The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 43

What does Yin Yuan mean to me?

 

Since arriving in this era, Qiu Junyao has often pondered this question.

 

Initially, Yin Yuan was simply the first person Qiu Junyao saw upon entering this world—nothing more.

 

However, this sense of unfamiliarity gradually melted away through repeated companionship. What replaced it was mutual support in their careers, understanding and respect in their family life, and tender comfort in their intimate moments.

 

Over time, Yin Yuan became Qiu Junyao’s helper, an indispensable right-hand. Through years of mutual support and peaceful coexistence, admiration and respect for each other evolved into something essential.

 

At some point, they could no longer be apart. Their eyes, their touches, began to cultivate a different kind of affection.

 

It was the bond between sovereign and subject, between confidants, and more profoundly… between husband and wife.

 

Despite the exalted and distant status of the emperor and empress, at the moment Yin Yuan wept, Qiu Junyao suddenly felt that their relationship was one of the utmost closeness.

 

Because he understood Yin Yuan, knew his struggles, and could not bear to see him suffer, he willingly confined himself to the dark confinement chamber and the humiliating wooden cage.

 

The shackles on his feet were not put on by anyone else; they were willingly donned by Yin Yuan.

 

For Qiu Junyao, for the supreme monarch in his heart, for the husband he privately adored, Yin Yuan was willing to do anything.

 

Yet, Yin Yuan had never forgotten he was a man and had constantly worried about how Qiu Junyao would react if he learned of this, fearing rejection and disgust. Despite this anxiety, he found himself irresistibly drawn to this gentle and kind monarch, craving his warmth and indulgence.

 

Before Qiu Junyao realized his own feelings, Yin Yuan had already fallen in love with him. He didn’t dare hope that “his heart matched mine” but only wished that Qiu Junyao would, for the sake of their past affection, forgive the Yin family.

 

His feet were sore from the harsh shackles, and as he lay in Qiu Junyao’s embrace, he prayed for the monarch’s pity and forgiveness. Amidst his fear and sorrow, he heard an unbelievable phrase:

 

“You are my wife.”

 

He said she was his wife.

 

His heart leapt again, and Yin Yuan even worried that her heartbeat was too loud, overshadowing what Qiu Junyao was about to say:

 

“Ah Yang, let’s go back.”

 

Qiu Junyao lowered his eyes, his usually stern gaze softening as he stroked Yin Yuan’s unadorned hair:

 

“I made you suffer.”

 

Yin Yuan was momentarily stunned, then vigorously shook his head, opening his arms to hug Qiu Junyao’s neck. Tears quickly streamed down Qiu Junyao’s neck, his voice hoarse and broken:

 

“I’m not afraid.”

 

He only feared that Qiu Junyao would abandon him.

 

“Alright, alright, don’t cry.” Qiu Junyao, despite just recovering from illness and kneeling in the damp, cold confinement chamber, feeling some pain in his knees, was dizzy in the cramped cage:

 

“Ah Yang, let me take you out, okay?”

 

Yin Yuan’s embrace made Qiu Junyao almost suffocate. He gently patted Yin Yuan’s back, trying to calm him:

 

“I can’t rest easy with you like this.”

 

“…….. I’m fine.” Noticing that Qiu Junyao seemed to want to leave, Yin Yuan immediately became agitated, holding onto Qiu Junyao’s neck tightly, and spoke softly:

 

“Your Majesty, stay with me a little longer.”

 

He said, “Since the founding of the Dadu Dynasty, there has never been a male empress… I am fortunate to be loved by Your Majesty, and it is a great blessing. I do not want Your Majesty to contend with the ministers because of me, so I am willing to remain in this prison…”

 

“Not wanting me to contend with the ministers?” Qiu Junyao raised an eyebrow as if hearing something amusing:

 

“Do you want me to leave you here?”

 

Yin Yuan sniffled, then resolutely said:

 

“For Your Majesty’s reign to be secure, I have no complaints.”

 

“You have no complaints, but I do,” Qiu Junyao said. “Where can I find another wife as good and beautiful as you? Who will compensate me?”

 

Yin Yuan was taken aback, about to speak, when Qiu Junyao ordered someone to forcefully break the chains at his feet. He then picked up Yin Yuan in a horizontal embrace.

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

Yin Yuan, feeling unbalanced, clung to Qiu Junyao’s neck in fear, worried:

 

“Your Majesty, you…”

 

He was still concerned about Qiu Junyao’s health, struggling to get down, but Qiu Junyao lightly patted his rear:

 

“Be still.”

