Ch 136: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

Qi Xuan followed Ah Qi out of the bamboo house. Only then did Qin Zhao straighten up and say, “They’re gone.”

Jing Li finally lifted his head.

He first glanced in the direction the young emperor had left, then put on a dismissive expression. “If he’s gone, he’s gone. What does it have to do with me?”

As he spoke, he leaned closer, trying to take another bite of the sweet potato in Qin Zhao’s hand. But Qin Zhao shifted his hand away, dodging him. “If you hadn’t done it on purpose, would that little fish fry have dared to knock on my door?”

The little fish fry didn’t fully understand social etiquette yet but had been taught to be polite. He knew not to make noise when others were present, let alone interrupt Qin Zhao during a discussion.

It was clear this was Jing Li’s doing.

“So what if it was me?” Jing Li snatched the sweet potato from Qin Zhao’s hand and took a grumpy bite. “He kept you talking for so long. Doesn’t he know it’s rude to bother someone else at mealtime?”

Qin Zhao chuckled softly, helplessly.

He knew Jing Li never had much fondness for the young emperor.

The reason for this wasn’t just suspicion that the emperor might have harmed him in the past. It was also likely because of their former teacher-student relationship.

Simply put, the little husband was jealous.

Gently wiping a smudge of roasted sweet potato off Jing Li’s face, Qin Zhao said in a low voice, “I just told the emperor that I won’t go back to being Prince Rong.”

Jing Li was stunned.

Hadn’t all his efforts over the years been for the sake of seeking justice for himself and reclaiming everything he had lost?

If he wasn’t going to be Prince Rong, then what was the point of all those years of hard work?

“Why?” Jing Li blurted out.

Qin Zhao replied, “I thought you’d prefer me to make this choice.”

Jing Li opened his mouth but didn’t know how to respond.

No, that wasn’t it.

Although… he occasionally found it hard to reconcile the legendary regent prince with the man in front of him, he had never wanted Qin Zhao to give up his power.

What he dreaded most was seeing Qin Zhao give up what rightfully belonged to him because of him.

He had already lost so much…

Jing Li’s brows furrowed. “Is it… because of me?”

“Of course not. Don’t overthink it,” Qin Zhao said. “I’m doing this for myself.”

Jing Li raised his head in surprise. “Huh?”

“I want to live a few more years,” Qin Zhao said, meeting Jing Li’s gaze with a smile. “This body of mine needs proper care. If I go back to managing state affairs, am I trying to shorten my own life?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Jing Li scolded. “You’ll live to a hundred. Stop saying such things.”

“Yes, that was my mistake,” Qin Zhao conceded with a smile.

Distracted by their conversation, Qin Zhao had forgotten to feed the little fish fry, who had lost patience in the presence of delicious food. The little one waved his chubby arms and snatched the remaining piece of sweet potato from Qin Zhao’s hand.

The soft, sweet flesh of the roasted sweet potato was smeared all over his face as he chewed.

Qin Zhao pulled out a silk handkerchief, crouched down, and gently wiped the little cub’s face. “Xiao Yu, I promise I won’t make you worry anymore.”

Jing Li blinked.

“…It’s all about to end. I promise.”

Qin Zhao’s promises were never wrong. With the deterrence of the Grand General, the situation in the capital became clearer by the day. Over the years, the Empress Dowager had repeatedly summoned Xiao Yue back to the capital in the young emperor’s name, all out of fear of the military power he held.

The reason Xiao Yue had initially chosen to avoid confrontation was because the Xiao family was loyal to the Qi dynasty and did not wish to escalate conflicts.

Now that it was clear the Empress Dowager had been manipulating things all along, there was no need for further restraint.

In any era, holding military power was the greatest advantage.

The Empress Dowager’s years of accumulated influence quickly crumbled under such immense pressure, her defeat as overwhelming as a collapsing mountain.

…

Yan Guang, Year 2, First Month, Fifth Day, Lantern Festival.

A great fire broke out in the Empress Dowager’s palace, burning through the entire night. When the flames finally subsided, her charred remains and those of her trusted eunuch were found among the ruins. Rumors spread among the common folk that the Empress Dowager had failed in an attempt to assassinate the emperor and had taken her own life out of guilt. Others speculated that the emperor, having uncovered her ambitions, had secretly executed her.

