After the Corrupt Official Was Coveted by the New Emperor - Chapter 4

“Imperial Father.”

Ji Rong looked up at the sound and saw a small figure squatting on the roof of the Hall of Literary Brilliance. The green tiles reflected the sunlight, making the glare somewhat piercing.

“Prime Minister,” Li Youde said with a mournful face, “Please, could you persuade His Highness to come down quickly? There is no way a rooftop can be safe.”

Ji Rong beckoned to him. The small boy hesitated for a moment, then, amidst the frantic cries of the palace servants shouting “Crown Prince!” and “Your Highness, you must not!”, he jumped straight from the eaves. He took a few quick steps and ran to Ji Rong.

The servants immediately rushed over and formed a circle. The young boy knitted his brows tightly, appearing to loathe the noisy, crowded surroundings.

Suddenly, the figures of the surrounding servants blurred into pale shadows and receded rapidly. The world spun and inverted, and the scenery twisted into a chaotic mass. The boy grew taller at a visible speed, his frame stretching until he became so tall and upright that Ji Rong was forced to look up at him. The boyish face faded, replaced by deep, sharp features and a cold, piercing aura that supplanted his former innocence.

“Imperial Father.”

Ji Rong was pulled into an embrace.

“Imperial Father, Imperial Father.”

Qi Zhaoxuan clung to him like a haunting spirit, holding his waist tightly and calling his name over and over in an intimate, relentless whisper.

Ji Rong snapped his eyes open. The golden bed curtains came into view, and he rubbed his forehead wearily. It was a dream.

Wait.

Ji Rong’s movements stiffened. He reached for the pocket in his sleeve and realized he had been drugged by Qi Zhaoxuan. The crumpled paper he had been carrying was gone. He looked around and found himself still in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The side hall was empty; he was the only one left in the vast, hollow chamber.

As Ji Rong prepared to get up, a heavy sensation pulled at his right ankle. He looked down and saw a gilded chain wrapped around his leg. The other end of the chain disappeared into the layers of bed curtains.

He moved, and the chain emitted a clinking sound with every motion. He pulled back the curtains to find the end of the chain fastened to the bed railing, secured firmly by a silver lock.

He thought to himself with a deadpan expression that the young version of Qi Zhaoxuan was much more endearing. Only God knew how Qi Zhaoxuan had turned into this person in just a few years.

Ji Rong kicked his leg, making the chains rattle loudly. He was almost moved to angry laughter. What was this? Since the confession failed, was he now resorting to forced possession?

He rolled out of bed. The chain was only about five feet long, barely enough to reach the table but preventing him from going any further. The sound of the chain made his eyelids twitch. He could not find words to describe his current mood.

After an unknown amount of time, the silence of the hall was broken by a steady, powerful set of footsteps. Ji Rong looked up as Qi Zhaoxuan walked slowly toward him. The doors behind the Emperor closed slowly, leaving the two of them alone.

“Imperial Father,” Qi Zhaoxuan said softly.

Ji Rong pointed to the gold chain on his ankle and asked in a calm voice, “What is the meaning of this?” His face grew cold as he continued, “While I am still willing to speak to you civilly, Qi Zhaoxuan, unlock this.”

Qi Zhaoxuan did not care that Ji Rong addressed him by his given name. His gaze fell on Ji Rong’s ankle, where the gold chain bit into the fair skin. The exposed ankle looked thin and delicate. The faint sound of the chain was amplified in the silent hall, sounding suggestive and unspeakable.

Ji Rong frowned. Qi Zhaoxuan’s gaze was damp and cold, clinging to him uncomfortably like a venomous snake marking its prey before dragging it into a dark, sunless swamp.

“Imperial Father, I had this gold lock meticulously crafted long ago. Since the day I ascended the throne, I have wondered every day what it would look like if it were fastened to your ankle.” Qi Zhaoxuan approached step by step, forcing Ji Rong to retreat until he was pressed against the imperial bed.

Qi Zhaoxuan sighed. He leaned down toward Ji Rong’s ear, his tone a mix of resentment and joy. “Imperial Father, now that I see it today, I find myself jealous of this gold lock that can stay so close to your skin.”

Hot breath fanned against Ji Rong’s ear. With only an inch between them, Ji Rong’s eyelashes fluttered as he was forced to lean back. Qi Zhaoxuan’s palm moved from Ji Rong’s thigh up to his shoulder, leaving a trail of numbness wherever he touched. Ji Rong’s body tensed from the sensation, and his earlobes turned a deep, blood red.

Ji Rong could not stand the proximity. In the next moment, he felt a light push on his shoulder and fell unexpectedly back into the bedding. Qi Zhaoxuan looked down at him from above. His pale cheeks lacked color, and his dark, deep pupils were locked onto the man on the couch. The surging possessiveness and greed in his eyes were undisguised. His cold aura carried a heavy sense of oppression, as if he intended to swallow Ji Rong whole and leave him no way to escape.

Anxiety surged in Ji Rong’s heart. His lips trembled slightly, and his voice was unsteady. “Qi Zhaoxuan, calm down.”

“Imperial Father, I provide you with the best food and drink. I send endless treasures and pearls here. Why are you always thinking of running away?”

