The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 49

When Qiu Jinghe opened his eyes, he saw a pattern on the bed curtains he had never encountered before.

 

The bed curtains were embroidered with circular star charts, each circle nested within another. The outermost star chart was surrounded by small triangular spikes. The entire star chart seemed to contain many unfamiliar patterns. Staring at them for a while, he felt as if the whole star chart came alive and began to spin and enlarge in front of him.

 

“Hiss—” 

 

Looking at the bizarre scene, Qiu Jinghe’s head began to throb again. He pressed his palm against his forehead, feeling his mind go blank, still dazed as before…

 

No, wait!

 

Qiu Jinghe suddenly opened his eyes—

 

Hadn’t he been kneeling outside the National Preceptor’s hall? How did he suddenly lose consciousness?! What happened after he fainted?

 

Why does he have no memory of any of it!

 

While Qiu Jinghe was puzzling over why he had fainted so suddenly, a somewhat tired and hoarse male voice reached his ears:

 

“You’re awake.”

 

Qiu Jinghe froze for a moment, slowly lifting his head. He followed the source of the voice and saw Chu Yu walking toward him in a light purple robe, holding a tray with a bowl of medicine just like before:

 

“Drink the medicine.”

 

Chu Yu sat down in front of the dazed Qiu Jinghe, tested the temperature of the medicine, then scooped up a spoonful and held it out to Qiu Jinghe:

 

“Drink it.”

 

But Qiu Jinghe looked at him warily and did not open his mouth to drink. Instead, he stared at Chu Yu for a while, then said:

 

“What did you give me?”

 

As soon as the words left his mouth, Qiu Jinghe felt a strange familiarity with the question. What was even more unsettling was Chu Yu’s response:

 

“Poison. The kind that can kill you.”

 

Upon hearing this, Qiu Jinghe’s eyes widened in shock.

 

No, had he heard this before?

 

It felt so familiar…

 

Fragments of memories suddenly flashed in his mind, causing Qiu Jinghe to shiver in disbelief. He suddenly grabbed Chu Yu’s wrist, his lips trembling, and finally managed to utter a single word:

 

“You…”

 

“What about me? Hurry up and drink it.”

 

Chu Yu, irritated, forced the spoon into Qiu Jinghe’s mouth, regardless of whether the medicine was hot or not:

 

“Drink quickly. Do you think it was easy to save you?”

 

“…” Hearing the familiar yet strange words, Qiu Jinghe paused, blinked a few times, and slowly swallowed the medicine.

 

After drinking, Qiu Jinghe braced himself for the pain to come. To his surprise, the expected headache did not occur. Instead, his previously muddled mind began to clear, and the discomfort in his body gradually faded away.

 

Seeing the color returning to Qiu Jinghe’s lips, Chu Yu felt relieved.

 

He stood up to return the empty bowl, but suddenly felt a weight on his sleeve. Qiu Jinghe had grabbed him:

 

“Don’t go.”

 

Chu Yu was momentarily stunned and turned around to look at Qiu Jinghe:

 

“Is there something else?”

 

Seeing Chu Yu’s puzzled expression from his high vantage point, Qiu Jinghe felt a bit embarrassed.

 

He tightened his grip on Chu Yu’s sleeve for a moment, then released it and shook his head:

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

He said, “It’s just that it felt like I had a dream where we talked like this.”

 

Qiu Jinghe continued to reflect, “You gave me medicine, and I was in so much pain…”

 

“And then?”

 

A hint of discomfort flashed across Chu Yu’s face but was quickly masked. He asked instinctively:

 

“And then you were in pain, unbearable pain. You hugged me tightly and told me it was alright, that everything would be fine…”

 

Qiu Jinghe held his forehead, trying to recall. The fragments appearing in his mind left him unsure if what he saw was a dream or something that had really happened:

 

“Then I also seemed to hear the sound of a bell, heard you crying, telling me not to die…”

 

Chu Yu, who had been listening carefully, began to doubt whether Qiu Jinghe had truly been unconscious. However, upon hearing that Qiu Jinghe claimed he cried, Chu Yu immediately denied it:

 

“Impossible.”

