After the Corrupt Official Was Coveted by the New Emperor - Chapter 18

Following a soft call, steady and powerful footsteps sounded behind Ji Rong. He closed his eyes, only to open them again when the footsteps stopped by his side.

The sunlight fell directly onto Ji Rong’s face, causing Qi Zhaoxuan’s throat to move slightly. A faint golden light shimmered within Ji Rong’s eyes, his fair skin was flushed with color, and the tiny hairs on his face were barely visible. His lips were moist, and his eyelashes fluttered up and down like small fans.

When he looked up, the fine light danced in his eyes, and the golden rays cast a soft luster over him. Even his jet-black hair was drenched in the light. Qi Zhaoxuan watched, entranced. He raised his left hand and gathered a few stray strands of hair.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of the person before him to Qi Zhaoxuan’s nose. The incense, identical to the one on his own body, greatly satisfied his somewhat obsessive fixation.

“Your Majesty has just woken up. You should return to your couch and rest properly.”

The voice, clear and translucent as jade, echoed in his mind. Qi Zhaoxuan watched Ji Rong’s lips part as he spoke, catching occasional glimpses of his soft, red tongue. He unconsciously pressed his thumb against his canine tooth, and for an instant, only one thought occupied his mind: he wanted to bite.

His consciousness had been muddled and unclear during his illness, and his vision felt as if it were shrouded in mist. Yet, that departing silhouette was so familiar, just as it had been years ago, leaving decisively and heartlessly without once looking back.

The shadows of the past followed him like a ghost, and now they were repeating themselves. During the days when his high fever would not break, Qi Zhaoxuan’s nightmares replayed countless times. The feeling of heartache was indescribable, perhaps a nightmare he would never escape in his lifetime.

I do not want to see him leave again, Qi Zhaoxuan thought. In whatever form it took, he never wanted to see Ji Rong’s back again.

Touching the Imperial Preceptor’s hair did not result in a reprimand or resistance. Thus, he pushed his luck. His fingers moved from the hair to Ji Rong’s wrist, and then further down, gently grasping Ji Rong’s palm.

He whispered, “Will the Imperial Preceptor accompany me back?”

In his heart, he was already prepared to have his hand flung away. However, Ji Rong remained silent and made no move, merely lowering his eyes to look down.

Qi Zhaoxuan got his wish and led the person back to the sleeping quarters. By the window, the medicine had already been brewed. An observant palace servant set down the medicine bowl and immediately withdrew. The empty sleeping quarters were left with only the two of them.

The bitter, sour smell of the medicine forced Ji Rong to frown slightly. He waved his free hand in front of his nose, but the bitterness refused to dissipate. A beauty’s frown seemed to add a touch of charm.

Qi Zhaoxuan looked at Ji Rong. The quiet expression of the person before him seemed to suggest he could be dealt with at will, causing Qi Zhaoxuan’s courage to surge. He leaned in slightly, his lips nearly touching those he had watched for so long.

In the next moment, Ji Rong stepped back. The inches between them were quickly widened, and the steam from the medicine bowl rose between the two.

“Your Majesty,” Ji Rong looked up at Qi Zhaoxuan, his voice cold. He tilted his chin toward the medicine bowl. “Drink your medicine and rest early.”

Qi Zhaoxuan drained the medicine bowl in one gulp. Seeing that Ji Rong intended to leave again, he suddenly remembered Ji Rong’s unhesitating act of saving Fan Qing, as well as the words he had heard Fan Qing say while his consciousness was blurred in the cave, urging Ji Rong to run. His displeasure reached its peak.

Thus, Qi Zhaoxuan’s tone carried a warning: “I do not want to see the Imperial Preceptor and the Young Marquis getting too close.”

Ji Rong neither agreed nor refused. He watched Qi Zhaoxuan finish the medicine and then turned to leave.

In the courtyard, the shade of the large tree was perfect for cooling off. Chilled fruit was laid out to the side, along with cold mung bean soup. Ji Rong curled up on a reclining chair, the rustling of the wind through the treetops in his ears. Si Yue stood under the eaves, looking over and watching Ji Rong, who had his head lowered as if lost in thought. Ji Rong could not figure it out, so he changed his posture.

Does Qi Zhaoxuan like him? He did not know and could not tell.

“I always feel that summer nights are lonely, but as the Imperial Preceptor knows, I have high standards.”

“However, I find the Imperial Preceptor to be quite a feast for the eyes. In women’s clothing, you could pass for the real thing. Why not endure a little and be a Consort for me?”

The words from the past were vivid in his mind, and they made Ji Rong firmly believe that Qi Zhaoxuan was trying to humiliate him. After all, Qi Zhaoxuan was a person with a heavy, twisted sense of humor behind the scenes; perhaps he just enjoyed seeing a once-notorious powerful official dressed in women’s clothing.

As for why Qi Zhaoxuan kept him close and refused to let go, it was possible that because the late Emperor had neglected him, and his mother had passed away leaving him alone and helpless, he had placed some emotional dependence on Ji Rong, who had appeared as the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor.

Maybe there was some emotional attachment there? Ji Rong could not figure it out. His thoughts wandered, and he thought of how Qi Zhaoxuan’s face had changed for a moment when he mentioned the water.

Why? Was he afraid of water? He did not remember Qi Zhaoxuan being afraid of water.

Forget it. He found all this overthinking annoying. He simply admitted that he was indeed a little moved, but Qi Zhaoxuan was not a necessity.

Ji Rong stood up, and a palace servant waited with a washbasin. Warm water covered his palms, washing away the fruit juice. Si Yue followed him out, whispering a reminder: “Where is the Master going? His Majesty instructed that the Master should stay in the hall.”