 

Qiu Junyao retorted, “You fell from a horse and were injured, yet you can still walk?”

 

Yin Yuan lowered his head, feeling some shame in being carried like this, and argued:

 

“Then I could have had a eunuch or a palace servant carry me…”

 

Qiu Junyao narrowed his eyes: “Dare you?”

 

Yin Yuan fell silent, then, seeing Qiu Junyao’s resolute face, buried his own face in Qiu Junyao’s neck.

 

Forget it. Since His Majesty doesn’t care, why should he?

 

With this thought, Yin Yuan followed Qiu Junyao out of the confinement chamber.

 

Back in the royal tent, before Qiu Junyao could even call for a physician to treat Yin Yuan’s leg injury, ministers arrived in a rush. They kneeled inside and outside the royal tent, crying out and pleading with Qiu Junyao not to be deceived by this “demon empress” and to preserve the legitimate bloodline of the empress.

 

“Legitimacy? What is legitimacy?!”

 

The noise gave Qiu Junyao a headache, and despite his recent illness, he threw several tea sets in anger. Lai Fu was terrified, fearing Qiu Junyao might, in his fury, randomly execute a minister:

 

“I am the emperor. My words are legitimacy. My legitimate wife is legitimacy. How dare you interfere?!”

 

“Your Majesty!” cried the elderly Minister of Rites, tears in his eyes:

 

“Our dynasty has no tradition of taking a man as empress! The Yin family has deceived and disrespected the sovereign; this cannot be lightly forgiven!”

 

“…..” Qiu Junyao, supported by Qiu Jinghe, sat down, covering his heaving chest, his face dark and brooding.

 

“Back when the Yin family entered the palace, all the ceremonial arrangements were to be managed by the Ministry of Rites. Yet, not one of you noticed that he was a man. I haven’t even pursued the matter of your negligence, and now you come to press me?”

 

As he spoke, ignoring the pale-faced Minister of Rites, he turned his anger towards the first-rank military officer responsible for maintaining order in the capital during the marriage procession:

 

“And you, when I tasked your patrol battalion with guarding the Yin residence and escorting the empress, you failed to detect that Yin Yuan was a man, and you allowed the fake empress to enter the palace, causing me to fall deeply in love.”

 

“You, and you, and you. When I proposed marrying Yin Yuan, didn’t you all support it, praising the Yin family’s propriety? Now you say the Yin family harbors ill intentions?”

 

Qiu Junyao slammed the table, startling everyone, and continued his rebuke:

 

“Even if I were deceived by this ‘demon empress,’ don’t you, as officials, share some responsibility? Shouldn’t there be a punishment?”

 

“……..”

 

The room fell silent.

 

The ministers were stunned and lost in deep thought.

 

……The Emperor’s point seems to make sense?!

 

Seeing the varied expressions of the ministers, if it weren’t for the tense atmosphere, Qiu Jinghe standing beside Qiu Junyao would have probably been smiling with glee.

 

Although Qiu Junyao could not fundamentally deny Yin Yuan’s masculinity, he chose to drag everyone else down with him.

 

The Emperor’s mistake was merely being deceived by Yin Yuan. The worst case was issuing an apology to the world and allowing Yin Yuan to feign death while remaining in the palace to serve him. This issue could be resolved; however, if the blame for inadequate preparation fell on the ministers, some might lose their official hats, and others their heads.

 

No one wanted to lose their head or their hat.

 

Despite some steadfast ministers still trying to advise, many were already wavering.

 

Especially since a significant portion of the court were relatives, close friends, or students of the Yin family, when Yin Yuan’s uncle gave a stern glance, everyone present fell silent.

 

After a long time, someone tremulously stood up, facing the pressure, and quietly said:

 

“Your Majesty, I believe we should not take the physician’s word alone.”

 

He tried to stay calm and said:

 

“What if the physician has lost his mind and is speaking nonsense? If the empress is actually a woman, wouldn’t it be unjust to him?”

 

“Yes, yes, what if it’s a misunderstanding?”

 

With this shift in direction, everyone quickly agreed, abandoning their previous aggressive stance, leaving the Censor in a fit of rage.

 

Qiu Junyao was pleased with this turn of events and pretended to nod approvingly:

 

“Minister, you speak well. Continue.”

 

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty……..” The middle-ranking official was sweating, repeatedly wiping his brow, and continued:

 

“Since the empress still has injuries, it would be best to let him rest for a while. As for whether he is a man or a woman, it is better to wait until he recovers and then have a few trustworthy people verify it in the capital.”