 

He said, “I can’t cry by nature. How could I have cried for you?”

 

“Really?” Qiu Jinghe’s focus shifted:

 

“Didn’t you cry when you were a child?”

 

“Do you think being a National Preceptor is easy to choose?” Chu Yu countered, “The selection of a National Preceptor not only needs to be within a very strict birth time frame, but also requires calculation of birth charts and astrological guidance. More importantly, a National Preceptor must be born without tears.”

 

Qiu Jinghe was curious: “How do they know you were born without tears? They never saw you born.”

 

Chu Yu pointed to his eyes: “See? Those born without tears usually have purple yin-yang eyes, and this never changes throughout their life. This is the most accurate sign of whether someone can become a National Preceptor.”

 

“Is that so…”

 

Hearing Chu Yu’s confident explanation, Qiu Jinghe wondered if the images in his mind were truly just fantasies, and he lowered his head, pondering for a while.

 

Chu Yu, seeing that Qiu Jinghe was fine, tried to leave again. However, after taking a few steps, he was called back by Qiu Jinghe:

 

“National Preceptor.”

 

“…” Chu Yu turned back, “What now?”

 

Despite narrowly escaping death, Qiu Jinghe did not forget his purpose for coming to the National Preceptor’s hall: “I want to ask you to help my mother…”

 

“I refuse.”

 

The National Preceptor responded without hesitation: “It’s absurd for men to marry each other. Even the royal family is hesitant to openly have a male lover. How could you, as part of the royal family, openly marry?”

 

“Just because it wasn’t done in ancient times, doesn’t mean it can’t be done now. Is that the reasoning? There were no imperial exams long ago, so today’s imperial exams are invalid?” Qiu Jinghe retorted.

 

“…Marriage between men goes against the rules of yin and yang, disturbing societal norms.”

 

“Societal norms are in people’s hearts. If hearts change, then outward compliance is just pretense.”

 

Qiu Jinghe argued.

 

“Admitting male marriage would face strong opposition and shake the foundations of the country.”

 

“The country’s foundation is the people’s livelihood. If the people are stable and prosperous, then marriage issues should be addressed from the hearts and minds of the people.”

 

Chu Yu said: “You’re thinking too simplistically.”

 

Qiu Jinghe: “You’re thinking too complexly.”

 

The two stared at each other, a fierce conflict igniting in their eyes. Neither was willing to give in.

 

After a long while, it was Qiu Jinghe who conceded first:

 

“If you refuse, then so be it.”

 

“It’s not that I refuse, it’s genuinely difficult.”

 

Chu Yu shook his head: “Marriage between men would surely provoke strong opposition from the public and contradict the moral values and habits of the Da Yuan Dynasty. This would not only cause public unrest but also a series of social issues.”

 

“For example, the current marriage customs and laws are oriented towards male-female unions. Changing this would be an extremely monumental task.”

 

“And also, the current economic system is based on small-scale agriculture. If men marry men, birth rates would fall, who would farm the fields and weave the cloth, and who would support the royal family?”

 

Qiu Jinghe was puzzled by Chu Yu’s words. He paused, then looked at Chu Yu and asked:

 

“Is there really no way?”

 

“…” Seeing Qiu Jinghe’s disappointed expression, Chu Yu’s brow furrowed. After a moment, he sighed and said: “It’s not impossible.”

 

“Social change requires bold moves and gradual efforts, not instant solutions.”

 

He said: “If you truly wish for it, I will help you. But what I don’t understand is…”

 

Chu Yu paused, then asked in a more indirect manner:

 

“Why do you want to help your mother?”

 

“You ask such a strange question,” Qiu Jinghe said. “He is my mother; if I don’t help him, who will?”

