Ch 135: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

The bamboo house and its surrounding forest were under constant watch. The watchers disguised themselves as villagers or passing merchants, appearing to be ordinary people while secretly tasked with protecting Qin Zhao’s family.

Whenever anyone approached the area, Qin Zhao would receive advance notice.

The visitor openly identified himself with the surname Qi, making it clear who he was.

Qin Zhao straightened up and asked, “He came alone?”

“Yes,” the young man replied. “We’ve checked; no one followed him.”

Qin Zhao nodded. “Let him in.”

The young man left to carry out the order, and not long after, Jing Li emerged from the house, having changed clothes and leading Yu Zai.

“Who’s here?” Jing Li asked.

“Qi Xuan,” Qin Zhao answered.

Jing Li was startled. “How did he find this place?”

“Xiao Yue probably told him,” Qin Zhao said, his tone indifferent, showing little surprise.

He glanced at Jing Li and noticed that he and little fry were wearing clothes made from the same fabric. The pomegranate-red jackets had collars and cuffs trimmed with white rabbit fur, both warm and adorable.

Qin Zhao adjusted Jing Li’s collar and said, “The sweet potatoes are roasting. Keep an eye on the fire in a bit.”

“Okay!” Jing Li nodded obediently.

The sweet potatoes had just been put in the pot and needed some time to cook, but little fry could hardly wait. As soon as he stepped outside, he eagerly ran toward the stove, only to be swiftly caught by Qin Zhao.

The two little buns on top of little fry’s head, tied by Qin Zhao earlier that morning, had already started to come loose and swayed as he moved.

“They’re not ready yet,” Qin Zhao said. “Don’t rush.”

Little fry, caught by the back of his collar, kicked his legs before leaning into Qin Zhao’s arms. “Hungry…”

The little one had grown taller recently, and his features had become more defined, looking more and more like a carbon copy of Qin Zhao.

“Just wait a bit longer, and they’ll be ready,” Qin Zhao said, squatting down to rub little fry’s head. Then he glanced at Jing Li. “Did he learn these tricks from you?”

He was getting better at being adorable.

“How is that possible?” Jing Li denied immediately. “Do I ever act like this? Ah Qi, what do you think?”

“…” Ah Qi, who was unexpectedly dragged into the couple’s playful banter, blushed furiously. “Sub—subordinate doesn’t know.”

Jing Li burst out laughing at the young man’s embarrassment. Qin Zhao sighed helplessly. “Stop teasing him.”

When Qi Xuan walked along the secluded mountain path, this was the scene he saw.

The family was chatting cheerfully, completely ignoring the fact that a guest was about to arrive. Qi Xuan stood outside the fence for a moment, seeing no acknowledgment from anyone, and cleared his throat loudly.

“Ahem!”

Qin Zhao turned his head, his smile fading. “You’re here?”

“…” Qi Xuan immediately became timid, nearly stepping back. “Y-yes, I’m here.”

Qin Zhao handed little fry back to Jing Li, giving Jing Li’s hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go. Then, glancing at the young emperor dressed in plain clothes standing outside the gate, he said coolly, “Come in.”

Today, the young emperor had swapped his usual attire for a simple, light-colored outfit, with a folding fan tucked into his belt. He looked like the wealthy son of an ordinary family.

Jing Li thought that this appearance suited him better.

Qin Zhao led the young emperor through the gate, while Ah Qi stayed behind to serve tea. Jing Li sat in the courtyard, holding little fry as he watched the sweet potatoes roast in the stove. The sweet aroma of the roasting sweet potatoes gradually filled the air, but Jing Li seemed to lose interest.

“Why would he come looking for him now…” Jing Li muttered as he glanced at the main hall’s doors. “It feels like he’s up to no good. What do you think?”

Little fry was fully engrossed in staring at the roasting sweet potatoes and didn’t respond.

