My Husband Can't Possibly Be a Tyrant Emperor! - Chapter 11.1

He had heard quite a few terrifying rumors about the emperor. Historically, such tyrants often acted unpredictably. Given how much attention he had drawn a few days ago—even the Prince of Fu had taken notice—it was only a matter of time before word reached the tyrant’s ears!

 

The thought of the Prince of Fu made him tense. He really needed to be more careful. Better safe than sorry. If he caught the emperor’s attention, his own fate aside, he couldn’t drag Zhang Ji down with him.

 

With this in mind, he glanced at Fu Yi and saw him looking outside as he said, “It’s getting dark again. Xuelang, let’s head home early.”

 

The sky had indeed darkened, casting Fu Yi’s features into shadow. In the dim light, his face seemed less distinct, yet it only accentuated his slender, striking beauty. When such a handsome man suddenly called him “Xuelang,” a shiver ran down his spine—a mix of cringe and thrill that left him tingling from head to toe. His mouth moved before his brain could catch up, and he replied, “Alright.”

Wang Baobao vaguely sensed a hint of provocation, but when Fu Yi emerged from behind the counter, he appeared so elegant and poised that it was hard to imagine him being deliberately cold.

 

Feeling uneasy—and concerned for Kuang Xuexian—Wang Baobao asked, “Mind if I join you for dinner at your place?”

 

Before Kuang Xuexian could respond, Fu Yi said, “Li Qing has probably already prepared dinner. There might not be enough to spare.”

 

Wang Baobao: “And who is Li Qing?”

 

Fu Yi replied, “My servant.”

 

Wang Baobao turned to Kuang Xuexian and said, “Didn’t you say you only wanted to find an ordinary commoner and not some wealthy young master?”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Fu Yi’s expression tighten slightly.

 

Kuang Xuexian didn’t bother explaining that Fu Yi had fallen from grace—after all, he understood the importance of saving face for one’s partner in public. He simply said, “When fate comes knocking, you can’t stop it.”

 

Just then, Li Qing arrived, holding an umbrella and a food container, smiling cheerfully. “Seeing that it might rain outside and it’s a bit chilly to eat out, I bought some dishes from that little stall we visited yesterday and brought them over.”

 

“You bought so much,” Kuang Xuexian said, quickly reaching out to take the container.

 

“Feel free to eat your fill, young master,” Li Qing said with a grin. “I thought it was cold today, so I even brought you your favorite pine-brewed spring wine.”

 

He couldn’t help but feel proud of himself—he was becoming more thoughtful and considerate by the day!

 

With that thought, he glanced at his master, hoping for a word of praise, only to find Fu Yi wearing a stern expression.

 

Huh? What’s wrong?

 

Then he heard Kuang Xuexian say, “Perfect timing—we have a friend visiting today. You can join us, Baobao. The food from this little stall is especially delicious. You have to try it.”

 

Wang Baobao, who was notoriously picky and extravagant, frowned disdainfully. “What kind of street vendor food is this?”

 

Li Qing subtly raised his short eyebrows.

 

Ten minutes later.

 

Wang Baobao: “Delicious, delicious, delicious… Wow, this is amazing too… How is this made? Which stall is it from? I’ve never heard of it… This is also delicious. What dish is this? I’ve never seen it before.”

 

Hmph!

 

Wang Baobao ended up eating most of the meal. After finishing, he even wanted to go check out the stall and see where it was set up.

 

Wang Baobao said, “I’m planning to open a shop. If I can poach this vendor, I won’t have to worry about business!”

 

Li Qing thought to himself, If you poach him, you’ll probably lose everything you have.

 

A single vegetarian dish cost several times more than a plate of meat.

 

Li Qing said softly, “It’s raining today, and the shopkeeper has already closed up.”

 

Outside, two rumbling sounds echoed—the first spring thunder of the year. The sky had darkened, and soon the road would be hard to see, so Kuang Xuexian decided to return immediately.

 

They stepped out of the shop. Outside, the spring rain fell gently, and dusk settled in, shrouding Golden Crow Street in a hazy darkness. Wang Baobao insisted on letting them take the carriage: “I live nearby, just a few steps away.”

 

Kuang Xuexian didn’t stand on ceremony either and handed him his own umbrella. Wang Baobao held the umbrella and a lantern, watching the three of them board the carriage.