Regardless of the truth, the month-long chaos in the capital ultimately came to an end with this fire.

As the weather gradually warmed, a carriage stopped in front of an estate just outside the capital in early spring.

Before stepping out of the carriage, Jing Li heard a distinctive booming voice shouting, “Be careful! If you scratch it even a little, I’ll take off your leg!”

Even the little fish fry shrank into his embrace in fright.

Jing Li comforted his child with a gentle pat on the head and looked up, only to see Xiao Yue striding toward them with an energetic gait and a bright demeanor. “You’re here! Come in, come in. No need to stand on ceremony!”

“This was my home originally. Why would I be polite to you?” Qin Zhao stepped off the carriage, his expression devoid of joy.

This estate was the one Qin Zhao had promised to give Xiao Yue once things were settled.

Back in the day, Prince Rong had lived a prosperous life and owned countless businesses in the capital. Even among all his properties, this estate was one of the most valuable.

Giving it away so freely made even Jing Li’s heart ache on Qin Zhao’s behalf.

“What are you talking about? This is a gift from His Majesty to me, the Grand General,” Xiao Yue retorted smugly, pointing to an unmounted plaque near the door. It bore four large characters written in the young emperor’s own hand: Grand General’s Residence.

This estate had been confiscated by the Empress Dowager after Prince Rong’s downfall. Now, with Xiao Yue and Qin Zhao’s agreement, the young emperor had conveniently bestowed it upon Xiao Yue as a reward for his meritorious service in protecting the throne.

With affairs in the capital now settled, Xiao Yue was busy moving in. Though he hadn’t finished arranging everything, he couldn’t wait to invite Qin Zhao and Jing Li over as guests.

Jing Li had a strong suspicion this was Xiao Yue’s way of getting back at Qin Zhao for secretly leaving the capital a month ago and dumping all the mess on him.

Qin Zhao, however, remained indifferent. He had never been one to value material possessions, and he knew that showing any sign of regret would only inflate Xiao Yue’s pride.

With a calm and lukewarm congratulation on the housewarming, Qin Zhao took his little husband by the hand and entered the Grand General’s Residence.

The furnishings and layout had changed, but the overall structure of the estate remained the same. Taking the little fish fry from Jing Li’s arms, Qin Zhao led Jing Li through the flower-filled front courtyard, the hanging peach blossoms at the decorative gate, and the winding corridor by the artificial lake with practiced ease.

The further they walked, the more stunned Jing Li became.

“Just how rich was Qin Zhao back then…?”

Qin Zhao kept a close eye on his little husband’s reaction. Seizing a moment when Xiao Yue wasn’t paying attention, he quietly asked, “Do you like it here?”

“Hmm?” Jing Li snapped out of his thoughts.

“If you like it, I’ll figure out a way to swindle it back,” Qin Zhao said casually.

Jing Li: “…”

Ever since Qin Zhao had dropped all pretenses and revealed his true nature, he no longer hid anything in front of Jing Li. Now, he could say words like “swindle” with complete ease.

And Jing Li didn’t doubt for a second that he could pull it off.

This former regent prince was full of cunning schemes; nothing was beyond his capabilities.

Jing Li glanced back at Xiao Yue, who was still obliviously admiring the courtyard and completely unaware of their conversation. A pang of sympathy suddenly hit him. “Just let him enjoy a few more peaceful days.”

“Alright, I’ll do as you say,” Qin Zhao agreed with a smile.

The group passed through the corridor and arrived at a pavilion built over the artificial lake.

Someone was already waiting inside.

The current emperor, dressed in plain civilian attire, was sitting in the pavilion, sipping tea and cracking sunflower seeds. Upon seeing Qin Zhao approach, his previously relaxed demeanor vanished, and he looked as though he was about to stand up to greet him.

But just before rising, he seemed to reconsider and stopped himself.

“Ahem…” Qi Xuan cleared his throat and awkwardly tried to maintain an air of authority. “Sit.”

Qin Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly as he asked directly, “Why is Your Majesty here? Are all state affairs resolved?”

With the capital recently in turmoil, it should have been an incredibly busy time. Yet here he was, leisurely drinking tea?

“…” Qi Xuan muttered in complaint, “I haven’t had a single day of rest in ten days!”

