I just said, I suspect that the person he met is the one who pushed Jingxiu into the water—but clearly, there is a possibility that Jingxiu, being young and unsupervised, might have slipped and fallen into the water himself.” Qiu Junyao’s tone was somewhat meaningful.

 

“…So?” Yin Yuan half-understood.

 

Qiu Junyao gently touched Yin Yuan’s hair, his voice low and certain: “With Jinghe’s intelligence, how could he not consider this possibility? But instead of immediately denying it, he hurriedly explained that he had been drinking, which subconsciously accepted my claim. This indicates that he knows Jingxiu’s fall into the water was no accident and that there must be a mastermind behind it.”

 

“Oh!” Yin Yuan, not being a fool, understood immediately after Qiu Junyao’s explanation and quickly added, “So his claims of not meeting anyone and accidentally passing by the Lotus Pond are all lies.”

 

“More or less.” Worried that Yin Yuan might get tired holding the child, Qiu Junyao took the sleeping Qiu Jingxiu from Yin Yuan’s arms and touched Qiu Jingxiu’s hot face, which felt like a freshly steamed cake, soft and warm:

 

“However, it’s possible that he really did try to see his mother but couldn’t.”

 

As Qiu Junyao spoke, he checked Qiu Jingxiu’s temperature. Qiu Jingxiu instinctively snuggled closer and softly murmured, “Daddy…”

 

“Sigh, no matter what, our poor little Jingxiu is still suffering.”

 

Qiu Junyao held Qiu Jingxiu, gently patting his back. Qiu Jingxiu, like an obedient little snowball, clung to Qiu Junyao’s shoulder. Feeling the comfort from his father, he clenched his tiny fists, smacked his lips, and instinctively bit Qiu Junyao’s loose hair, trying to hold onto him for a sense of security.

 

Qiu Junyao let him bite, then turned to Laifu and instructed:

 

“From now on, thoroughly investigate everyone who prepares medicine for the Seventh Prince. Anyone associated with the First, Second, or Fourth Princes must not be used.”

 

“Also, test all the utensils used for making the medicine—bowls, spoons, and pots—to ensure they are free of poison.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Seeing Qiu Junyao’s serious expression, Laifu dared not slack off and quickly went to check the items used for Qiu Jingxiu’s medicine.

 

“Your Majesty, should we expel the palace maids and eunuchs associated with the other princes, or send them to work in the Xinzhaku or the laundry bureau?” Yin Yuan asked as he approached, looking up at Qiu Junyao.

 

“There’s no need.” Qiu Junyao put his arm around Yin Yuan’s shoulder. Though he wasn’t very muscular, he was half a head taller than Yin Yuan and easily pulled him into his embrace:

 

“They have to make a living, especially those palace maids. Unless they’ve committed a significant mistake, there’s no need to be too harsh.”

 

After thinking for a moment, Qiu Junyao said softly:

 

“If any eunuchs or palace maids connected to the other princes are found, assign them to comb my hair instead. They shouldn’t be involved in making, delivering, or administering the medicine to Jingxiu. Just let them watch from a distance.”

 

“I don’t believe they will have the chance to harm Jingxiu this way.”

 

“Understood.” Yin Yuan nodded in agreement. “And Your Majesty need not worry. If they make a move, I will catch them and bring the culprit to you.”

 

“…Thank you.” Qiu Junyao looked at Yin Yuan, who had been tirelessly caring for Qiu Jingxiu day and night, with some heartache. “It’s my fault for not taking good care of you.”

 

“Don’t say that, Your Majesty.” Yin Yuan looked up at Qiu Junyao with a gentle smile, reminding Qiu Junyao of the phrase “a virtuous wife and loving mother.” “Taking care of the harem is my duty.”

 

Looking at Yin Yuan’s delicate and obedient face, Qiu Junyao felt a sudden warmth in his heart. His hand, which was around Yin Yuan’s waist, started to act unruly, causing Yin Yuan to look at him in surprise. “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

 

“…Nothing.” Qiu Junyao wouldn’t admit that he had just been mesmerized by beauty. He simply said, “I just… wanted to thank you properly.”

 

Yin Yuan: “…”

 

Huh??? Why do you have to keep touching my waist to thank me???

 

Because of his weak body, falling into the water in the dead of winter could have caused Qiu Jingxiu to drown or die of fever.

