Ch 124: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

Despite his conscience, Qin Zhao had no other relationship with the little emperor besides that of teacher and student.

At first, he was wholly focused on managing state affairs and found the boy an impediment—an ignorant nuisance. If not for his father’s teachings about the importance of upholding the monarchy, and the fact that there was no other viable candidate in the imperial family, Qin Zhao would have long abandoned the little emperor.

But Jing Li didn’t care about any of that.

The mere thought of the little emperor receiving Qin Zhao’s guidance, or witnessing his imposing demeanor in the past, made Jing Li boil with jealousy.

Why didn’t I get such a good deal? he thought.

Qin Zhao reasoned with him, “You weren’t even born back then.”

“But I was born later, and you still didn’t bring me back to the capital.” Jing Li replied righteously. “See? This is all your fault. If you had brought me back earlier, none of this would’ve happened. Who knows, maybe even the assassination attempt could’ve been avoided.”

Qin Zhao: “…”

What nonsense.

Back then, he had been preoccupied with retiring from his post. How could he have gone out of his way to fetch a little fish back to the capital? Not to mention, he hadn’t known that this little fish would one day become his husband—or how deeply he would fall for him in the future. If he had known, he wouldn’t have hesitated to do anything to keep him close.

But alas, life offered no do-overs.

“But since you’re behaving well now, I’ll forgive you,” Jing Li said nonchalantly, interrupting Qin Zhao’s internal debate on how to coax him.

Qin Zhao glanced up and caught sight of Jing Li’s smug expression. He quickly realized, “You did that on purpose.”

Jing Li said nothing.

Qin Zhao patted the seat next to him. “Come here.”

Jing Li hesitated. Qin Zhao raised an eyebrow, a hint of threat glinting in his eyes.

“…”

Obediently, Jing Li walked over.

And was promptly pulled into an embrace.

“They’ll see us,” Jing Li muttered, gripping Qin Zhao’s wrist.

“Scared? I’m not going to do anything…” Qin Zhao’s hand rested lightly on Jing Li’s waist, his fingers idly caressing. “Since when did you learn to scare me like that?”

“I didn’t…”

“Didn’t?”

“I was just saying…” Jing Li trailed off. “You’re so close with that little emperor, am I not even allowed to be jealous?”

“My relationship with him is clean and proper. Besides, we don’t even know if he’s an ally or an enemy,” Qin Zhao sighed. “You know full well that I…”

Before he could finish, he noticed Jing Li turning to look at him, eyes gleaming with a hidden anticipation.

Clearly, he was waiting for that very sentence.

Qin Zhao straightened and said solemnly yet gently, “You know full well, I only love you.”

Every couple expresses affection differently. Qin Zhao wasn’t the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, especially after being with Jing Li for so long. Sweet words seemed unnecessary at this stage.

Jing Li wasn’t one to casually declare his love, either.

But recently, Qin Zhao had noticed something: while Jing Li might not say it, he loved hearing it.

Jing Li fell silent, not resisting Qin Zhao’s embrace. Leaning against Qin Zhao’s shoulder, he listened to the sound of water lapping against the boat. His lips and eyes couldn’t hide the joy bubbling within.

He looked as sweet as if he had just tasted honey.

On the third day, the group finally arrived at the dock in the town.

This time, Qin Zhao hadn’t disclosed the exact date of their return, so no one from the village had come to greet them. Still, their attire, far from what ordinary villagers would wear, inevitably drew some attention.

Ah Qi went to the post station to hire a carriage, while Qin Zhao, holding the fishling in one arm and Jing Li’s hand in the other, found a slightly secluded spot by the roadside to wait.

Nearby, a few villagers were chatting idly.

“Brother Shunzi, you went to Linxi Village again? I’ve told you before, the triple top scholar isn’t likely to return so soon. Even their village chief hasn’t heard any news yet.”

“I had to see for myself. Who knows if they’re not back or just deliberately keeping quiet,” replied the man driving the ox cart, which had stopped near Qin Zhao’s group. “You have no idea how many people from the nearby towns want to apprentice under that top scholar (jieyuan). If I don’t make a few more trips, someone else might beat me to it!”