“Little fry, your little dad is talking to you!” Jing Li said, dissatisfied.

Little fry turned his head and gave Jing Li a blank look, clearly clueless about what his father was worrying about.

“Forget it,” Jing Li sighed in disappointment at his food-obsessed son. “I’ll figure it out myself.”

Inside the house, Qi Xuan sat uncomfortably on a chair.

As an emperor, he was used to being offered the seat of honor wherever he went, but his former teacher clearly had no intention of extending such courtesy. Qin Zhao occupied the main seat, and after Ah Qi served them two cups of tea, he quietly left the room.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Qi Xuan fidgeted with the teacup, forcing a sheepish smile as he tried to make conversation. “Your son… he’s very cute.”

“Thank you,” Qin Zhao replied calmly, sipping his tea.

“…” Qi Xuan was at a loss for words, and the awkwardness deepened.

He wanted to facepalm. Wasn’t the Regent supposed to have mellowed out after getting married and having a child? Why was he still this intimidating?

Qi Xuan had always found it difficult to talk to Qin Zhao. It had been like this since the beginning.

Still hesitating, Qi Xuan finally heard Qin Zhao place his teacup on the table. “If you have nothing to say, you can leave.”

“No, no, no, I have something to say!” Qi Xuan panicked, fearing he’d be thrown out. “I came here with something very important to tell you!”

Qin Zhao raised an eyebrow.

In truth, Qin Zhao had never been particularly harsh toward Qi Xuan. Though strict, he had always supported him. Yet, perhaps due to a natural fear students feel toward their teachers, Qi Xuan had been terrified of Qin Zhao since childhood. Even after all these years, that deeply ingrained fear hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Swallowing hard, Qi Xuan barely dared to meet Qin Zhao’s eyes. In a low voice, he admitted, “That day at the temple, I didn’t tell you the whole truth…”

“I know about your poisoning.”

Qin Zhao’s gaze darkened.

“I… I only found out later,” Qi Xuan said anxiously. “You have to believe me—I would never harm you, let alone poison you!”

Qin Zhao closed his eyes briefly, struggling to keep his voice steady. “Explain. What happened?”

“Six years ago, when you headed south to arrange your retirement, not long after you left the capital, I discovered that my mother was secretly plotting to dispatch soldiers to assassinate you,” Qi Xuan said. “When I received the news, I rushed to find you and managed to rescue you from the chaos, but… I found that you were poisoned.”

“You were unconscious, without memory, and unable to recognize anyone. I didn’t dare bring you back to the capital in that state, so I had someone fake your death and secretly hid you near Jiangling, arranging a few people to take care of you.”

“But one day, during an episode, you injured them and ran off.”

“My men caught up to you, but all they found were traces of where you had fallen off a cliff.”

Qin Zhao frowned slightly and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me the truth that day?”

Qi Xuan fell silent.

Qin Zhao’s tone grew colder. “If the poisoning has nothing to do with you, why didn’t you tell me directly back then?”

Qi Xuan shrank back, his voice trembling. “The poisoning… isn’t entirely unrelated to me.”

Qin Zhao froze.

“After returning to the capital, I had the matter investigated thoroughly,” Qi Xuan continued, his voice low. “Eventually… traces of Chenhuan Powder were found in the incense you frequently used.”

Incense.

The moment the word left Qi Xuan’s mouth, Qin Zhao instantly understood.

The poisoner hadn’t administered a large dose of Chenhuan Powder at once. Instead, they had placed it in the incense, causing him to inhale it day by day, year after year. Over time, the accumulated poison finally erupted.

What a meticulously calculated scheme.

Qin Zhao took a deep breath, his voice slightly hoarse. “Did you find out who was behind it?”

“Yes,” Qi Xuan replied. “A servant from your household confessed under interrogation. He said… he was acting on my father’s orders.”

With a sharp crack, the teacup shattered on the ground, its contents spilling everywhere.