 

Kuang Xuexian lifted the carriage curtain and said, “Be careful on your way back.”

 

The lantern’s light was faint, trembling in the twilight.

 

The pleasant warmth from the satisfying meal was swept away by the cold wind. Wang Baobao looked at Fu Lie behind Kuang Xuexian, feeling that sitting in the carriage made him appear even more eerie and sinister.

 

Thunder rumbled in the distance. The carriage wasn’t large, and with three grown men inside, it felt a bit cramped.

 

As a result, Kuang Xuexian pressed close to Fu Lie. He had just shared a pot of wine with Wang Baobao. Though the alcohol content wasn’t high, he now felt warm all over and began to grow drowsy.

 

Yet, as they passed by the Phoenix Palace, he still lifted the curtain and glanced toward it. Wild grass stretched endlessly, and the cold rain pattered softly. The spring night was a silent, chilling cold.

 

Kuang Xuexian couldn’t help but share the whispers Wang Baobao had told him: “Baobao said the emperor is nocturnal, venturing out at midnight in a black sedan chair, like a ghost.”

 

Li Qing: “…”

 

The emperor asked, “What else did he say?”

 

“He also said the emperor has been taking some kind of black pill. I’m not sure if he kills when he doesn’t take it or kills when he does.”

 

As Kuang Xuexian spoke, he gazed at the distant Phoenix Palace. Flickering lights glimmered at the main gate, but the palace itself was pitch-black inside. He imagined the emperor might be residing there at that very moment, conjuring the illusion of a ferocious dragon slumbering within. It felt as though this dragon could coil out of the Phoenix Palace at any moment, devouring him and his beloved Zhang Ji in one gulp.

 

He let the curtain fall, plunging the carriage back into darkness, where everything became indistinct and shadowy.

 

Li Qing quietly shifted away, a little frightened.

 

Truth be told, he wasn’t entirely sure what the medicine the emperor took was for. The emperor often grew irritable, rarely dressed properly—frequently exposing his chest and abdomen—and had a terrible temper. But part of the medicine’s effect must have been to soothe his agitation, since the emperor always grew quiet after taking it.

 

In the darkness, the emperor seemed to lean closer to Kuang Xuexian: “Have you heard of the Tranquil Heart Pill? If not, you can look it up in your medical books when you get home.”

 

Kuang Xuexian felt his warm breath. In the darkness, he could only make out the other’s vague silhouette. The carriage jolted as it ran over something, and Li Qing’s head thudded against the wall. But Kuang Xuexian was steadied by a pair of hands—one pressing against his back, the other against his chest.

 

Kuang Xuexian thought: His hands are so big.

 

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of their home. Kuang Xuexian stepped down and was about to tip the coachman when he saw Li Qing had already grabbed a handful of coins from his purse and stuffed them into the coachman’s hand.

 

It seemed like a random handful.

 

He felt they might be a bit wealthier than he had imagined.

 

Otherwise, as a servant, Li Qing wouldn’t be so free with money. He hadn’t even asked his master, which suggested this amount was trivial to the master and servant.

 

The house was pitch dark inside, with puddles of water in the courtyard, and it felt bitterly cold. Only upon entering the room did he realize it was actually warmer than usual.

 

Li Qing smiled cheerfully and said, “I wasn’t idle at home today. I took out all the warming stoves from the chests, and they’ve come in handy just in time.”

 

His courtyard had no underfloor heating. In winter, they would use hot water bottles, and with thicker quilts, they could manage. The winters in Shuangluan City weren’t particularly harsh.

 

Li Qing had prepared a brazier, a hand warmer, and a standing incense burner. He had likely arranged them in his room during the day, so as soon as he entered, he was greeted by a warm, fragrant atmosphere.

 

All these items were exquisitely crafted copper pieces, which made him even more certain that Zhang Ji’s family had once been well-off.

 

“Do you have these in your room?” Kuang Xuexian asked.

 

“My master prefers the cold, not the heat,” Li Qing replied. “He instructed me to prepare these for you, sir. The bathing room is still warm, so if you wish to wash up, please do so quickly.”

 

After saying this, Li Qing returned to the east wing.

 

Once inside the east wing, Li Qing immediately asked, “Should I go and silence those gossiping mouths?”