“You suddenly decided your son should take the imperial exams? What changed your mind?”

The man chuckled, “Exactly that! I’ve realized the value of education. If my son could even just pass as a county scholar, let alone a tribute student, it’d be better than farming for a lifetime.”

“…Speaking of which, I caught a glimpse of Qin Zhao and his husband when they left the village. Who could’ve imagined that just over a year later, they’d be so different?”

The two men were speaking without realizing that Qin Zhao and Jing Li were right next to them. However, the fishling, hearing a familiar name, peeked over Qin Zhao’s shoulder and exclaimed, “Huh?”

Qin Zhao exchanged a glance with Jing Li before silently moving away from the villagers.

The baby, in his soft, childlike voice, asked, “Daddy… they were talking about Daddy.”

“Yes,” Qin Zhao replied, “they were talking about Daddy.”

“Why?”

The little one tilted his head, looking up at Qin Zhao with curiosity. It was unclear if he was asking why the villagers mentioned his father or why Qin Zhao had quietly walked away.

Jing Li chuckled and added, “Because your daddy is amazing.”

The little fry blinked, still not fully understanding.

By then, Ah Qi had returned with a carriage, and the two adults didn’t elaborate further. Holding the fishling, they got into the carriage.

The carriage wobbled along the mountain road as Jing Li gazed outside. It was close to noon, the time when many villagers were returning from the market.

The road was bustling with people, yet subtle differences from the past were noticeable.

“There are more people carrying books,” Jing Li remarked.

Indeed, along the mountain path, many villagers could be seen carrying books in their hands or backpacks. Further away, some were reading aloud in open spaces in the mountains.

“I didn’t expect your influence to reach this far,” Jing Li said with some emotion.

Two years ago, when Qin Zhao and the village chief proposed establishing a private school, many villagers had opposed the idea. Yet now, so many were eager to study.

“They only needed an example to follow,” Qin Zhao replied calmly.

The villagers in these remote mountain areas weren’t inherently against education. Rather, their lives had revolved around farming for generations, and they rarely considered change. But once someone took the first step and succeeded, others would naturally follow upon seeing the benefits.

This is why towns that produced tribute scholars or county students typically fostered a stronger culture of learning, often producing more talent than other areas. Qin Zhao had witnessed this phenomenon many times before.

As they crested a hill, a vast plain came into view, marking the outskirts of Linxi Village.

This place had remained unchanged for decades. Even after being away for more than a year, the scenery was the same. It was the tail end of the autumn harvest, with golden stacks of wheat piled along the edges of the fields. Farmers were still working in the fields.

“A bountiful harvest,” Jing Li remarked.

Moments later, the carriage stopped just outside Linxi Village.

Outside the village, many people were working in the fields. Seeing a stranger’s carriage approach, they all looked up.

“Is that… is that Qin Zhao?!”

“It’s Qin Zhao! Jieyuan Qin Zhao is back!”

“Quick, someone notify the village chief!”

Qin Zhao hadn’t informed the village of his return this time, intending to keep a low profile. The village chief had helped him greatly during his time in the county, and he simply wanted to visit and express his gratitude without causing a stir. However…

His plan to remain inconspicuous failed even before he entered the village.

Word spread quickly, and in no time, a crowd had gathered at the village entrance.

Leading the group was a man who had just returned from the fields. He wiped the sweat off his brow and, looking slightly awkward, said, “Scholar Qin… Qin Zhao, why didn’t you send a letter to let us know? We would’ve gone to the town to pick you up!”

“There’s no need for such formalities, Brother Dali. Please, address me as before,” Qin Zhao replied.

The man in question was Li Dali, who had rented farmland to Qin Zhao in the past. After more than a year, his skin was noticeably darker from the sun, and Jing Li almost didn’t recognize him.

“Hey, make way, let me see.” Another villager pushed through the crowd, grinning. “Qin Zhao, I thought you’d hit it big and decided not to come back, but it seems you still have a conscience!”

“Uncle Lin, it’s nothing like that,” Qin Zhao said. “I’ll never forget the help you gave me during my toughest times.”

In Linxi Village, apart from the village chief, the person who had helped Qin Zhao the most was Lin Er. Back when Qin Zhao faced ostracism as an outsider, Lin Er was one of the few willing to associate with him.

