After the Corrupt Official Was Coveted by the New Emperor - Chapter 7

The carriage traveled for about the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn before coming to a halt. Even before stepping down, Ji Rong caught a familiar scent of rouge drifting on the wind.

It was glaringly obvious where the carriage had stopped.

Ji Rong was speechless.

He turned his head in disbelief, utterly unable to comprehend the extent of Qi Zhaoxuan’s twisted sense of humor.

“You are truly sick,” Ji Rong remarked once again.

Qi Zhaoxuan remained stone-faced, acting as if he had not heard a word. He reached out to carefully place a white veiled hat upon Ji Rong’s head before taking his right hand and leading him down from the carriage.

Peering through the veil, the three large characters “Yunyan Workshop” on the plaque shimmered with golden reflections in the light. Many noblewomen and young misses walked inside with smiling faces. Right next door was a women’s clothing boutique; the two shops were adjacent, and the same crowd of people flowed between them.

Qi Zhaoxuan’s forward motion paused. He tilted his head slightly back, and Ji Rong followed his gaze.

A carriage was parked behind them. A familiar figure dressed in red was sneakily jumping down. The figure’s eyes had been fixed directly on them, but he was startled by Qi Zhaoxuan’s sudden turn. He immediately spun around to face the other way, clumsily pretending to admire the scenery. Despite a thousand fake gestures, the corners of his eyes were still darting toward them.

It could not have been more obvious.

He was sneaking around while wearing such a conspicuous red robe.

How neurotic.

The corners of Ji Rong’s mouth twitched. Sometimes he truly could not understand what Fan Qing was thinking. He also could not understand how he had ever become friends with this fool.

Beneath the veil, Ji Rong rolled his eyes inward. He dealt with a deranged Emperor and a childhood friend who had been a simpleton since they were young. He was truly “blessed” to be stuck with them.

“Li Youde,” Qi Zhaoxuan called out coldly.

Li Youde, knowing exactly what was required, glanced toward Fan Qing’s location and led a group of guards over.

Ji Rong knew immediately that Qi Zhaoxuan was displeased. Before he could say anything, however, he was pulled through the shop doors.

Having been set up by his friend countless times, Ji Rong felt compelled to clean up the mess despite his annoyance at the man’s stupidity. He began to choose his words carefully. “You know, Fan Qing is a bit of a dimwit.”

“Is Imperial Father very concerned about him?” Qi Zhaoxuan interrupted.

His voice grew even colder.

It was obvious.

Over this long period, although Ji Rong had not figured out how Qi Zhaoxuan had grown into the man he was today, he understood one thing. Qi Zhaoxuan was currently extremely emotionally unstable, moody, and insane. This latter point referred specifically to the fact that he had chained Ji Rong to a bed.

When a madman is unhappy, there is no telling when he might have an episode.

That was what Ji Rong thought, but he could not say it aloud. While he was still pondering how to respond, Qi Zhaoxuan spoke again in an unreadable tone. “When the Young Marquis got into trouble before, did Imperial Father plead with the Late Emperor in the same manner?”

“Indeed,” Qi Zhaoxuan snorted with an ambiguous coldness, “Imperial Father is truly kind to others.”

Ji Rong was stunned for a moment, not understanding how the conversation had drifted so far afield. But he picked up on the underlying emotion. Qi Zhaoxuan did not want to mention Fan Qing. He pondered for a moment but could not make sense of it.

By then, Li Youde had already returned, waiting silently to the side. Qi Zhaoxuan’s inscrutable mood seemed to have improved slightly, though he still maintained a paralyzed, expressionless face.

The benefit of a rouge shop being next to a clothing shop was convenience. The downside was that it was physically and mentally exhausting for someone with zero interest in such things.

True to his status as Emperor, he was extravagant. He spent money to clear out all the customers on the second floor of Yunyan Workshop, then paid both shops to bring their best-selling items upstairs for the “uninterested” Ji Rong to try on.

