Ch 129: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

The next day, Xiao Yue sent men disguised as coachmen to escort Qin Zhao and his family into the capital.

The inspections at the city gates were extremely strict. Imperial guards stood watch at the gates, creating a tense atmosphere.

Early in the morning, a long line of commoners had already formed, waiting to be inspected before entering the city.

As the carriage moved slowly forward, Jing Li, seemingly unable to sit still, repeatedly lifted the curtain to peek outside. Qin Zhao, noticing this for a while, finally spoke lazily as Jing Li prepared to lift the curtain again, “Stop looking. Are you afraid people won’t notice you?”

“…” Jing Li sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Qin Zhao said, “We’re here for the imperial exams. They won’t make things difficult for a scholar and his family.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Jing Li muttered, his eyes still darting toward the outside. In a low voice, he asked, “Are you sure no one will recognize you?”

This was the capital, where Qin Zhao had grown up. What if someone recognized him…

Qin Zhao countered, “If the current emperor changed into civilian clothes and stood in front of you, would you recognize him?”

Jing Li shook his head.

“Exactly.”

As it turned out, Jing Li’s worries were unnecessary.

The guards at the city gate inspected Qin Zhao’s documents, asked a few questions about why he was entering the city, how he had traveled, and the identities of the people with him. Qin Zhao answered them all calmly and was granted passage without any issues.

The process was so smooth it was almost uneventful.

Things were just that simple. Regardless of his past as the regent, how many common people had ever seen Qin Zhao’s true face?

After all, during his years in power, he frequently disguised himself to visit gambling houses and enjoy the nightlife—never once being recognized.

By the time they reached the residence prepared for them by Gu Changzhou, it was almost noon.

The residence was uninhabited, with only a single servant left behind to watch over the property.

“You must be Mr. Qin? We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” the servant said, quickly explaining, “Half a month ago, I received a letter from Master Gu instructing me to wait here for you. But why did you arrive a day late?”

“It rained in the mountains last night, making the roads slippery, so we stayed outside the city,” Qin Zhao replied.

The servant nodded understandingly. “Yes, it’s the rainy season in the capital. You should always carry an umbrella when you go out.”

As he spoke, he led Qin Zhao and his party into the residence.

The house was about the same size as the one Qin Zhao had lived in back in Jiangling, modest by capital standards, but it was in an excellent location.

This had been Qin Zhao’s specific request.

As a scholar supposedly here for the imperial exams, staying in a grand residence would draw unnecessary suspicion. In fact, being sent to the capital under the name of the Gu family patriarch and staying at his residence was already slightly conspicuous.

“If you head east from here, two streets down there’s a market where you can buy daily necessities. Heading north leads to the inner city, but keep in mind there’s a curfew in place. Make sure to return home before dark,” the servant explained, introducing the area.

Qin Zhao, who had grown up in the capital and knew it like the back of his hand, listened patiently. However, when the curfew was mentioned, he asked, “The guards have tightened security recently?”

The capital was the heart of the dynasty, known for its bustling nightlife. A curfew that required everyone to return home by dark was unusual.

“You noticed, didn’t you? The emperor is ill, and for the past two months, the city’s security has been strict. It’s made everyone on edge. Didn’t you see how many guards were at the gates when you entered?”

The servant glanced around cautiously, lowering his voice. “The emperor hasn’t attended court for months. They’re saying it’s due to a cold, but who believes that?”

Speaking ill of the court was technically a serious offense, but as the saying went, the law couldn’t punish everyone. Rumors like this had always been impossible to suppress.

Qin Zhao grew slightly interested and asked, “If it’s not just a cold, what do people think is the cause?”

“There are all kinds of rumors,” the servant said. “Some say the emperor has a strange illness, others claim he was poisoned, and some even say he’s being haunted by an evil spirit!”

Qin Zhao frowned instinctively. “An evil spirit?”

“The former regent, of course,” the servant said with a serious tone. “Who doesn’t know that the regent was a ruthless killer with a violent temperament? When the emperor ordered his execution, he didn’t even leave a memorial tablet, refusing to enshrine him in the ancestral temple. People say he’s come back as an evil spirit, seeking revenge on the emperor!”

Qin Zhao: “…”

Jing Li: “…”

Qin Zhao sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

He should have known better than to take gossip seriously.

Still, he hadn’t expected that after all these years, the common people of the capital still regarded him as a monster.

The servant didn’t pay much attention to his reaction and continued, “Master Gu left a carriage for you to use. It’s parked in the back courtyard. The house has been cleaned, and all the necessities are in place. I live nearby, so if you need anything, feel free to let me know.”

Qin Zhao replied, “Understood. Thank you.”

After introducing the residence and its surroundings, the servant excused himself. Qin Zhao walked him to the door and watched as he left, his gaze lingering for a long time.

Meanwhile, Jing Li was helping Ah Qi unload their luggage from the carriage.

Jing Li still wasn’t used to treating Ah Qi as a servant. To him, Ah Qi felt more like an assistant than a subordinate.

After carrying one batch of luggage into the courtyard, Jing Li looked up to see Qin Zhao still standing in the same spot. Following his gaze, Jing Li turned his head.

The capital, as the dynasty’s grandest city, was breathtakingly prosperous and far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

They weren’t even in the city’s core, yet the skyline was filled with tiled roofs and white walls. In the distance, a tall and imposing pavilion stood out.

“That’s the Zhaixing Tower,” Qin Zhao said. “It’s the tallest building in the imperial city. Whenever there’s a military victory or a major celebration, the emperor holds a banquet there.”