 

“But he is also(kind of) the biological mother of Qiu Jingxiu. Once his position is solidified, it’s perfectly normal for him to establish Jingxiu as the crown prince.”

 

“Right now, the crown prince is nothing more than a distant dream for me. I don’t want to be one anymore.”

 

Qiu Jinghe shook his head. “My mother’s family has little power, and I am not favored. How could I become the crown prince?”

 

Seeing that Qiu Jinghe, who had just been arguing passionately, now seemed disheartened, Chu Yu was suddenly enraged.

 

He stood up abruptly, grabbed Qiu Jinghe, and dragged him into the inner room.

 

The inner room was scattered with various ritual instruments and ancient books. Qiu Jinghe almost tripped over a sword as he was pulled along. When he finally stopped and steadied himself, he found Chu Yu had brought him in front of a nearly translucent floating compass.

 

“So big…”

 

Qiu Jinghe looked at the floating compass, unable to resist stepping closer for a better view, but was pulled back by Chu Yu, who then pressed his face against his.

 

“………!!!”

 

Qiu Jinghe’s eyes widened in shock as he pushed Chu Yu away, incredulous, “What are you doing?”

 

Chu Yu sneered, wiped his mouth, and then with a flick of his sleeve, Qiu Jinghe stared in bewilderment at what appeared before him— 

 

An extremely vast star map, densely marked with floating constellations and celestial phenomena. The stars scattered in his vision were so overwhelming they left him speechless.

 

“This is just the star map left by my master’s master’s master, specifically used to calculate the fortunes of the Da Yuan Dynasty.”

 

Chu Yu pointed at the star map. Soon, it began to move. Chu Yu then used a dagger to cut his palm, letting his blood drip and flow into the groove at the base of the compass. The entire star map instantly came to life, rapidly shifting and changing, overwhelming the senses.

 

Eventually, a cloud parted to reveal a bright star.

 

“This is the Emperor Star, also known as Zi Wei Star, located at the center of the star map, representing your father, Emperor Qiu Junyao. Clearly, only he can represent the fortune of the Da Yuan Dynasty. If he falls, this Emperor Star will disappear, and the entire star map will be reconstructed.”

 

With that, Chu Yu spread out his hands, enlarging the star map for Qiu Jinghe to see:

 

“Under the Emperor Star are Qu Shui, Si Wei, Tian Quan, and Tian Ji.”

 

Chu Yu said, “You are represented by the Si Wei Star here.”

 

Qiu Jinghe, only half-understanding, asked, “And then?”

 

Chu Yu clicked his tongue: “Although the Zi Wei Star is currently shining brightly, it is subtly on the verge of falling. Among Qu Shui, Si Wei, Tian Quan, and Tian Ji, only Si Wei and Tian Ji show imperial characteristics.”

 

“Who does the Tian Ji Star represent?”

 

“Your seventh brother, Qiu Jingxiu.”

 

Chu Yu said, “Understand now? Currently, only you and Qiu Jingxiu have imperial qualities, but your Si Wei Star’s light is dim compared to the brilliance of Jingxiu’s Tian Ji Star.”

 

“……” Qiu Jinghe hesitated: “So you mean… you want me to seize the crown prince position?”

 

“Mm.”

 

Chu Yu said, “The Yin family’s influence in the court is too great. Qiu Jingxiu ascending would only reinforce the power of the external relatives.”

 

“…..” Qiu Jinghe was about to speak when suddenly, for some reason, his blood surged, and he couldn’t help but kneel and spit out a mouthful of blood.

 

Seeing this, Chu Yu quickly put away the star map, crouched down to check Qiu Jinghe’s pulse: “…….. It’s over, I forgot your mortal body can’t endure looking at this for too long. It will shorten your life.”