After exchanging greetings, all attention naturally turned to the little one in Jing Li’s arms.

The fishling, seeing so many strangers for the first time, wasn’t scared. Following Jing Li’s guidance, he sweetly called out “uncle” and “brother” to the villagers, melting everyone’s hearts.

“This child is adorable, just like a miniature Qin Zhao!”

“Has Qin Zhao arranged a betrothal for him yet? My child was just born last year!”

The suggestion was more of a jest. According to village customs, arranging a betrothal required formal gift-giving and witnesses; it couldn’t be decided on a whim.

Qin Zhao, however, firmly responded, “I have no such plans.”

The villager who made the suggestion sighed in disappointment, only to be teased and laughed at by the others.

Moments later, a loud, spirited voice broke through the chatter: “The village chief is here!”

Without even looking, Jing Li could guess who it was.

Who else but Chen Yan’an would dare to shout so boldly in Qin Zhao’s presence?

The crowd parted to make way as Chen Yan’an helped the village chief forward.

This was indeed Chen Yan’an, but he was no longer the same person from over a year ago.

He had slimmed down by dozens of pounds, grown taller, and now looked upright and refreshed—a complete transformation.

Over the past year, he had kept in constant contact with Jing Li through letters. Jing Li had read about his successful weight loss but had initially dismissed it as an exaggeration. Seeing him now, he realized it was true.

Qin Zhao, however, paid no mind to these changes and stepped forward to greet the village chief. “Village Chief, there was no need to come out personally. I should have come to pay my respects to you instead.”

“Nonsense, you’re a Jieyuan now,” the village chief replied. Already advanced in age, his hair had grown visibly whiter in the past year. He coughed lightly as he glanced around and continued, “Don’t blame them. Linxi Village has never had a Jieyuan before. When the officials came to deliver the good news, everyone was overjoyed. Now that you’re back, they just want to say a few words and share in the joy.”

Qin Zhao: “It is an honor that the villagers think so highly of me.”

The village chief nodded appreciatively, his gaze toward Qin Zhao filled with approval. As someone who had once taken the imperial exams himself, the chief had seen many scholars who, upon achieving success, severed ties with their hometown and acted ungratefully. But Qin Zhao was different. Despite his accomplishments, he remained composed and humble, his character shining through.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the chief added, “Come to my home for dinner later. Bring Xiao Li, the child, and this young man with you.”

Ah Qi, who had been quietly carrying luggage and following behind Qin Zhao and Jing Li with the demeanor of a servant, was treated equally by the village chief.

Qin Zhao agreed, “Alright.”

“Alright, everyone,” the chief addressed the villagers, “Qin Zhao is just coming home. Why are you all gawking like you’ve never seen him before? Have some dignity!” With a few quick words, he dispersed the crowd and instructed Chen Yan’an, “Yan’an, escort Qin Zhao. You two were close before, and you probably have a lot to catch up on. I won’t intrude on your reunion.”

The village chief was highly respected, and at his words, the villagers began to disperse.

Finally, Qin Zhao was able to enter the village.

Chen Yan’an didn’t have much to say to Qin Zhao at first, but as soon as the villagers cleared, he eagerly approached Jing Li, focusing on the little fry in his arms. “Baby, do you remember me?”

The fishling looked at him with a puzzled expression, tilting his head for a moment before shaking it.

“I’ve held you before! I gave you lots of clothes and a little fish plushie. Don’t you remember?” Chen Yan’an looked visibly hurt.

Ever since the first time he met the little fry, Chen Yan’an had taken a great liking to him, gifting him numerous items and even trying to convince Qin Zhao to agree to a betrothal between their children. Naturally, both Qin Zhao and Jing Li had firmly rejected the idea.

The little fish plushie, meticulously crafted, had always been one of the little fry’s favorite toys.

The fishling furrowed his brows, his tiny hands stretching out to draw a big circle around himself. “The fish plushie… wasn’t from you,” he said solemnly. “It was from the chubby uncle.”

Chen Yan’an: “…”

Qin Zhao: “…”

Jing Li: “Pfft!”