Ch 139: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

With the help of General Xiao, who was more effective than an ox, the group completed the farming much faster than anticipated, finishing all the work before sunset.

“That plot is for eggplants, this one for cabbages, and that one… oh, right, that’s for corn!”

Jing Li had carved several small wooden signs, engraved with the names of the crops, and staked them beside each plot.

Once done, he clapped his hands, stood up, and, like a proud overseer, led the little fry on a walk along the field ridges.

Though still young, the little fry showed great enthusiasm for farming. Half of the seeds in the fields had been sown by his tiny hands.

The reason was simple—Qin Zhao had told him beforehand that planting seeds and tending to them diligently would yield abundant vegetables and grains later.

And when it came to food, the little fry had never lost to anyone.

“Since the little fry loves food so much, maybe he could apprentice under a great chef one day,” Jing Li mused seriously.

If the little fry grew up to master culinary skills, Jing Li figured he could enjoy all kinds of delicious food as a bonus.

Hearing this, Xiao Yue, who was helping Qin Zhao chop vegetables, immediately objected. “That won’t do! Didn’t we agree that once he is a bit older, he’ll come train under me and learn martial arts?”

“Who agreed to that? If he’s going to learn martial arts for self-defense, I can teach him,” Qin Zhao interjected.

“With your half-baked skills? You dare call that teaching?” Xiao Yue slammed the kitchen knife onto the cutting board and sneered, “Come on, let’s see if you can last even one move against me.”

Qin Zhao didn’t even bother looking up at the provocation, replying calmly, “The emperor sent you here to check on me, and this is how you’re doing it?”

Xiao Yue: “…”

Jing Li, long accustomed to their constant bickering, didn’t even bother intervening.

Sometimes, he doubted Qin Zhao’s claim that he and the general had never gotten along. If their relationship were truly that bad, why would Qin Zhao allow Xiao Yue to visit them so often?

In fact, Jing Li had never seen Qin Zhao argue like this with anyone else.

Of course, it was also possible that Qin Zhao simply enjoyed the satisfaction of leaving his former nemesis speechless.

When it came to verbal sparring, Xiao Yue had never won against Qin Zhao. The moment Qin Zhao brought up the young emperor, Xiao Yue could only let out a frustrated tsk and return to chopping his radishes.

Judging by the ferocity of his knife work, Jing Li suspected Xiao Yue was mentally substituting Qin Zhao’s head for the radish.

And so, the brief skirmish ended with Qin Zhao’s overwhelming victory.

The ingredients for dinner that evening had all been brought by Xiao Yue on the young emperor’s orders. Fresh shrimp, crabs, meats, and seasonal vegetables—things rarely seen or available for purchase—filled their kitchen.

As Xiao Yue worked on the ingredients, he sighed. “These fresh fruits and vegetables were specially sent by the Governor of Lingnan, delivered on horseback. Before they even reached the imperial kitchen, the young emperor had them sent to you. Look how much he cares for you.”

Qin Zhao caught the underlying implication. “So you’ve come as the young emperor’s lobbyist, haven’t you?”

Though the huishi exams had passed this year, the young emperor hadn’t given up on persuading Qin Zhao to return to court. Since he couldn’t convince him directly, he sent Xiao Yue to try.

“When did you start being so obedient to the young emperor?” Qin Zhao asked, intrigued.

Not long ago, Xiao Yue had been complaining that the young emperor was too timid and lacked imperial authority.

“You don’t understand. This is loyalty to the sovereign,” Xiao Yue shot back with a glance. “Unlike you, who keeps refusing even after the emperor cleared out the Hanlin Academy just to pave the way for your return.”

Qin Zhao smiled faintly but said nothing.

Recently, Jing Li had discussed this matter with him in detail. Jing Li consistently believed that Qin Zhao should prioritize his well-being while following his heart and doing what he truly wanted.

As an outsider, Jing Li often saw things more clearly than Qin Zhao himself.

He knew that Qin Zhao wanted to return—not for power or merely out of concern that Xiao Yue might not be able to fully assist the young emperor in stabilizing the court.

Qin Zhao’s time among the common people had exposed him to experiences and struggles he had never encountered before. He now had a deeper understanding of the hardships faced by the people and what they truly needed.

There were too many areas in this era that needed improvement. To truly ensure the well-being of the people and the stability of the government, a sweeping reform from the top down was essential.

This wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a year or two, or even by a single emperor’s reign.

But every great change required someone to take the first step.

This was what Qin Zhao wanted to do—and only Qin Zhao could do it.

What surprised Qin Zhao even more was how deeply Jing Li understood and supported these aspirations. Jing Li had even offered several practical suggestions. After their discussions, Qin Zhao had a clearer vision of how to proceed in the future, though he didn’t plan to share his thoughts with Xiao Yue or the young emperor just yet.