 

With that, Chu Yu quickly picked up Qiu Jinghe, carried him back to the bed, cleaned the blood from his lips, and then, like before, took off his clothes, climbed into Qiu Jinghe’s embrace, and held him tightly to prevent him from falling into a deep sleep due to the cold.

 

“The toxins in your body aren’t completely cleared yet. Spitting out blood is beneficial, but you still shouldn’t sleep. If you fall asleep now, you might not wake up again, and I won’t be able to save you a second time.”

 

Qiu Jinghe, still dizzy from seeing things he shouldn’t, eventually realized that he was holding the naked Chu Yu in his arms, almost causing him to spit out more blood in fright:

 

“Why are you undressing?!”

 

“What’s wrong with two grown men undressing?” Chu Yu said. “Or do you have something to hide in your heart, and actually like men, so you’re afraid to hold me?”

 

“!” Qiu Jinghe was struck by a sensitive issue, nearly exploding:

 

“I don’t!”

 

“Then why are you so concerned about your mother and want him reinstated? Isn’t it because you care about him?”

 

Chu Yu said, “Don’t lie. I can see through it, and eyes can’t lie.”

 

“I really don’t…”

 

Seeing Chu Yu’s completely disbelieving expression, Qiu Jinghe didn’t know why the topic suddenly shifted. After a long pause, he stammered:

 

“W-well, I do like him a bit, but not in that way…”

 

Chu Yu had already guessed this, so he wasn’t surprised. He interrupted Qiu Jinghe’s explanation:

 

“I knew it…”

 

Before he could continue, he suddenly saw Qiu Jinghe looking at him in shock, covering his mouth, and tremblingly pointing at him. After a while, he finally managed to utter four words:

 

“You’re crying again…”

 

“What?” Chu Yu asked, puzzled.

 

“Your eyes. Your purple eyes have turned black.”

 

Qiu Jinghe moved closer, grabbing Chu Yu’s hair and pressing it to his face:

 

“And your white hair has turned black too.”

 

Hearing this, Chu Yu panicked.

 

He stared in alarm as his white hair gradually turned black from the tips. His Yin-Yang eyes, which could previously see both realms, could no longer perceive the underworld. Desperate, he grabbed Qiu Jinghe’s shoulders and shook him:

 

“It’s your fault. Quickly help me turn my eyes back.”

 

“H-how do I do that…”

 

Qiu Jinghe was also at a loss. In his panic, he quickly used his sleeve to wipe the tears from Chu Yu’s face and noticed that every time he wiped away the tears, the purple hue in Chu Yu’s eyes reappeared.

 

Realizing that wiping away the tears was effective, Chu Yu used Qiu Jinghe’s clothes as a handkerchief, rubbing his face hard against the collar, but the tears still flowed uncontrollably. He didn’t even know why he was crying and kept rubbing against Qiu Jinghe’s clothes, trying to dry his tears.

 

Qiu Jinghe could only hold him and gently pat his shoulders, offering random comfort.

 

After a long time, Chu Yu finally looked up with red, tear-streaked eyes and asked softly, “Did it go back to normal?”

 

Qiu Jinghe examined him carefully and then nodded:

 

“It’s back to normal.”

 

Relieved that his eyes had returned to purple, Chu Yu relaxed.

 

Seeing Chu Yu’s red eyes, Qiu Jinghe hesitated, then quietly said:

 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so difficult for you.”

 

He sincerely apologized, “I won’t mention this again. As for your mother’s situation, I’ll find someone else to help—”

 

“His Majesty has arrived!”

 

Before Qiu Jinghe could finish, the voice of Chief Eunuch Lai Fu came from outside the National Preceptor’s Hall, shouting loudly.

 

Qiu Jinghe was startled and was about to go greet him when he suddenly remembered Chu Yu was naked and lying on him. He quickly said:

 

“Where are your clothes? Let me help you get dressed. Hurry up, or if His Majesty sees this, it’ll be a disaster—”

 

“What are you hiding from me?”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao wasn’t one to wait for others to come and greet him. Moreover, he was worried about his son and hadn’t slept all night. As soon as dawn broke, he went straight to the National Preceptor’s Hall, had the door opened, and walked in.