 

All this talk about taking medicine and going out in the middle of the night. Hadn’t His Majesty already shot a round of arrows in the palace? Who was still so fearless?

 

The emperor scratched his brow and placed his hands on his hips, clearly in a foul mood today, not even bothering to pretend otherwise. “Make a list and present it to me,” he said.

 

Li Qing thought to himself that he had already done his best.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Also, go and tell the imperial chefs that I want the best sugar.”

 

Li Qing: “…”

 

What exactly counted as the best sugar? As a servant, nothing was more dreaded than vague demands from superiors! While Kuang Xuexian was washing up, Li Qing quietly slipped over to the neighboring room.

 

The imperial chefs: “What do you mean by the best sugar?”

 

Li Qing tossed them a few pieces of jade hairpin sugar. “Sugar that’s sweeter and prettier than this!”

 

After finishing his wash, Kuang Xuexian stepped out and saw Fu Li standing at the entrance of the bathing room.

 

He didn’t know how long Fu Li had been standing there, but it gave him quite a fright. Fu Li had let down his hair, and with his long locks cascading loosely, he looked like a seductive ghost.

 

He wore only inner garments underneath, with a black cloak draped over his shoulders. It was often said that winter clothing best revealed one’s status, and without a doubt, this cloak of his looked expensive—a deep, rich black with subtle patterns almost the same color.

 

The bathing room had been heated exceptionally well today, and Kuang Xuexian had even washed his hair. The wind outside was bitingly cold, so he hurried back to his bedroom at a jog.

 

His bedroom was on the left side of the main hall, partitioned off by a screen and a multi-tiered shelf. Ancient bedrooms were typically small, as it was believed to help retain energy. This was especially beneficial in cold weather—a small room would warm up quickly with just a single stove. The charcoal Li Qing used must have been of excellent quality, as there was hardly any smoke. Upon closer inspection, the patterns on the warming stove were intricate and exquisite, clearly indicating the items’ value.

 

In truth, he had only heard about Fu Li’s family background from the man himself, but it seemed the family’s circumstances might have been far better than he had imagined.

 

He wondered how they had fallen into decline. As he was lost in thought, Fu Li entered the room.

 

Fu Li asked, “You weren’t planning to sleep yet, were you?”

 

“No, I just came in to warm up,” he replied. Seeing Fu Li with his hair down, the cloak now on but still wearing only a snow-white inner garment, he motioned for him to sit on the bed and handed him the hand warmer.

 

Fu Li didn’t refuse, wrapping both hands around the warmer.

 

His hands were long, now red from the cold, especially around the knuckles. Kuang Xuexian asked him, “Did you wash with cold water?”

 

Fu Yi gave a soft “mm” in response. There was an indescribable beauty about him with his hair loose, and even after seeing it so many times, Kuang Xuexian still felt he was more handsome than any male celebrity he had ever seen.

 

“Have you checked the medical texts?” Fu Yi asked.

 

Kuang Xuexian let out an “ah” and said, “No.”

 

Fu Yi said, “Take a look.”

 

Kuang Xuexian glanced at him. Fu Yi wore a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, and perhaps because his hair was loose, his pitch-black pupils paired with those beautifully sharp eyes gave off an eerie, almost demonic aura. Yet his presence felt cold, as if he had no warmth at all.

 

Leaning over, Kuang Xuexian retrieved a medical text from the bookshelf by the bed.

 

It was the Changxing Medical Compendium, compiled by King Huan of Great Zhou, Fu Ye. It was extremely thick, covering nearly all known difficult and complex illnesses and their treatments throughout history, meticulously categorized for easy reference.

 

Fu Yi asked him, “You told Wang Baobao today that you don’t want to marry into a wealthy family?”

 

Kuang Xuexian hummed in acknowledgment while flipping through the pages.

 

Fu Yi pressed, “Why?”

 

Kuang Xuexian said, “Because I’m just an ordinary commoner. I want to live a simple, peaceful life. Wealthy families have too many complications and troubles.”

 

He lifted his head and looked at Fu Yi, meeting those pitch-black eyes staring directly at him.

 

He lowered his gaze again.

 

Qingxin Dan.

 

He found it.

 

It was said to be a pill developed by Imperial Physician Zhang Wei during the Ningzong era. At that time, Emperor Ningzong was prone to violent outbursts, indulgent desires, and excessive killing, to the point of mental instability. Whenever he took this pill, “the emperor would calm slightly, covering his face and weeping.”