 

But Qiu Jingxiu was tough. He survived, hanging by a thread. Qiu Junyao was very worried and rushed to Pi Xiang Hall every day after court.

 

Qiu Jingxiu was evidently very attached to his father. As soon as it was time for Qiu Junyao to return from court, he would perk up, his round, grape-like eyes eagerly looking towards the door, waiting for Qiu Junyao to enter.

 

If Qiu Junyao was late because he was reviewing memorials, Qiu Jingxiu would sit cross-legged, holding his flushed face and sighing, refusing to eat. If Qiu Junyao arrived early, he would clumsily climb out of bed, wave his little arms, and with a thin, weak voice, call out for his father to hold him.

 

Since he couldn’t speak yet, he would smile if Qiu Junyao held him. If Qiu Junyao ignored him, he would frown with a look of such grievance that it softened anyone’s heart, making them willing to comply with his every wish.

 

“Our Jingxiu is getting more and more attached to his father,” Yin Yuan said, propping his right hand on the tea table, holding a rice cake that caught Qiu Jingxiu’s eye. His mouth watered as he reached out with his chubby hand, eagerly wanting to grab it:

 

“Hmm! Mother!”

 

“Let Mother hold you, and you can have the rice cake.” Yin Yuan laughed, raising his arm and teasing Qiu Jingxiu.

 

“Daddy needs to review memorials. Come to Mother, okay?”

 

“Hmm!”

 

Qiu Jingxiu looked up at Qiu Junyao with difficulty, then at the rice cake he had long coveted. After much hesitation, he leaned over and gave Qiu Junyao a kiss on the cheek before turning decisively to snuggle into Yin Yuan’s arms, taking the rice cake and munching on it.

 

Like a little hamster, he puffed up his cheeks and ate seriously, not even looking up, as if he wasn’t the one clinging to his father just moments ago.

 

Qiu Junyao: “…….”

 

Goodness, my status is lower than a piece of rice cake?!

 

Seeing Qiu Junyao’s dark expression, Yin Yuan, holding the little hamster in his arms, couldn’t help but laugh:

 

“Your Majesty, you should see your face.”

 

He said, “I’ve never seen you look so awful.”

 

“…….” Qiu Junyao looked up at Yin Yuan, raising an eyebrow and saying ambiguously:

 

“You’re happy to see me upset?”

 

“Of course.” For some reason, Yin Yuan liked to see Qiu Junyao’s childish side, so different from his usual demeanor in front of others.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“You still ask what’s wrong,” Qiu Junyao laughed angrily. “You just like to tease me.”

 

“Didn’t Your Majesty always tease me before?”

 

Before Qiu Junyao could get really angry, Yin Yuan quickly tried to appease him:

 

“Alright, Your Majesty, don’t be upset. It’s my fault.”

 

He smiled, raising the rice cake. “Here, Your Majesty, let me feed you.”

 

Seeing Yin Yuan showing signs of admitting his mistake, Qiu Junyao, who wasn’t really angry, decided to be generous and reluctantly accepted his apology. He opened his mouth, ready to eat the rice cake Yin Yuan offered, only to see Yin Yuan twirl the rice cake and bite it himself.

 

Qiu Junyao: “…….”

 

The rice cake he was about to eat flew away. Qiu Junyao, still holding his open-mouth posture, stared wide-eyed at Yin Yuan.

 

Seeing Qiu Junyao’s incredulous expression, Yin Yuan chewed the rice cake with a playful look, clearly enjoying teasing him.

 

Qiu Junyao: “……..”

 

Having never been so humiliated in his life, Qiu Junyao felt a rush of blood to his head. He slapped the table and stood up, leaning forward to bite the half of the rice cake still in Yin Yuan’s mouth before he could react, then quickly sat back down, chewing the cake with satisfaction and a victorious look.

 

Before he realized what he had impulsively done, he saw Yin Yuan staring blankly, face turning redder and redder until his entire face and neck were flushed. Yin Yuan then picked up the innocent Jingxiu and buried his face in Jingxiu’s belly to hide from Qiu Junyao’s puzzled gaze.

 

Jingxiu, hit by his mother’s head, almost spat out his rice cake.

 

Dangling in mid-air, Jingxiu waved his arms a few times, then stopped eating and clutched his belly, calling out softly and looking down in confusion at his mother’s red neck:

 

“…Gah?”

 

What just happened?!