Qin Zhao, unimpressed, replied calmly, “Such is the duty of a ruler.”

Qi Xuan: “…”

He quickly changed the subject. “I’ve found the physicians I sent people to look for earlier. They’re all highly skilled and have been practicing medicine for years. In a few days, they’ll be sent to your residence. Don’t worry—they’re discreet and unaware of your identity.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Qin Zhao said, his tone neither warm nor cold.

Qi Xuan didn’t dare take offense and continued, “And regarding the servant who poisoned you…”

He paused. “I’ve kept him imprisoned all these years, thinking that if you were still alive, you might want to see him. Last time, you said you didn’t want to dwell on the past, but I thought… you might want to handle him personally.”

“He’s currently locked in a room in the back courtyard. If you want to see him, Xiao Qing can take you there.”

Qin Zhao didn’t respond.

Under the table, Jing Li quietly held Qin Zhao’s hand.

Qin Zhao had already told Jing Li the truth about what had happened all those years ago, though he had only laid out the events in a straightforward manner. While he had promised the young emperor not to dwell on the past, it didn’t mean he had truly let it go.

Who could let something like that go?

Once, he had been a favored son of heaven.

But now, what choice did he have but to let go?

His body could never return to what it once was. No matter how many physicians were found, no matter how thoroughly the culprit was punished, nothing could restore what he had lost or make up for the suffering he had endured over the years.

The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy, prompting even Xiao Yue to interject, “If you don’t want to see him, just say the word. I’ll take care of him with a single strike—”

“No,” Qin Zhao interrupted firmly. “I’ll see him.”

He stood up. “Lead the way.”

The two quickly disappeared down the corridor, leaving only Jing Li and Qi Xuan in the pavilion.

The two of them, both youthful in appearance and close in age, should have naturally gotten along. However, their differing statuses and Jing Li’s previous inexplicable hostility toward Qi Xuan had meant they had never spoken alone before.

The pavilion remained silent for quite some time.

Jing Li could sit still, but the little fish fry lacked such patience. There were plenty of tea snacks laid out in front of Qi Xuan—treats not typically available to him.

The little fish fry seemed to understand that this uncle was different from others and knew better than to act rudely. So, he simply stared longingly at the snacks without daring to ask for any.

Qi Xuan noticed the little one’s eager gaze and pushed the plate of snacks toward him. “Want some? Go ahead.”

The little fish fry looked up at Jing Li for approval.

Jing Li nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“No need for that. When no one’s around, just call me A-Xuan,” Qi Xuan said, displaying none of the airs of an emperor. He handed out the snacks to both the little fish fry and Jing Li, casually cracking sunflower seeds while engaging Jing Li in idle gossip.

Without Qin Zhao and Xiao Yue present, Qi Xuan seemed more at ease. As they chatted, he used the opportunity to ask about Jing Li and Qin Zhao. “I heard you and Rong—cough, Mr. Qin—met in a village?”

“Yes.”

“And you pursued him first, didn’t you?”

“…” Jing Li blinked. “Why do you think that?”

“Because there’s no way he would pursue someone himself,” Qi Xuan replied, grabbing another handful of sunflower seeds. “You don’t know how aloof he used to be. People who liked him could line up from one end of Chang’an Street to the other. I even thought that if I could just find him a princess consort quickly, maybe he’d stop meddling in my affairs. But alas, I sent him portraits of countless candidates, and he didn’t like a single one.”

Jing Li: “…”

Completely unaware of Jing Li’s shifting mood, Qi Xuan sighed wistfully. “He’s always been a bit dense when it comes to romance. If he ever bullies you in the future, you can come tell me. Though I wouldn’t dare criticize him outright, we do have a bit of a teacher-student bond, so I could say a few words on your behalf—”

“You’re overthinking, Your Majesty,” Jing Li cut him off, visibly displeased at the mention of their teacher-student relationship. He said earnestly, “My husband treats me very well. He’s gentle, considerate, and indulges me in everything. He would never bully me.”

Cough.

Before his words had even settled, a light cough came from behind him.

Jing Li turned stiffly to see Qin Zhao and Xiao Yue standing right there, apparently having returned unnoticed.

Jing Li: “…”

…

Thandar: Extra chapters will be password locked. Please find the password in TOC.