After Losing My Memory, I Became My Rival's Palm-Sized Chirper - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Coming to Sleep With You

“He is not pregnant.” The Heavenly Emperor realized that the words he had spoken most today were these four.

In fact, he had spoken more today than he usually did in any given day combined.

Pressing his long fingers against the space between his brows, perhaps out of a sense of resignation, the Emperor decided to explain patiently one more time—and perhaps for the last time: “It is because of the Dragon Breath. He has amnesia and mistook it for a Dragon heir, so he demanded that I take responsibility.”

“Oh.” Han Mo was somewhat convinced, as he knew a thing or two about that business with the Dragon Breath.

And so…

Han Mo: “And so, Your Majesty just went along with it, planning to use this as an opportunity to turn a fake act into a real one with the Lord, and marry him directly as the Heavenly Queen?”

The Emperor: “…?”

“…Han Mo.” Yu Baixi’s expression turned cold.

Han Mo’s face changed instantly. He hurriedly bowed and knelt: “…This subject knows his mistake. I have spoken too much.”

The study became so quiet that one could hear a needle drop.

Han Mo didn’t dare look up for a while. He felt as though a long time had passed before the Emperor spoke again, this time with further instructions: “He has lost his memory for the time being. He cannot even remember basic spells, and his personality has become lively and reckless… like a child. He does not know how to restrain his sharp edges.”

“When you follow him daily, if there is trouble, try not to let him take action, lest he be recognized before he regains the strength to protect himself.”

“This subject understands.” Han Mo’s expression became serious and solemn.

Hailing from one of the four great immortal clans and commanding the entire Heavenly Guard at the age of just over ten thousand years, General Han never trifled with official business.

“However, according to my understanding, that person never used to restrain his edges in the past.”

After standing up, Han Mo smiled again: “I just wonder what that person looks like now that he’s ‘like a child.’ When I was younger, I only saw him a few times from a distance. Every time, he seemed so loftily elegant—a rarity in this world…”

Yu Baixi closed his eyes. Recalling how the little fat bird had risked his soul just a few hours ago, he couldn’t help but sigh softly: “In short, he is very headstrong.”

Then, lifting his gaze, the Emperor said solemnly: “I summoned you so you could keep an eye on him. Do not tell him about his past, to avoid unnecessary complications.”

“This subject obeys the command.”

Normally, when General Han said he obeyed the command, it was time to bow and withdraw. But today, Han Mo remained standing before the desk, his expression conflicted.

“If you have something to say, say it.” Yu Baixi didn’t even look up as he picked up the vermillion brush again and flipped open a memorial.

Han Mo asked: “Your Majesty, I embolden myself to ask: have you truly decided to marry the Lord?”

“The Marriage Ceremony will take at least three months to prepare. He will likely only need about three months to recover his memories.”

Yu Baixi maintained a neutral, indifferent voice that hid all emotion: “When the time comes and he remembers everything, he will not marry me. The ceremony will naturally be cancelled, and we shall act as if nothing ever happened.”

“If he wants to be the Heavenly Queen now, let him be. Otherwise, he will find ways to cause a stir.”

The Emperor didn’t forget to add a final instruction: “During this period, Qi Jia’s authority is equal to that of the Heavenly Queen. Remember, there is only one principle: do not let him encounter danger.”

“This subject understands.”

There is only one principle: as long as the Lord passes these few months of amnesia safely. Han Mo understood and accepted this. After all, the Lord’s identity was special; caution was necessary.

But as he expected, His Majesty never intended to take advantage of the situation… In truth, even after ten thousand years, Han Mo sometimes still couldn’t understand his Emperor. At this moment, he really wanted to ask: But what about you, Your Majesty?

If the Lord truly cancels the engagement then, would His Majesty feel regret? After all these years, has His Majesty truly never thought of finding a companion?

He still remembered that back when His Majesty was the Crown Prince, although he didn’t have much contact with General Feng Yan, every time they met—whether in the heavens or the mortal realm—weren’t they always fighting passionately while simultaneously appearing perfectly compatible?

But then again, after thinking in circles, Han Mo realized his biggest concern was—

“But if you do it this way, even if you cancel the engagement later, the Lord’s… purity is gone!”

“Purity?” His long lashes flickered. The Emperor stopped his brush and frowned: “…What do you mean by that?”

“…This subject means that now the entire four realms know that the Lord and you are… well, pregnant out of wedlock. Even if you don’t marry in the end, the rumors will have spread for three months. This is bad for the Lord’s reputation!”

“…Han Mo.”

A cold voice interrupted the General. The Emperor’s handsome, upright brows pressed even lower, followed by another silence.

After a long while, His Majesty spoke with stern severity: “…You do not care for my reputation, yet you worry for his first. Are you my subject, or his?”

The Emperor’s voice was frigid, each word carrying a weight of pressure that felt as if it could crush a person in an instant.

Han Mo: “…”

He was too terrified to speak.

…It was strange. He truly only had that person’s reputation in mind and hadn’t considered his own Emperor…

In fact, looking at it from His Majesty’s perspective… the one who was barged in on and called a “scumbag dragon” in the Hall of Nine Heavens was their Emperor. As for the matter of premarital pregnancy and illicit union, the Emperor was the one bearing the bad reputation.

So, His Majesty was quite innocent in this… provided His Majesty truly hadn’t done anything to that person.

Furthermore, once the Lord recovers his memory and cancels the ceremony, few will likely know his true identity or this part of his past. Meanwhile, the Emperor will have to bear the gossip of being jilted by his Queen!

…But why did he only care about that person’s name and not spare a thought for his own Emperor and childhood friend?