“I had no choice but to lock you up. If I lock you up, you cannot run.”

Ji Rong found it impossible to communicate with him. He truly did not know how this child had grown up to be like this. He had only stopped paying close attention to Qi Zhaoxuan for a year or two. What on earth had happened during that time? Why the sudden confession, and why the sudden imprisonment?

This cursed chain. Did he really think locking him up would prevent him from escaping?

“Imperial Father,” Qi Zhaoxuan said slowly, as if he could hear Ji Rong’s thoughts. “I know you are resourceful. I might find you gone one day. But Imperial Father, if that day ever comes, the rumors in the streets will change. Instead of a dead man, they will say the Prime Minister has returned to life, and the court will put a bounty on your head.”

Qi Zhaoxuan’s lips curled upward as his cold fingertips brushed Ji Rong’s earlobe. “You do not want to live a life without peace, do you?”

Ji Rong stared at him blankly. This scoundrel was actually threatening him. Forcing down his displeasure, Ji Rong slowly managed a fake smile and softened his tone. “Fine, I will not run. Now, unlock this thing.”

He did not want to see or hear the chain anymore. The jingling sound felt inappropriate. He had not taken Qi Zhaoxuan’s previous confession of love to heart. Who knew if the words coming out of that dog’s mouth were true or false? He did not believe a word of it. Love? It was more likely a desire to humiliate him. After all, the late Emperor disliked Qi Zhaoxuan, and Ji Rong, as the late Emperor’s most effective tool, had certainly sabotaged Qi Zhaoxuan more than a few times.

“No,” Qi Zhaoxuan said simply.

Ji Rong let out a cold sneer.

From that day on, Ji Rong’s carefree days in the Palace of Heavenly Purity came to an end. Qi Zhaoxuan began to stay in the palace every night and handle government affairs there during the day. Most importantly, he could no longer have the imperial bed to himself.

To be fair, the bed was large enough for two people. Whether Qi Zhaoxuan’s love was real or not, the chain remained on Ji Rong’s leg. Every time he turned over, it made a suggestive sound, which was incredibly bizarre. Furthermore, Ji Rong found it difficult to share a bed with anyone, let alone Qi Zhaoxuan.

The discomfort and awkwardness grew until the fourth night. Just before sleep, Ji Rong could no longer restrain himself. He sat up in a rage and threw a soft pillow at Qi Zhaoxuan, who was on the other side of the bed. The movement was too sudden, causing the chain to clink again.

Ignoring the sound of the metal, Ji Rong demanded, “Why are you in the Palace of Heavenly Purity every day? Do you have nothing else to do?”

Qi Zhaoxuan was uncharacteristically silent. After a long moment, he rubbed his forehead, eyes still closed, and said, “If I remember correctly, this is my bedchamber.”

“Oh,” Ji Rong said flatly. “But I do not like sharing a bed. Either you leave me alone here as you did before, or I leave and you give me a different palace.”

In truth, Ji Rong wanted Qi Zhaoxuan to leave. The imperial bed was magnificent. The velvet cushions were soft yet supportive, and the silk sheets were incredibly smooth. Lying there was the height of relaxation. Although he had lived a life of luxury before, nothing compared to the comfort of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The palace was vast and interesting, with many servants to command, beautiful landscaping, and scenic views.

The life of an Emperor was indeed lavish. Ji Rong was not just picking a fight; he genuinely disliked sharing a bed and purposely brought it up.

He heard Qi Zhaoxuan chuckle. Then, the dim candlelight flickered. Before he knew it, Ji Rong felt a strong arm wrap around his waist. An irresistible force pulled him toward the center of the bed. The muscles in Qi Zhaoxuan’s arm were as hard as stone. Because their summer clothing was as thin as gauze, the contact felt almost painful.

“Sleep.”

A thin quilt was pulled over Ji Rong’s head. The familiar scent of incense filled his nose. Qi Zhaoxuan was lying right next to him, his presence impossible to ignore. Ji Rong struggled to escape from under the quilt. In the dark, he kicked out blindly and heard a muffled groan from Qi Zhaoxuan.

“Stop moving.”

Ji Rong heard Qi Zhaoxuan’s strained voice. Stop moving? Ji Rong’s eyes flashed. He would move as much as he liked. Ignoring the sound of the chains, he used both hands and feet to try and break free from the quilt.

Qi Zhaoxuan was a martial artist with a hardened physique. His body was firm, which made Ji Rong very uncomfortable. Suddenly, Qi Zhaoxuan rolled over and pinned Ji Rong’s legs down. He pulled the quilt away from Ji Rong’s head and pinned his hands, rendering him immobile.

Ji Rong saw that Qi Zhaoxuan’s brow was furrowed, his expression one of extreme restraint. Veins popped on his forehead, and sweat beaded at his temples. The shift in position made something Ji Rong had not noticed before become very prominent. His thigh was pressed against something hot and hard.

He froze instantly, finally understanding the source of Qi Zhaoxuan’s strained tone. Qi Zhaoxuan looked at him, his face silhouetted against the candlelight. His dark eyes were locked on Ji Rong. “I told you to stop moving.”

Ji Rong was speechless.