For now, he wanted to rest and enjoy time with his little furen.

He had no intention of letting political troubles disturb him.

Turning around, Qin Zhao saw Jing Li sitting by the stove, teaching the little fry how to shape dough into little fish. Jing Li wasn’t very skilled himself, and after much effort, the two of them still couldn’t make a proper shape. Instead, they ended up with flour-covered hands and faces, laughing heartily.

Qin Zhao couldn’t help but laugh along. He took out a handkerchief and bent down to wipe their faces.

Xiao Yue, having witnessed the scene, looked away expressionlessly, thinking Qin Zhao’s smile was downright offensive to the eyes. Slicing vegetables with renewed vigor, Xiao Yue silently vowed that no matter how much the young emperor begged, he wouldn’t come to this place again.

By the end of the day, General Xiao had tilled fields, cooked meals, and endured the relentless show of affection between the couple. He left after dinner without eating much.

As night fell, Ah Qi escorted Xiao Yue down the mountain while Jing Li and Qin Zhao tidied up the dishes in the courtyard.

“I still think we should find Ah Qi a wife,” Jing Li said, bringing up the topic for what felt like the hundredth time.

With more free time now, Jing Li had taken to doing most of the household chores himself, and Qin Zhao happily joined him. This left Ah Qi as the most idle person in the household, aside from Xiao Yu.

“Then you can talk to Ah Qi yourself,” Qin Zhao replied, handing Jing Li a clean bowl as he rolled up his sleeves. “Last time I mentioned it, he thought I was unhappy with his work and wanted to dismiss him.”

Qin Zhao sighed helplessly. “…He even begged me not to.”

Jing Li sighed as well.

Ah Qi had been trained as a shadow guard. Shadow guards like him had no past and no future, existing solely to serve their masters. Without a master, their lives seemed meaningless.

It was the same for Ah Qi during the years before he reunited with Qin Zhao—those were hard times for him too.

“So what do you think we should do?” Jing Li asked.

“Let things take their course,” Qin Zhao said. “Even if you want to find him a wife, it has to be someone Ah Qi likes, right?”

“You’re right.” Jing Li nodded. His intention had always been to help Ah Qi find happiness, not to force him into marriage. Matters like this couldn’t be rushed.

Jing Li pondered for a moment, then began to worry again. “But we’re living out here now—how is Ah Qi supposed to meet anyone?”

“Don’t stress.” Qin Zhao had no way to curb his little furen‘s habit of worrying. “Fate isn’t something you can force.”

This barely managed to convince Jing Li.

He let go of the topic and instead shifted the conversation to whether they should buy some chickens to raise or plant a persimmon tree in the front yard—simple domestic matters.

The dark night sky, adorned with stars, resembled a vividly painted masterpiece. The two chatted idly as Jing Li finished his chores and leaned against Qin Zhao’s shoulder, watching him tend the fire.

The courtyard was quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the firewood in the stove.

Suddenly, there was a faint sound from inside the house.

After dinner, the little fry had been playing alone in the house. Hearing the noise, Jing Li called out, “Son, what are you doing?”

There was no reply. Moments later, a small koi fish flopped its way out of the house.

The little one wriggled its way over to his two fathers, landing with perfect accuracy in the bucket of water they had set aside for washing dishes. Floating on his back, he blew a stream of bubbles. “Little dad!”

“What’s the matter? Why are you so excited?” Jing Li asked.

“Little fry found some super tasty water!” Xiao Yu wiggled his tail, his body swaying happily in the water.

“Water?” Jing Li didn’t understand. “Where did you find water?”

The child’s voice was full of energy and enthusiasm. “I drank it all!”

Jing Li and Qin Zhao exchanged a bewildered glance before Jing Li got up and walked toward the house. Qin Zhao looked down at the little koi swimming energetically in the bucket and felt like he had forgotten something important.

Xiao Yu rarely showed his original form, but tonight, for some reason, he had voluntarily transformed back. His behavior seemed unusually… hyper.

Hyper…

Wait a minute.

Qin Zhao suddenly realized what was going on. He instinctively called out, “Xiao Yu, hold on—”

But it was too late.

Jing Li had already stepped inside the bamboo house.

Moments later, his voice rang out from within. “Qin Zhao!”

He came out holding a small, exquisitely crafted bottle—now completely empty.

“So that was the ‘water.’ It was delicious!” Xiao Yu chirped cheerfully, oblivious to the tense atmosphere. He wagged his tail happily and let out a silly little hiccup.

Jing Li: “…”

Qin Zhao: “…”

That same night, as Xiao Yue rode back to the capital, he was caught in a torrential downpour and ended up lost in the mountains for an entire day and night.

…

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