 

With the ladder extended this far, Qiu Junyao and the ministers agreed to let the matter rest for now and discuss it further upon returning to the capital.

 

After settling the ministers, Qiu Junyao summoned a physician to tend to Yin Yuan’s injuries.

 

Yin Yuan had severe abrasions on his thighs, fortunately with only minor fractures. Nevertheless, seeing the large area of scraped and damaged skin, Qiu Junyao was deeply pained.

 

“Ah, how did it come to this?” Qiu Junyao said angrily. “What were the Imperial Guards doing? How could they let you go? Once we return to the capital, I will definitely punish the chief guard of the escort severely.”

 

“It was my eagerness to save Jingxiu that led me to insist on going,” Yin Yuan said, smiling at Qiu Junyao’s childish face. “Your Majesty need not worry.”

 

“How can I not worry?” Qiu Junyao sat at Yin Yuan’s bedside, lifting his gown, and Yin Yuan naturally leaned into him, resting his head on Qiu Junyao’s chest and letting him hold him:

 

“You’ve suffered so much, Jinghe was poisoned, Jingxiu was frightened….. All of this is my fault; I failed to protect you.”

 

“Your Majesty, don’t say that.” Yin Yuan looked up with concern, gazing at Qiu Junyao and reaching out to touch his face. After a moment, he said:

 

“I don’t feel wronged.”

 

Yin Yuan softly said, “I am glad to have preserved the royal bloodline.”

 

Qiu Junyao said, “Are you being foolish?”

 

“I am not foolish.” Yin Yuan took Qiu Junyao’s hand, which had flicked his forehead, and placed it gently over his own heart:

 

“Whether it’s Jingxiu or Jingyue, since they are Your Majesty’s offspring, I… I am merely showing affection.”

 

“……. Don’t do this again next time.” Qiu Junyao understood the underlying meaning of Yin Yuan’s words, holding him close and gently kissing his forehead.

“If you were gone, where would I find someone as beautiful and intelligent as you to be my wife?”

 

“…….” Yin Yuan perked up at this and asked:

 

“Just as beautiful?”

 

Yin Yuan’s mind suddenly wandered to another topic: “If Your Majesty saw a sister who looked just like me, would you fall in love with her?”

 

“…..What kind of jealousy is this?” Qiu Junyao was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow with amusement:

 

“Instead of worrying about this, you should consider who is scheming behind the scenes. I suspect Jinghe, since everyone else went to the spring hunt except him…”

 

“I’m foolish and don’t want to hear about that now.” Yin Yuan had heard Qiu Junyao praise his looks while in the confinement room and hadn’t paid it much attention then. Now, however, he was inexplicably concerned. He was determined to get an answer from Qiu Junyao, insisting:

 

“Your Majesty, you’ve mentioned my face multiple times. Do you like this face, or do you like me?”

 

“…….” Seeing Yin Yuan’s anxious expression, Qiu Junyao’s mischievous side emerged.

 

He pinched Yin Yuan’s cheek, leaned in to meet his gaze, his voice low and teasing, with a playful glint in his eye:

 

“What if I said… I’m only interested in your face?”

 

“…….” Yin Yuan, indeed, seemed upset, biting his lip and looking like a disappointed puppy.

 

Qiu Junyao couldn’t bear to see Yin Yuan genuinely upset. Realizing the situation was getting serious, he quickly tried to soothe him, disregarding his previous teasing:

 

“No, no, I was just joking…”

 

But before Qiu Junyao could finish, Yin Yuan began to silently untie his sash and used the thin sash to blindfold him.

 

“……….”

 

Before Qiu Junyao could react, he was suddenly pushed down. With his eyes covered, he couldn’t see what was happening but heard the rustling of clothes being removed.

 

Then, he suddenly felt a weight on his waist, someone straddling him, moving down, causing his breath to become heavy.

 

Someone bit his belt.

 

As his clothes were removed one by one by delicate hands, when Qiu Junyao finally felt that they were both completely exposed, Yin Yuan’s cool and melodious voice whispered in his ear:

 

“Then I’ll take the first step, indulging in the pleasures of the bedroom with Your Majesty.”

 

“If Your Majesty takes my body, you must be responsible for me. If you have any other intentions and betray me, then I will…”

 

“Then what?” At this point, Qiu Junyao still managed to keep his composure, chuckling softly:

 

“Will you kill me?”

 

“No.” Yin Yuan lowered his head, his hair mingling with Qiu Junyao’s, and then kissed his lips, his tone seductive:

 

“Then I’ll make Your Majesty addicted to my body, unable to extricate yourself, and then… never be able to leave me.”