The Emperor’s original words were much more blunt and forceful. Knowing his master’s temperament, Si Yue did not dare say them directly.

Ji Rong stretched and looked back as he walked out, lazily pointing at the guards at the door. “See? They are not stopping me. Be a bit bolder. I will protect you, so nothing will happen.”

Si Yue swallowed his words of discouragement, knowing he could not be persuaded, and followed Ji Rong obediently. Ji Rong did not know where he was going; he just did not want to stay in the hall.

The afternoon heat was intense, and even walking in the shade caused a light sweat. He stopped, thought for a moment, and decided to continue bothering Fan Qing during his leisure time.

When Ji Rong arrived, the Marquis of Ning’an had not yet returned. When Fan Qing heard footsteps, he thought it was his father, but looking up, he saw Ji Rong again. Fan Qing lowered his head to doze off again. “What is it?”

“I am a bit bored.”

A palace servant moved a reclining chair to sit alongside Fan Qing, and Ji Rong lay down. Si Yue looked around, feeling uneasy, and eventually went to stand guard at the gate.

Fan Qing asked, “If you are bored, why come to me? It is boring here too.”

“It is more annoying staying over there.”

People said Jiangnan was cool, but when summer truly arrived, it was actually quite hot. However, the oncoming breeze was indeed refreshing, without the stifling heat of the capital.

“That storybook, is it still here?” Ji Rong patted Fan Qing and asked.

Fan Qing immediately became alert. “It is. Why?” He looked as if he were afraid Ji Rong would snatch it away to destroy the evidence.

Ji Rong said, “Let me see it.”

Fan Qing said suspiciously, “Didn’t you already read it?”

“I only saw it for a moment. Let me see it again.”

Fan Qing dubiously went into the room and brought it out. Ji Rong had just received it and had not even had time to open it when Si Yue’s hurried footsteps suddenly sounded.

“Master!” Si Yue ran in frantically. “Master, His Majesty is here!”

Ji Rong sat up abruptly. Fan Qing said, “Huh?”

Ji Rong looked out and happened to lock eyes with Qi Zhaoxuan as he stepped over the threshold. He was about to explode. He had been lying down for less than fifteen minutes; how did this person follow him already?

“Imperial Preceptor.”

Qi Zhaoxuan’s tone was grim, his eyes like dark, stagnant water locked onto Ji Rong. As the distance closed, an intimidating pressure followed.

Ji Rong felt guilty, after all, Qi Zhaoxuan had just told him to stay away from Fan Qing. But why should he listen to Qi Zhaoxuan? So, Ji Rong decided to strike first: “Your Majesty is not resting properly. Why are you running around?”

Fan Qing shrank to the side, not daring to make a sound. He even lightened his breathing, fearing he would be noticed. But it was useless. The Emperor’s cold, dark gaze fixed on him, an intimidating pressure like a ten-thousand-pound stone that made it impossible for Fan Qing to breathe. Even though Fan Qing did not look up, that innate pressure still weighed down on him heavily.

It instantly reminded Fan Qing of that day in the cave. The feeling of suffocation seemed to return, and a phantom pain came from his neck. Black spots seemed to appear before his eyes again.

Qi Zhaoxuan took the veiled hat from Li Youde and gently placed it on Ji Rong. Then he whispered, “How much does the Imperial Preceptor want to see the Young Marquis that you were in such a hurry you even forgot your hat?”

Although he was smiling as he spoke, the smile did not reach his eyes. “Didn’t I say that the Imperial Preceptor should come here less often? Are the Imperial Preceptor treating my words as a passing breeze?”

Ji Rong’s wrist was gripped tightly. He was pulled behind Qi Zhaoxuan, staggering a few steps before being steadily caught by Qi Zhaoxuan’s arm. Then, the storybook in his hand was taken by Qi Zhaoxuan and tossed to Li Youde.

“Have the Marquis of Ning’an get over here and see me.”

As soon as he said this, Qi Zhaoxuan dragged Ji Rong back. After they left, Fan Qing finally dared to breathe deeply. His face was stony and full of despair. It seemed that this time, a scolding from his father would not be enough to resolve things.

On the way back, Qi Zhaoxuan’s face remained blank, devoid of any expression or emotion. He seemed truly angry, Ji Rong realized belatedly. Qi Zhaoxuan strode forward, and Ji Rong struggled to keep up. After a while, Qi Zhaoxuan seemed to calm down a bit and realized this, slowing his pace.

On the way back, Ji Rong tried to start a conversation several times, but Qi Zhaoxuan ignored him. Eventually, Ji Rong also became angry at Qi Zhaoxuan’s silent treatment, and the two returned to the sleeping quarters in a sullen silence. The bitter smell of medicine in the hall had not completely dissipated, making Ji Rong frown.

“Li Youde.”

Li Youde efficiently brought out the gold chain that Ji Rong was all too familiar with. Then, leading all the palace servants, he withdrew, leaving the sleeping quarters to the two of them. The strength gap between him and Qi Zhaoxuan was too great; Ji Rong could not resist when he was dragged onto the bed.

“Qi Zhaoxuan! What kind of madness is this now?!”

The gilded chain locked onto his ankle with a click, the other end extending behind layers of curtains. The cold touch made Ji Rong shrink back involuntarily. Ji Rong’s temper flared as well, and he cursed coldly, “Does your madness break out on a schedule?!”

Qi Zhaoxuan looked at him calmly, Ji Rong’s reflection appearing in his dark, gloomy eyes.

“Imperial Preceptor.”