“…I didn’t execute the servant. He’s being held in secret custody. If you wish to see him, I can arrange it.”

Qin Zhao didn’t respond.

All he could hear was a ringing in his ears, his blood boiling, drowning out the words of those around him.

Qi Xuan stepped forward, intending to support him, but Qin Zhao pushed him away. Lowering his gaze, Qin Zhao suddenly laughed.

“Truly worthy of the late emperor,” he said, his voice dripping with irony.

Still smiling, he raised his eyes to Qi Xuan. “Your Majesty, have you learned something? This is what true imperial power looks like.”

He should have known. How could the late emperor have trusted him to deal with the empress without concern? Wasn’t he worried that the regent’s growing power might one day threaten the throne?

The late emperor had tasked the regent with destroying Chenhuan Powder and developing an antidote, yet secretly kept a portion for himself.

Bit by bit, the poison was administered to the regent, ensuring that in a few years, as the young emperor matured, the regent would be rendered a cripple by the poison coursing through his body. By then, no one would be left to challenge his son for the throne.

The young emperor hadn’t dared to speak the truth back then, fearing that if Qin Zhao knew, he would no longer support the Qi family and might even overthrow the court.

“It’s my Qi family who wronged you, Prince Rong,” Qi Xuan said. “On behalf of my father, I apologize to you. Back then, when you had your accident, I feared my mother would turn against me next, so I had to return to the capital quickly to stabilize her. Over the years, she has kept a close watch on me, never truly trusting me. I didn’t dare to search for you…”

“What use would it have been to find me?” Qin Zhao’s voice was low and raspy. “You knew I was poisoned to the core, with no memory and no ability to fight the empress. Hiding me in Jiangling, if anything, was saving my life.”

“You…”

“Qi Xuan,” Qin Zhao interrupted, his voice sharp. “Do you truly want to be emperor?”

Qi Xuan froze mid-movement.

The timid and fearful expression on his face vanished. Straightening his posture, he lightly brushed the folding fan at his waist and let out a soft sigh. “I just want to survive.”

He had never been given a choice from the moment he was born.

As a child in the cold palace, he lived in constant fear, struggling to survive each day and enduring countless hardships. Later, he was fortunate enough to be named crown prince by the late emperor, thinking he could escape such a life. Instead, he was thrown into an even deeper and more inescapable vortex.

At just over ten years old, Qi Xuan had no choice but to become a puppet, struggling to stay alive between two opposing forces.

Having been raised by Qin Zhao himself, how could he not be intelligent? But he understood all too well that in the treacherous depths of the imperial palace, being too clever would only hasten one’s demise.

Qi Xuan considered himself an ordinary person. He had no grand ambitions or lofty aspirations.

For him, preserving his own life was already an exhausting challenge.

Qin Zhao said softly, “Even now, I believe you could be a good emperor.”

If Qi Xuan didn’t have the potential to rule, why would the late emperor have made him crown prince?

But he never had the chance.

Six years ago, Qin Zhao had been the one dragging him forward.

Six years later, the empress dowager held the reins behind him.

He had neither opportunity nor the courage to resist any of it.

After all, he was just a boy, only a few years older than Jing Li.

Qin Zhao’s turbulent emotions gradually settled. Leaning back in his chair, he looked fatigued. “Let this matter end here. I won’t blame you for what your father did. Both you and I are victims of this struggle for power, and blaming each other is meaningless.”

“Prince Rong…”

“Don’t call me that anymore. Whether it’s Prince Rong or the Regent, they no longer exist,” Qin Zhao said. “Before you now is just a scholar, Qin Zhao.”

“You…” Qi Xuan hesitated for a moment before asking softly, “Do you really have no intention of returning?”

Qin Zhao looked at him, a trace of surprise in his gaze. “Why? Does His Majesty still wish for me to drag this poisoned body around and work myself to death for you? Isn’t having Xiao Yue enough?”