Qi Zhaoxuan was like a noble lady dressing up a pet. For the next hour and a half, Ji Rong changed into countless outfits and tried numerous rouges until he became completely numb. His mind was blank, leaving him no room to worry about his friend’s fate.

“Imperial Father is truly beautiful.”

After Ji Rong changed into yet another new outfit, Qi Zhaoxuan looked at him closely and gave his evaluation.

The bright, elegant primrose yellow made his fair skin look even more tender. Ji Rong seemed particularly suited for these fresh colors; they always made one’s eyes light up.

Just then, the manager came up to deliver lip glaze. The young maid following behind the manager stole a glance and instantly blushed. This noble person was so beautiful that rouge could not possibly add to his charm. In fact, even the finest rouge from Yunyan Workshop might detract from his natural aura.

After only a glance or two, a sudden chill crept up the maid’s back. In the sweltering summer heat, she shuddered. Looking up, she saw the man standing beside the noble person staring at her. Beneath his cold, handsome face, there seemed to be a hidden murderous intent that was terrifying.

Qi Zhaoxuan gave the maid a warning look before scanning the others in the room. He lowered his eyes, suddenly feeling very displeased.

Imperial Father was so beautiful, yet his appearance was glimpsed by others.

He truly wished he could gouge out the eyes of everyone in the world, leaving only himself to admire Imperial Father every day.

“The Madam is so outstanding. The two of you are truly a match made in heaven, a perfect couple,” the manager said, immediately stepping in with flattery to smooth things over.

Upon hearing these words, Qi Zhaoxuan’s icy expression softened considerably.

He looked so unapproachable, yet he turned out to be a man who doted on his wife. The manager mused that he would have never guessed. Not daring to linger, the manager retreated with the maid.

Ji Rong looked up, catching a glimpse of the ruqun he was wearing in the yellowed bronze mirror. At that moment, Qi Zhaoxuan also looked over. Their gazes met in the reflection. Qi Zhaoxuan stepped toward him, resting his head on Ji Rong’s shoulder. He slowly broke into a smile toward the mirror and sighed again. “Imperial Father is truly beautiful.”

Qi Zhaoxuan’s warm breath hit the side of Ji Rong’s neck, bringing a tingle of numbness that made Ji Rong shrink his neck away.

The primrose yellow ruqun was the last piece of clothing. Since it was getting late, they prepared to return to the temporary palace.

Just as Ji Rong lifted his skirt to step onto the carriage platform, a strong gust of wind blew from afar, flipping up the veiled hat on his head. He suddenly sensed something and turned back sharply, only to see a familiar corner of a red robe hiding behind a wall.

When he turned back, he met Qi Zhaoxuan’s calm, deep pupils staring straight at him.

Then, Qi Zhaoxuan spoke in a grim tone. “Imperial Father.”

As dusk fell, the courtyard grew silent.

The Marquis of Ning’an was pacing in circles, his right eyelid twitching incessantly. After asking the servants in Fan Qing’s courtyard, he learned that his son had not yet returned, making his heart race for reasons he could not name.

He waited for another few sticks of incense. Still, he did not see his restless son. Instead, he saw Li Youde.

Li Youde softly informed him that His Majesty requested a word.

The Marquis’s heart leaped. Gritting his teeth, he told the servants, “Tell Fan Qing to get over here and see me the moment he returns.” Then, he respectfully followed Li Youde.

The night was deep. It was already the hour of the Pig. The ink of the night sky was thick and heavy, with the moon obscured by dense clouds, leaving only a few dim rays of light.

The temporary palace was silent. The Marquis of Ning’an could only hear their footsteps and his own hurried breathing. The small path seemed endless, and he felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

“Eunuch Li,” the Marquis forced a smile, “May I ask why His Majesty has summoned me?”

Li Youde kept his face taut and did not respond. Realizing he could extract no information, the Marquis fell silent.