Before regaining his memories, that tower had appeared countless times in Qin Zhao’s dreams.

At the time, he hadn’t understood its significance. But thinking about it now, it likely represented his early perception of power.

A towering structure reaching a hundred feet high, one could pluck the stars from the sky.

“Zhaixing Tower…” Jing Li muttered. “It’s not even that tall. How dare they call it ‘Plucking Stars’? The view from the mountaintop near Linxi Village is much better, and you don’t have all these buildings ruining the scenery.”

The little fry overheard and imitated them by craning his neck. “Stars… Baby wants to see the stars too!”

The little one’s balance gave way as he looked up, and he almost fell on his bottom. Qin Zhao caught him just in time.

With a laugh, Qin Zhao said, “You’re right—there are far better places to enjoy the view.”

Jing Li hummed in agreement and changed the subject. “Are you hungry? It’s too late to cook now. I saw a few restaurants on the way. Should I go buy something?”

“Speaking of food…” Qin Zhao seemed thoughtful. “There’s a place nearby that I used to like.”

“Really?” Jing Li’s eyes lit up. “Where?”

A short while later, the family stood in front of a small noodle shop.

The shop was tucked at the corner of an alley. It was old and run-down, with mediocre business. Despite being lunchtime, the shop was noisy but not bustling. Inside, two attendants scurried about serving customers.

“This is the place you like?” Jing Li asked, surprised.

Qin Zhao rarely expressed any particular fondness for food, so when he mentioned “liking” a place, Jing Li had expected some uniquely refined establishment.

It was more… ordinary than expected.

“Yes, I’ve been eating the noodle soup here since I was a child,” Qin Zhao said as he led Jing Li inside.

They found a quiet corner to sit, and soon a waiter approached with tea. “What will you have, honored guests?”

“Three bowls of lamb soup noodles, four flatbreads, less oil, less spice, and extra scallions,” Qin Zhao ordered smoothly.

“Got it.” The waiter poured three cups of tea and smiled. “You seem like a regular.”

“It’s been a while since I last came,” Qin Zhao said. “Are you related to Boss Zhao?”

“He’s my father,” the waiter explained. “His legs aren’t in great shape, so he’s been resting at home. My brother and I have been running the shop for the past year. Don’t worry, though—the flavor hasn’t changed!”

The waiter left to serve other customers, and soon, three steaming bowls of lamb soup noodles were brought to their table.

The broth, made from lamb bones, was clear and rich, with a few glistening drops of oil floating on the surface. The aroma was savory and inviting. Perhaps because Qin Zhao had been recognized as a regular, the portions were noticeably generous.

The slightly chilly weather made the hot soup even more comforting, warming them from head to toe.

But when it came to the taste…

Maybe it was because the anticipation had been too high, but the noodles weren’t anything exceptional. In fact, they were rather plain. Jing Li glanced at Qin Zhao, who, after taking a sip of the soup, furrowed his brow slightly.

“His father’s cooking was better,” Qin Zhao said with a hint of regret.

Jing Li blinked.

He knew there were undoubtedly better options in the capital. Qin Zhao had chosen this place not for the food but for the memories it held.

Qin Zhao was sharing a piece of his past with him.

Still, even a simple roadside noodle shop couldn’t escape the passage of time.

Jing Li felt a pang of nostalgia.

Only the little fry seemed entirely unbothered. Holding a small wooden bowl Qin Zhao had specially requested, he carefully scooped up broken pieces of noodles that Ah Qi had cut for him, eating with such dedication that his cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel’s.

---

Qin Zhao and Jing Li settled into their life in the capital.

The next two weeks felt much like their days preparing for the exams in Jiangling. Qin Zhao read daily, occasionally taking Jing Li and the little fry out for walks when the weather permitted.

The calm made Jing Li feel somewhat uneasy.

It wasn’t… quite what he’d expected.

“What were you expecting? Intrigue, schemes, and bloodshed?” Qin Zhao asked with a wry smile after hearing Jing Li’s thoughts. “Isn’t peace better?”

“Of course,” Jing Li replied. “But it feels like we’re not making any progress here.”

Even during these tranquil days, Jing Li couldn’t shake a sense of unease. As long as the matter remained unresolved, Qin Zhao was at risk of being exposed. He couldn’t bring himself to be as composed about it as Qin Zhao seemed to be.

The contradiction gnawed at him.

He wished for the peace to last, that Qin Zhao would stay safe and avoid trouble. Yet, at the same time, he hoped for swift resolution so they could move past this looming threat.

The internal struggle left Jing Li restless, so he decided to distract himself by taking the little fry out to run errands.

By mid-October, the capital had turned noticeably colder. Qin Zhao, falling ill during this period, had cut back on outings.

But Jing Li couldn’t sit still.

When idle, his thoughts tended to spiral, so he took on most of the household tasks, including running errands.

After two weeks, Jing Li was well-acquainted with the neighborhood.

On this particular day, father and son had finished their shopping at the market, bought some pastries at the street corner, and were now heading home with a stick of candied hawthorn in hand.

Both of them were dressed in identical bright red jackets, embroidered on the back with lifelike koi fish—one large, one small, as if cut from the same mold. The sight was undeniably endearing.

As Jing Li held the little fry’s hand and walked toward their home, he noticed a figure slipping furtively into the alley beside their house.

Jing Li frowned and instinctively tightened his grip on the little fry.

That alley… led directly to their backyard and was a dead end.