Qi Xuan wasn’t responsible for the poisoning, so Qin Zhao had no qualms about Xiao Yue assisting him. Although the situation in the capital remained unstable, the fact that Xiao Yue had been able to secretly arrange for the young emperor to meet Qin Zhao suggested that stability wasn’t far off.

“Lord Xiao… is so intimidating,” Qi Xuan muttered with a hint of grievance. “I’m a little scared of him.”

Qin Zhao: “…”

Qin Zhao chuckled. “Are you afraid of me?”

“…” Qi Xuan looked as though he was about to cry. “Yes.”

Qin Zhao reassured him. “The Xiao family has been loyal for generations. While Xiao Yue may look fierce, he is a good man. Your Majesty can rely on him without worry.”

Qi Xuan let out a muffled “Oh,” still sounding unconvinced.

“By the way, Deng Qing told me about your condition,” Qi Xuan said. “I’ve already sent people to search for renowned physicians. Your health will surely improve.”

Qin Zhao nodded. “Alright.”

Qi Xuan fell silent again.

Standing stiffly by Qin Zhao’s side like he was being punished, Qi Xuan didn’t move, his face filled with hesitation and unspoken words.

Qin Zhao pressed his fingers to his brow. “When will you stop being so indecisive? No wonder Xiao Yue scolds you.”

“I… I’ll change. I swear I’ll change as soon as I return,” Qi Xuan promised. He then stole a glance at Qin Zhao’s expression. Seeing no trace of anger on his face, Qi Xuan cautiously asked, “Prince… Ahem, Mr. Qin, I heard you entered the capital under the guise of taking the imperial exams?”

Qin Zhao glanced at him, clearly knowing what he wanted to say.

“Well…” Qi Xuan began slowly, “I’ve already appointed someone as the chief examiner for next spring’s imperial exams, and the entire examination bureau has been replaced. No one would recognize you. If you’re still willing to…”

“This matter is not up for discussion,” Qin Zhao interrupted.

He had taken the exams merely as a pretext to enter the capital. Now that his plan was complete, whether or not he participated in the next stage was no longer important.

Qi Xuan’s words were effectively cut off. Before he could muster another argument, there was a knock at the door.

A crisp, childish voice called out from outside, “Daddy, the sweet potatoes are ready!”

Qi Xuan watched as the previously stern Qin Zhao’s expression softened instantly. Standing up, Qin Zhao walked over to open the door. When he did, the little one was still knocking and toppled straight into his arms.

“Careful,” Qin Zhao said as he caught the child firmly. Looking up, he saw Jing Li still sitting by the stove, though his gaze had been discreetly fixed in their direction.

Noticing Qin Zhao’s glance, Jing Li quickly looked away, focusing on pulling the sweet potatoes out of the clay stove.

Qin Zhao understood.

His little husband was worried about him.

Carrying the little one, Qin Zhao turned back and issued a dismissal. “Just in time, His Majesty and I are done talking. Ah Qi, see our guest out.”

Qi Xuan: “?”

We’re done?

Ignoring Qi Xuan’s confusion, Qin Zhao carried the child over to the stove.

The sweet potatoes were perfectly roasted, filling the courtyard with their fragrant sweetness. Qi Xuan couldn’t help but swallow as hunger pangs struck him.

Ah Qi, oblivious to the emperor’s inner turmoil, respectfully said, “Your Majesty, please allow this commoner to escort you out.”

“…”

Qi Xuan stood in silence for a moment before resigning himself to follow Ah Qi out of the courtyard.

Before leaving, he turned back and saw Qin Zhao personally pick a plump, round sweet potato from the basket. He broke it in half, blew it cool, and fed one bite to the child and the other to his husband.

The care and tenderness were unmistakable.

Qi Xuan resentfully looked away.

It’s just roasted sweet potatoes. What’s so great about them?

I’ll go buy some myself when I get back!