Distraught, the Marquis did not watch where he was going and failed to react when the palace servants leading the way suddenly stopped.

“Your Majesty,” Li Youde said in his high-pitched voice, “The Marquis of Ning’an has arrived.”

Only then did the Marquis see the monarch standing ahead.

“This subject pays his respects to Your Majesty.” The Marquis lifted his robes and knelt.

“The Young Marquis seems to have quite a bit of leisure time. What does the Marquis think?” Qi Zhaoxuan said indifferently.

The Marquis did not quite understand. Qi Zhaoxuan gave Li Youde a look, and the eunuch stepped forward to recount everything Fan Qing had done.

An invisible pressure immediately weighed down on the Marquis. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. As Li Youde listed the events one by one, his terror grew.

When Li Youde finished, the Marquis hit the ground with a thud, kneeling deeply. “Your Majesty, I will personally punish Fan Qing upon my return. I guarantee this will never happen again.”

There was no sound for a long time. The Marquis kept his head pressed down, not daring to move. Only after a long while did he hear the Emperor’s cold voice from above.

“That would be for the best.”

Ji Rong stared expressionlessly at the gold-plated chain around his ankle, feeling for the first time that his life was truly bitter.

Qi Zhaoxuan was sick. He even brought that wretched chain to Jiangnan. Fan Qing was also sick. Why on earth would he follow them while wearing such a glaring red robe? Did he think Qi Zhaoxuan was blind, or did he think Qi Zhaoxuan was as stupid as he was?

Most importantly, it was Fan Qing who provoked Qi Zhaoxuan, so why was he the one being locked up and told to “reflect well” on his actions?

Ji Rong wondered what he had to reflect on. What did he do that required reflection? Ji Rong did not want to reflect. He just wanted to drag Fan Qing out and give him a beating.

Footsteps suddenly echoed in the quiet hall. Ji Rong looked up to see Qi Zhaoxuan walking toward him with steady strides. Seeing the defiant expression on the person on the bed, Qi Zhaoxuan was actually amused and let out a muffled laugh.

“How is Imperial Father’s reflection going?”

Dog Emperor, Ji Rong cursed in his heart. He stared coldly at Qi Zhaoxuan and said nothing.

Qi Zhaoxuan understood the look. “Imperial Father is cursing me in his heart.”

Why ask if you already know?

“I suddenly remembered something,” Qi Zhaoxuan said. “The time Imperial Father tricked me into eating raw koi from the pond.”

Ji Rong was stunned. It took him a moment to dig that memory out.

He remembered Qi Zhaoxuan was fifteen then. Ji Rong had been fuming with anger that day and happened to run into him in the palace. At that time, Qi Zhaoxuan was standing on a roof again, his deep gaze fixed intently on him.

Ji Rong had a headache from the Late Emperor’s demands and took his frustration out on the boy. Seeing a pond full of koi nearby, he casually remarked that the fish could be eaten raw. He was just joking, but who knew Qi Zhaoxuan would take it seriously? He had a servant scoop one out, and he took a bite right then and there.

It was incredibly stupid, but standing by that pond, Ji Rong’s anger had inexplicably vanished. He had felt a bit guilty then, but he certainly did not feel guilty now.

Thus, Ji Rong retorted sarcastically with full confidence. “Oh? What, Your Majesty was already fifteen and still lacked the ability to distinguish right from wrong?”

Qi Zhaoxuan laughed and did not argue. He watched Ji Rong’s face in the candlelight. The flame flickered near Ji Rong’s cheek, making his features look soft and docile, his eyelashes trembling with every breath.

Of course, he would not say that he knew Ji Rong was making it up back then. He had not believed it for a second, but he did it anyway.

The raw fish had a heavy, fishy smell that made him want to gag, but seeing that Ji Rong was no longer angry made it feel worthwhile.

His thought process back then was very simple. As long as Ji Rong was no longer angry, it was fine.