The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 44

A night of chaos.

 

By the time Qiu Junyao woke up, the sky was already bright. The birds chirped outside the royal tent, and the glaring sunlight was kept at bay, but the nearly burnt-out candle still stubbornly asserted its presence.

 

Qiu Junyao squinted, moved a bit, and suddenly felt a heaviness on his chest.

 

Warm breath brushed against his face through a few floating strands of hair. Qiu Junyao paused, slowly looked down, and saw Yin Yuan sleeping soundly on top of him.

 

Seeing Yin Yuan’s flushed, soft face as he slept, Qiu Junyao felt unexpectedly embarrassed.

 

He hadn’t anticipated losing his virginity at eighteen, and to such a beautiful person.

 

Moreover, Yin Yuan’s demeanor while he was on top of him last night was…

 

Stop. He shouldn’t think about it any further.

 

Qiu Junyao gently turned, pushing Yin Yuan to lie beside him. When Yin Yuan frowned in discomfort, Qiu Junyao moved closer and lightly embraced him.

 

Since last night, Qiu Junyao’s affection for Yin Yuan had deepened.

 

They say men are driven by their lower halves, and it’s true.

 

Qiu Junyao thought.

 

Looking at Yin Yuan peacefully sleeping in his arms, Qiu Junyao was suddenly overwhelmed by a strange feeling. He couldn’t help but reach out to stroke Yin Yuan’s hair.

 

It felt like touching something he desired but never expected to have. Now that he had it, there was a sense of unreal floating.

 

As if sensing Qiu Junyao’s touch, Yin Yuan’s eyes slightly moved. Slowly meeting Qiu Junyao’s anxious gaze, he opened his eyes.

 

When Yin Yuan saw Qiu Junyao’s face close up, he was a bit disoriented.

 

He looked drowsy, like a little kitten burrowing into Qiu Junyao’s embrace. Reaching out with his unclothed hand, he wrapped his arm around Qiu Junyao’s neck and sleepily kissed him:

 

“Your Majesty, you’re awake so early?”

 

“It’s not early.”

 

Qiu Junyao said: “The candle is almost burnt out. We’ve slept until at least the hour of Chen.”

 

“Chen hour?!” Yin Yuan suddenly jolted awake, his eyes wide. “Then you’ll be late for court! Get up quickly, I’ll help you dress!”

 

“……..” For some reason, seeing Yin Yuan’s confused and sleepy expression, Qiu Junyao found him cute and couldn’t help but laugh:

 

“What court? We’re still at the Spring Mountain hunting grounds.”

 

“Oh……..”

 

Hearing this, Yin Yuan settled back down, burrowing into Qiu Junyao’s arms like a little bug:

 

“Your Majesty, my waist aches.”

 

“Cough.” Remembering their activities from last night, Qiu Junyao couldn’t help but blush.

 

Yin Yuan had been so proactive, sitting on him like that.

 

As he massaged his waist and held Yin Yuan’s neck, kissing him, Qiu Junyao could still see their immersed expressions in the candlelight.

 

“You’ve worked hard.” Qiu Junyao hugged Yin Yuan’s waist from behind, kissing his neck:

 

“Are you tired?”

 

“Serving Your Majesty is my duty.” Yin Yuan said: “If it weren’t for the fear of revealing my male identity, I would have done so much earlier.”

 

“…… No wonder you always rejected me before.” Qiu Junyao said: “So it was because of this.”

 

“……..” Yin Yuan turned to face Qiu Junyao and asked: “Your Majesty, don’t you think it’s strange? Don’t you mind that I’m a man?”

 

“I don’t mind.” Qiu Junyao said: “I liked you first, and you just happen to be a man. That’s all.”

 

“…….”

 

Hearing this, Yin Yuan was happy again. He leaned in, cupping Qiu Junyao’s face and gave a sweet kiss on his chin:

 

“Your Majesty is so good.”

 

He said: “I also like you.”

 

“…..”

 

Seeing Yin Yuan’s softened expression from his happiness, Qiu Junyao felt delighted as well.

