After the Corrupt Official Was Coveted by the New Emperor - Chapter 19

The whispered voice was gentle, yet it carried a hidden, deep seated desire for control. He pinned Ji Rong’s hands back, preventing him from offering any resistance.

“I have said it before; I do not wish to see Imperial Father and the Young Marquis get too close.”

Ji Rong stared coldly at Qi Zhaoxuan.

“I am very uncomfortable seeing Imperial Father risk his life to save the Young Marquis, placing himself in such danger. I am also very uncomfortable because I heard the Young Marquis trying to drive a wedge between us. He has ill intentions and even wants Imperial Father to leave me.”

Qi Zhaoxuan frowned and said, “Therefore, I loathe him.”

“Qi Zhaoxuan,” Ji Rong said, “you are truly a madman.”

Qi Zhaoxuan ignored him, continuing to speak to himself. “But Imperial Father did not listen to me. Instead of staying obediently in the hall, you went to find the Young Marquis again.”

Ji Rong caught a scent in the air, a faint smell of blood.

Qi Zhaoxuan leaned down, using his free hand to stroke Ji Rong’s cheek. He seemed to love tracing Ji Rong’s features with his fingers, slowly caressing from top to bottom. Such a gesture only made Ji Rong feel itchy. The rough calluses on Qi Zhaoxuan’s fingertips made the skin they passed over extremely sensitive.

Ji Rong turned his face away, silently refusing Qi Zhaoxuan’s touch.

Qi Zhaoxuan’s hand froze in mid-air. As Ji Rong turned his head, he suddenly froze when he noticed something. The smell of blood was not an illusion. He had found its source.

Qi Zhaoxuan’s injured right arm was bleeding again. It must have happened when Ji Rong accidentally kicked it during their struggle, causing the wound to reopen. The white gauze could not contain the blood; it was being soaked through, a vivid red fluid flowing out.

“Qi Zhaoxuan, let go of me! Your wound has opened!” Ji Rong turned back to look at him.

“I know.”

Qi Zhaoxuan seemed unable to feel the pain. He did not even blink, simply staring at Ji Rong.

Click.

A faint sound came from somewhere. Immediately after, Ji Rong realized his hands had been placed in handcuffs made of the same material as the gold plated ankle chain.

The cold, golden handcuffs restricted his hands, and the chain was looped around the bedpost. His movements were blocked, forcing him to lie on the bed in an uncomfortable position with his arms suspended in the air, firmly restrained.

Ji Rong was in disbelief. “Qi Zhaoxuan?”

“Imperial Father, stay here for a while. I have matters to handle, but I will be back soon.”

Leaving these words behind, Qi Zhaoxuan turned and left, his figure disappearing around the corner.

Ji Rong struggled against the chains, but they were too strong. Neither the handcuffs nor the bedpost showed any sign of loosening. Ji Rong sneered. He thought it served the Emperor right that his wound had reopened. Let the pain kill him. It would be better if he died from blood loss.

The sight of the gold handcuffs made Ji Rong furious. This was getting out of hand. One ankle chain was not enough; now he had added a pair of handcuffs. He gave a frustrated, forceful tug.

The crisp clinking of the chains echoed in the empty hall. Given his current posture, it added an indescribable, suggestive atmosphere.

Ji Rong was silent.

He gave up struggling, but he was truly angry. He remained still and refused to speak. After a while, he moved his arms stiffly, but it was a futile effort. The handcuffs were locked in a position that left him completely unable to move. Having his arms suspended in the air for so long made them ache.

Dog Emperor, Ji Rong cursed in his heart.

As Qi Zhaoxuan walked out of the hall, Li Youde approached him and whispered, “The Marquis of Ning’an has arrived. He is kneeling in the council chamber.”

“Mhm.”

The council chamber was poorly ventilated. The Marquis was drenched in sweat but did not dare to move a muscle. He had been nearby earlier and felt a sense of dread as soon as he heard the Emperor had gone to his residence. He hurried back but was too late; he did not even see the Emperor, only hearing from the servants that the Emperor had told him to get over here.

Upon hearing this, the Marquis’s heart sank. Despite the sweltering summer, a chill ran through his entire body. After waiting in the council chamber for an unknown amount of time, he finally heard footsteps approaching.

“The Marquis has certainly raised a fine son,” Qi Zhaoxuan said in an unreadable tone as he took his seat.

The Marquis’s sweat flowed even more freely. The chamber was deathly quiet. He could only hear his own breathing and the drip drop of sweat hitting the floor. He swallowed nervously and stammered, “This subject has failed in his teaching, raising such a rebellious wretch! My discipline was lacking. I beg Your Majesty to punish me; I have no complaints!”

“Your Majesty, forgive me! My son is ignorant and arrogant. I will punish him severely when I return. He is at Your Majesty’s disposal!”

“I recall that this is not the first time I have warned the Marquis to keep the Young Marquis in check.”

“Yes, yes.”

The Emperor’s tone betrayed no emotion, but having spent years in the bureaucracy, the Marquis knew all too well that the calmer the Emperor seemed, the more serious the situation was.

“When the Late Emperor was still alive, the Young Marquis caused trouble every few days. He relied on the fact that he was the Marquis’s only legitimate son and the indulgence of the former Prime Minister. He ran rampant in the capital and caused much mischief.”

Qi Zhaoxuan said calmly, “Marquis, Prime Minister Ji is already dead, is he not?”