For a moment, a great sense of guilt and the shock of his own “disloyalty” flooded Han Mo’s heart. He could only keep his head down, not letting the Emperor see his expression.

Their Emperor was prone to unpredictable moods—that was why he was called the Evil Heavenly Emperor. Usually, Han Mo knew how to avoid the Emperor’s “reverse scales” and wasn’t afraid. Now, he was truly afraid the other man would lose control, draw his sword, and cut him down!

Fortunately, in a flash of desperate thought, he suddenly came up with a reason—

“Isn’t it because… well, the outside world says Your Majesty ‘can’t perform’? Now that the Lord says you two have a child, regardless of whether it’s true, at least everyone knows you can! …Uh, so, it counts as salvaging your reputation in that department.”

Though it was clearly difficult to say these words under the Emperor’s frost-like gaze, the more Han Mo spoke, the more he felt he was right. He felt his heart was still leaning toward the Emperor. Gradually, a brilliant smile appeared on his face, and his voice became lighter—

“So Your Majesty, you aren’t losing out!”

Yu Baixi: “…”

Yu Baixi didn’t usually refrain from speaking; he was simply too lazy to open his mouth most of the time and didn’t care to explain things. Over time, this gave people the impression that he was silent and unfathomable.

Now, the Emperor merely gave the grinning general a deep look. His dusky-cyan eyes were like blades of ice, sharp enough to cut.

Yet, in the end, the Emperor did nothing. He remained sitting perfectly straight. He merely waved his hand with a look of increased exhaustion: “If there is nothing else, withdraw. That person you admire so much is currently at the Weiyang Palace.”

“Weiyang Palace? But that is the palace where the Heavenly Queens of every generation reside!” Han Mo was even more delighted. “You’ve even arranged for the Lord to stay at Weiyang Palace. Your Majesty, you are truly good to him!”

“One must commit fully to the act.”

Yu Baixi recalled that when Immortal Shuoling heard Qi Jia would stay at Weiyang Palace, she too had a look of surprise and joy. He couldn’t help but scoff—he truly didn’t know where that person’s popularity came from.

At the same time, the Emperor spoke again: “Since he asked me for a status, only the position of Heavenly Queen is worthy of him.”

“Furthermore, although he and I had many frictions in the past, now that he has amnesia, it wouldn’t do to let him live in too much squalor.”

After dismissing Han Mo, Yu Baixi remained in his seat, turning his head to look indifferently out the window.

He had placed Qi Jia in Weiyang Palace for another reason—as the palace for the Queen, it was very close to the Taihe Palace where the Emperor resided. However, after Yu Baixi became the Emperor, for various reasons, he had not moved into Taihe Palace. Instead, he continued to live in the Hongmeng Palace from his days as Crown Prince.

Also for various reasons, Hongmeng Palace and Weiyang Palace were quite far apart. In the coming three months, he only needed to ensure the bird was safe there. He wouldn’t even need to meet Qi Jia in person. This was for the sake of their respective reputations in the future, and because their relationship had always been this way.

After staring blankly out the window for a while, Yu Baixi thought of something. His once-still expression shifted into a scoff, revealing a strange smile that was both self-mocking and cold.

A moment later, the Emperor returned to his expressionless state. He sat straight behind the jade tablets, took up the vermillion brush, and continued reviewing the memorials.

Two hours later, it was deep into the night.

Fortunately, the Emperor had already spent several hours on his work. Having finished the last memorial, Yu Baixi stood up. His tall frame filled out his silver-threaded, python-patterned white robe, yet he still looked slightly thin.

Silver candles burned bright in the hall. Yu Baixi stood by the window, which reflected a tall, solitary silhouette.

The silhouette was alone. Fortunately, the weather was good today. The lone white magnolia tree in the courtyard had fully bloomed.

The Emperor’s expression didn’t move; he showed neither joy nor sorrow. In the next instant, he vanished from the room and reappeared by the medicinal pool in the backyard.

The large pool, built of white marble, was filled with a bubbling, thick black liquid. The scent of the liquid was identical to the medicinal smell on the Emperor’s body.

Since the war ended, the four realms had gradually looked to the Heavenly Realm for leadership. Some sought the Emperor’s protection willingly, while others bowed to the “Evil Heavenly Emperor’s” overwhelming power.

Yet few in the four realms knew that for the past ten thousand years, this “World’s Number One”—who was rumored to have slaughtered all the great masters and unified the realms through sheer brutality—spent every single night soaking in this pool of thick, churning medicinal broth.

Standing by the pool whose smell even he found unpleasant, Yu Baixi’s face was devoid of joy or grief. His gaze traveled over the wall toward the distant horizon.

It was now past midnight. He assumed that person had already settled into Weiyang Palace—during the day, he had already sent over all the staff and items the other might need. That lazy bird should have fallen asleep long ago.

Hongmeng Palace and Weiyang Palace were indeed very far apart. Even the Emperor could not easily project his divine sense to such a strength to check on that palace—it would alert many, countless people.

And tonight was just another ordinary night in thousands of years. There should be no difference.

His gaze fell back into the churning black medicinal liquid. After standing still for a long time, the Emperor finally raised his hand and began to slowly undress.

However, just as he unfastened his belt, the Emperor’s movements froze. He suddenly looked sideways toward a certain direction in the sky, his gaze locking: “…Why are you here?”

Initially, there was nothing in that direction.

A moment later, a neon-yellow parrot—looking extremely delicate against the cover of night—flapped its wings vigorously and flew toward him.

A pleasant voice followed, bustling and energetic, bringing a sense of liveliness even to the wind.

Qi Jia said: “Naturally, I’ve come to find you to sleep!”

The Emperor: “…?”