 

He leaned in and lingered on Yin Yuan’s lips for a moment, then buried his face in Yin Yuan’s neck, breathing softly:

 

“I wanted to tell you since last night, you smell so good.”

 

Qiu Junyao asked: “Did you use any perfume?”

 

“No.” Yin Yuan said: “I’ve always been this way since I was young.”

 

“No wonder you’re so enchanting. No matter how much, it’s always enjoyable.”

 

Qiu Junyao, feeling cherished and loved by Yin Yuan, started to talk about intimate and blushing matters between them:

 

“You’re both fragrant and soft. How could I possibly like someone else? Clearly, you are the best. I would rather…”

 

Hearing Qiu Junyao’s murmuring, Yin Yuan’s ears turned red, and the images of his indulgent behavior from last night finally flooded his mind, making him feel embarrassed again:

 

“Your Majesty, you’re talking nonsense.”

 

“I’m not talking nonsense—”

 

Before Qiu Junyao could continue, Yin Yuan covered his mouth. “Your Majesty, instead of teasing me, you should think about what to do next.”

 

Yin Yuan said: “Whether I am a man or a woman is still undecided in the eyes of the world. The truth will come out eventually if someone investigates. I’m not reluctant to give up my position, but…”

 

“Reluctant to give me up?” Qiu Junyao smiled: “You like me that much.”

 

Yin Yuan neither denied nor admitted, just gave Qiu Junyao a soft look, which was not intimidating at all:

 

“There’s also the sudden emergence of the wolf pack that needs investigation. Although there were no deaths, there were casualties. It’s up to Your Majesty to decide who to comfort and who to punish.”

 

“Got it, got it. I know you’re virtuous.” Qiu Junyao embraced Yin Yuan, gently patting his back, his voice gradually lowering:

 

“Anyway, I don’t agree to depose the empress. Don’t think you can leave me under the guise of doing it for my own good. If they keep pressuring me… I might as well give up the throne, pass it to Jingxiu, and then we can travel the world.”

 

“Such an important matter as abdicating, Your Majesty can’t be so hasty.”

 

Yin Yuan disapproved, frowning, but then relaxed: “However, my father has suggested a plan. I’m not sure if it will work.”

 

“Oh?” Qiu Junyao asked: “What is it?”

 

“Father said that my sister, the real Yin Ying, should be brought back to take over the harem.” Yin Yuan dropped a bombshell with his words.

 

“What do you think, Your Majesty?”

 

Qiu Junyao: “…….”

 

He had expected Yin Yuan’s father to come up with a comprehensive plan, but instead, this idea was so absurd it almost made him laugh:

 

“You—no, is your father out of his mind?”

 

Qiu Junyao said: “Tell your father that I, Qiu Junyao, will only have you as my wife in this lifetime. I won’t have concubines, let alone a secondary wife!”

 

“Your Majesty, please let me finish.” Yin Yuan, with a strand of Qiu Junyao’s hair wrapped around his finger, spoke with a tone full of confusion and hesitation:

 

“Your Majesty… Father said that since I am indeed a man, my true identity will be discovered once we return to the capital. There’s no escaping it.”

 

“And since Yin Ying looks like me, if she is summoned back, it might be possible to deceive everyone.”

 

“And then what?” Qiu Junyao interrupted: “On the surface, my wife would be Yin Ying, but in reality, it would be you, Yin Yuan. I would have both siblings serving me—doesn’t your father find that ridiculous?”

 

When Yin Yuan first heard his father propose this scheme of a dual-empress strategy to deceive everyone, he also thought it was absurd. But it was the only plan his father and uncle had come up with after much consideration, which allowed him to remain with Qiu Junyao without deposing the empress.

 

“But Father said…”

 

“Stop. This plan is impossible. It’s the worst of the worst, a terrible scheme.” Qiu Junyao said: “If I were to bring Yin Ying back and make her a decoy, it would be a grave injustice to you and to that innocent woman.”

 

He said: “Ah Yuan, I know with your character, you’d never come up with such an idea… I also know you’re relaying this suggestion to keep me from acting impulsively, but I can’t accept it.”