The Marquis’s breath hitched. He should have realized earlier that the Emperor calling him today was not just about Fan Qing. The Emperor had many eyes and ears; he must know that the Marquis had discovered the Noble Consort’s true identity. This was a warning.

The Marquis’s facial nerves twitched. “Yes, naturally.”

Qi Zhaoxuan continued, “The Young Marquis should not have come on this trip, yet the Marquis insisted on bringing him along, correct?”

“Yes.”

“It seems the Young Marquis is lacking in discipline,” Qi Zhaoxuan said, looking down.

The Marquis hurriedly replied, “My discipline was inadequate.”

“Marquis, take your son and return to the capital first. Let him learn some discipline at home. As for his duties at the Ministry of Revenue, he need not go for the time being. He shall not leave the estate until he has learned proper conduct.”

Qi Zhaoxuan looked at the Marquis and asked, “What does the Marquis think?”

“This subject understands. I will take my son back to the capital immediately.”

“Very well.”

After the Marquis left, Li Youde noticed the Emperor’s mood and presented the book from earlier. Qi Zhaoxuan flipped through it and asked, “Is this book only available in Jiangnan?”

Li Youde replied, “Yes, it has not spread beyond Jiangnan.”

“The story is well written,” Qi Zhaoxuan suddenly praised.

Li Youde asked, “What does Your Majesty mean?”

“The stories in Jiangnan are quite interesting. There are many things here that do not exist in the capital.”

Qi Zhaoxuan stood up, closed the book, and headed toward the bedchamber. Li Youde thought for a moment and seemingly understood the Emperor’s meaning, immediately giving out orders.

In the hall, Qi Zhaoxuan did not hide his footsteps. When he reached the bedside, the person on the bed had his eyes closed, his expression calm, yet clearly angry.

He called out softly, “Imperial Father.”

Ji Rong ignored him, but his eyelashes fluttered. Qi Zhaoxuan leaned down, his fingertip lightly touching the base of the lashes.

Ji Rong snapped his eyes open, his gaze flashing with anger. “The scent of incense on you is revolting. Get away from me.”

“Do not be angry, Imperial Father.”

Qi Zhaoxuan produced a small key and unlocked the handcuffs. Perhaps he had been truly out of sorts earlier and had not noticed the size; Ji Rong’s skin was delicate, and the metal had left obvious red marks on his wrists.

Qi Zhaoxuan looked at the two red circles, which looked like marks from being abused or imprisoned. They were somewhat suggestive yet pained him.

There was common medicine on the small side table. Qi Zhaoxuan picked a bottle, scooped out some white ointment with his fingertip, and applied it to Ji Rong’s wrists. The summer heat had softened the ointment. As the white, watery cream settled on Ji Rong’s slender wrists, the red marks remained.

Qi Zhaoxuan’s fingertips stroked Ji Rong’s wrist, and he licked his dry lips. For some reason, he let out an abrupt laugh.

Ji Rong slapped him.

The force was not light; Ji Rong clearly had not held back. The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the hall. Outside, Li Youde heard the sound and shuddered. The Emperor would not hit Prime Minister Ji, but Prime Minister Ji certainly dared to hit the Emperor.

Ji Rong had practiced martial arts, so his physical strength was decent. The slap knocked Qi Zhaoxuan’s head slightly to the side. A red handprint immediately appeared on half of his face. His cheek bulged where his tongue pressed against the inside.

Qi Zhaoxuan turned his head, his calm black eyes staring intently at Ji Rong. Ji Rong stared back without flinching. After a long while, Qi Zhaoxuan chuckled softly.

He took Ji Rong’s hand and said gently, “Does it hurt? Your palm is red.”

Ji Rong shoved his hand away.

“Calm your anger, Imperial Father. It was my fault; I should not have locked you up.”

The Emperor ruthlessly threw the handcuffs onto the floor, where they made a loud clatter. Qi Zhaoxuan composed himself and looked at Ji Rong with a different expression.

“I have heard that Yongxing Temple in Jiangnan is quite famous. Imperial Father, we shall depart for Yongxing Temple tomorrow.”

Ji Rong continued to ignore him. Now that the handcuffs were removed, he had freedom of movement. He turned his back to Qi Zhaoxuan.

Qi Zhaoxuan did not get an answer but was not annoyed. He picked up the handcuffs from the floor, said, “Rest well, Imperial Father,” and left with the cuffs in hand.

Li Youde was waiting outside. Seeing the Emperor come out with a dark face, he only dared to follow behind without saying a word. After walking a distance, Qi Zhaoxuan slammed the handcuffs onto the ground.

He said coldly, “Dispose of them.”

“Yes.”

Li Youde signaled the young eunuchs behind him to quickly take the items out of the Emperor’s sight. He observed the Emperor’s expression and asked tentatively, “Your Majesty, is it necessary to have the craftsmen forge a new pair?”

“Ask the Bureau of Imperial Clothing for the Noble Consort’s wrist size. Make them to fit, and ensure the edges are polished smooth.”

“As you command.”

Those handcuffs naturally could not be used again. Once away from the hall, Qi Zhaoxuan stopped hiding his feelings, his eyes swirling with obsession and madness. The quality was too poor, causing Imperial Father’s wrists to be injured. They could not be kept.

He had to order the craftsmen to create a pair that was suitable and would not hurt him. After all, they would surely be used in the future.