 

As he entered and was about to ask about Qiu Jinghe’s condition, he looked up and saw Chu Yu, naked, lying in Qiu Jinghe’s arms, with red, teary eyes, looking like he had been through a lot.

 

Qiu Jinghe was holding what appeared to be Chu Yu’s inner clothing and was awkwardly draping it over Chu Yu’s shoulders.

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao: “……..”

 

Yin Yuan: “………”

 

Qiu Jingxiu: “……….”

 

Qiu Jingxiu quickly covered his eyes and peeked through his fingers, saying in a childish voice:

 

“Brother Jinghe is not wearing clothes. How embarrassing.”

 

“………”

 

Qiu Jinghe’s face turned crimson. He reached out, “Father, let me explain—”

 

“I understand, I understand,” Emperor Qiu Junyao said. “I’m not that old-fashioned. You’re sixteen, it’s not early love, right, Ah Yuan?”

 

Yin Yuan looked at Qiu Jinghe with a subtle expression, then slowly nodded.

 

Facing his parents’ mocking gazes, Qiu Jinghe was so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole to hide in:

 

“I really didn’t! My relationship with the National Preceptor is purely platonic…”

 

“A revolutionary friendship with nothing but a naked embrace,” Emperor Qiu Junyao said. “I understand. I’m not so narrow-minded. Even if you two ended up together, I wouldn’t blame you.”

 

Qiu Jinghe was almost burning with embarrassment: “I-I really didn’t!!”

 

“Alright, alright,” Emperor Qiu Junyao said. “I believe you. There’s nothing between you and the National Preceptor. What could happen between two men? Really, making such a fuss.”

 

Without waiting for Qiu Jinghe’s response, Emperor Qiu Junyao turned to Yin Yuan:

 

“Ah Yuan, are there any good dates coming up, suitable for marriage?”

 

“Uh… next month?”

 

Yin Yuan thought for a moment: “The thirtieth of next month is an auspicious date.”

 

“Then how about the thirtieth of next month?”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao turned to Qiu Jinghe and Chu Yu:

 

“On the thirtieth of next month, you two will get married. How about it?”

 

Chu Yu and Qiu Jinghe were stunned: “Your Majesty, we…”

 

Before they could voice their objections, the Astronomical Bureau rushed in, saying there was an important matter to report.

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao allowed him to enter. Soon, the Astronomical Bureau was led in, and upon seeing Emperor Qiu Junyao, he bowed deeply, his face full of joy:

 

“Your Majesty, after the rain stopped last night, I observed a faint purple aura coming from above the National Preceptor’s Hall. There were also signs of auspicious phoenixes at the entrance of the Prime Minister’s residence. Moreover, before the appearance of the phoenix, recent floods have receded, places suffering from drought have received timely rain, crops are producing double ears, and there are reports of a male bird’s pattern appearing in the rain, which is a great omen!”

 

Having finished, the Astronomical Bureau knelt down and bowed deeply:

 

“Now the people have gathered outside the capital, writing petitions for Your Majesty to make Lady Yin Yuan the empress. Your Majesty, please come out and see!”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao: “……..”

 

He was stunned: “Is this for real?”

 

“It’s absolutely true, Your Majesty!” the Astronomical Bureau said earnestly:

 

“Lady Yin Yuan is our great omen for the Da Yuan!”

 

Emperor Qiu Junyao: “…….”

 

“Wait a minute. You just said there was a purple aura coming from the east?” Emperor Qiu Junyao narrowed his eyes, suddenly realizing something was off:

 

“But I wasn’t in the National Preceptor’s Hall last night… Since ancient times, purple aura has symbolized the emperor… So why would there be purple aura above the National Preceptor’s Hall?”