 

“……. I’m sorry.” Yin Yuan, who had grown up with his sister Yin Ying, felt a pang of guilt. His eyes reddened, and he choked up: “It’s my fault. I’m sorry to Yin Ying, and sorry to you.”

 

“It has nothing to do with you. This idea wasn’t yours.” Qiu Junyao said, gently lifting Yin Yuan’s tearful face: “Look at me.”

 

“There are many ways to solve problems in this world. Even if they oppose me marrying a male empress and cause a stir, I wouldn’t care. I could even abdicate.”

 

“But we can’t harm others’ interests or create a dual-empress scenario just because we want to be together… That’s immoral.”

 

“I know… but Father said, if Yin Ying returns, her honor and reputation are ruined. As descendants of the Yin family, preserving family interests is paramount. If she doesn’t come back, the entire Yin family would bear the stigma of deceiving and betraying the imperial court, which would be a disgrace. Bringing her back would atone for her mistakes, and being empress is better than wasting her life in obscurity.”

 

Yin Yuan nuzzled Qiu Junyao’s palm: “Father said this is for her good, that returning to the family and the palace will ensure her lifelong wealth and honor…”

 

“Ruined reputation?” Qiu Junyao paused, then seemed to find it amusing:

 

“If a woman being with a man means losing her reputation, then are men considered dirty by extension? Your father is also a man; doesn’t that mean he’s just slapping himself in the face?”

 

“This…” Yin Yuan was still hesitant, and Qiu Junyao continued:

 

“I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with a woman loving her partner or being intimate. Women have the right to control their own bodies. No one has the right to dictate their lives or condemn them for losing their virtue or being tainted.”

 

Qiu Junyao scoffed: “It’s just lowly men making up nonsense. The truly filthy things are their hearts and mouths. It has nothing to do with women.”

 

Yin Yuan was stunned by Qiu Junyao’s radical views.

 

Coming from a family with strict rituals, the most shocking thing he had ever done was assassinate a tyrant out of frustration. Otherwise, he followed the rules, respecting the family’s traditions of obedience. These ethics were deeply ingrained in him.

 

Thus, he had always been troubled and fearful about being a man, feeling that male-male relationships were a grave violation of societal norms.

 

“Your Majesty, you…”

 

Yin Yuan was confused yet enlightened, and although his mind was still muddled, his conflicted tone disappeared. Seeking affirmation, he asked urgently:

 

“Are you saying that Father and the clan’s views are entirely wrong? That they’re mistaken, as Yin Ying thought?”

 

“Of course.” Qiu Junyao thought for a moment, then added: “If they insist on bringing Yin Ying back, no matter what, I won’t agree to a dual-empress. You should treat her well and not let those gossips insult her.”

 

He said: “I can’t change this feudal era or everyone’s views overnight. All I can do is… do my best.”

 

“Ah Yuan, there’s no difference between men and women in this world. We must first break the heavy shackles on women to free ourselves. If we remain passive, someday the guillotine will fall on us too.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty, I understand.”

 

Yin Yuan’s inner conflict and hesitations were dispelled by Qiu Junyao’s words. He couldn’t help but reaffirm his previous thoughts, embracing Qiu Junyao and whispering: “I will follow Your Majesty’s wishes from now on and won’t make foolish mistakes again.”

 

“Everyone has limitations in their thinking. What I believe is just another perspective of a different era.”

 

Qiu Junyao said: “Don’t worry. You are my only wife, and that will never change. If setting up an empress proves impossible, I will issue an edict to abdicate and let Jingxiu ascend.”

 

“Regarding you, I will never back down.”

 

“Jingxiu is still young. Will this cause dissatisfaction among my other brothers?”

 

Yin Yuan asked worriedly.

 

Qiu Junyao smiled: “You reminded me… coincidentally, I’ve thought of someone regarding the wolf pack attack.”

 

Qiu Junyao paused, sat up straight, and called out: “Lai Fu.”

 

“Lai Fu, come in.”

 

Qiu Junyao adjusted the inner garment Yin Yuan had draped over him, looking at Lai Fu standing before him with a stooped posture. His voice was low and cold:

 

“Go and call Qiu Jing over. I have many doubts about the wolf pack attack that I need to discuss with him in person.”