 

It was likely a pill meant to suppress physical and mental agitation. The medical text noted that even some practitioners in the folk used it to achieve tranquility and calmness.

 

Fu Yi lowered his gaze, studying Kuang Xuexian intently.

 

He had always seen him as a whole before, finding him exceptionally beautiful with a unique aura. Perhaps influenced by the stories Kuang Xuexian wrote, during breakfast that morning, his eyes kept drifting to Kuang Xuexian’s lips. When they parted slightly, the tender red tongue would flicker in and out of sight.

 

If he slipped his fingers inside to pinch it, would Kuang Xuexian bite down on them?

 

Just like in the stories he wrote.

 

Sitting across from him, the part of him that had suffered all night began to ache again.

 

His condition required utmost calm, as the physical and mental torment it brought was prolonged and intense. Once his emotions stirred, discomfort would immediately spread through his body, breeding a surge of dark agitation. His gaze drifted from Kuang Xuexian’s cheeks and ears down to his neck. His hair was still damp, a few strands clinging to his nape.

 

He had asked him to check the medical texts with a purpose, and now he felt a growing excitement at the thought of gradually revealing himself to Kuang Xuexian. Unconsciously, he reached out to stroke the damp hair. The thick, dark locks were cool to the touch. He lifted a strand and slowly smoothed it down. The wet hair felt like cold snakes or entangling seaweed. A strange impulse suddenly surged within him—he wanted to tuck that hair inside his inner robe.

 

Could he tuck the person in along with it?

 

His gaze traveled downward, taking in Kuang Xuexian’s slender waist, the delicate lines that widened slightly into narrow, rounded hips—a thin, fragile frame.

 

How pitiful.

 

A decent man yearning for an ordinary husband—if he had any conscience, he should let him go. But he had no such thing. Besides, how could this be entirely his fault? It was Kuang Xuexian who had actively thrown the embroidered ball to him.

 

He spoke, saying, “Actually, I’ve been taking these pills too.”

 

Kuang Xuexian indeed turned to look at him in surprise.

 

His profile was especially beautiful, like a fine brushstroke sweeping upward—elegant and refined, subtle yet stunning. With his hair damp and his eyes wide open, he asked, “Huh?”

 

Fu Li inquired, “Do you still want me as your husband?”

 

Kuang Xuexian asked, “Really?”

 

Fu Li nodded.

 

Uncontrollable mental states can have many effects on the body; suppressing them for too long can give rise to all sorts of dark desires.

 

His heart felt a tingling itch, but the physical sensation was quite uncomfortable—a truly peculiar feeling. At this moment, the fragrance on Kuang Xuexian was particularly noticeable, the scent of bath beans. Even an ordinary aroma seemed to become exceptionally pleasant on his clean skin. He loved the soft purity of Kuang Xuexian—his appearance was clean, his aura gentle, and even his affection was light, like the simple, stable life in this small courtyard, offering him a gentle haven that could embrace everything, making him always want to press closer.

 

He should strip him of his clothes, pressing every inch of his skin and flesh against him.

 

Kuang Xuexian observed the other’s expression; it didn’t seem like he was lying.

 

“Why are you taking them?”

 

“When I was young, my family had considerable wealth and a large estate, but both my parents passed away early. Uncles, cousins, and brothers in the clan all wanted to monopolize the family fortune. I was still very young at the time, and my maternal grandfather’s family had few people left, so I had no one to rely on. They bullied me in every way possible—when intimidation didn’t work, they had wicked servants secretly feed me various medicinal stones. In short, they spared no effort to harm me, wanting me to go mad or die. I was young, unable to eat or sleep well, and over time, something went wrong. I became different from normal people, sometimes feeling as if a fire were burning inside me, making it unbearable.”

 

Of course, he selectively omitted his own malice, highlighting only his suffering.

 

Kuang Xuexian’s heart tightened.

 

Fu Li asked, “Do you feel sorry for me?”

 

Kuang Xuexian nodded and said, “How could there be such wicked people in the world?”

 

Fu Li replied, “For the sake of wealth and glory, there’s nothing people in this world wouldn’t do. But they’ve all received their due punishment.” He suppressed his almost joyful tone, speaking somberly, “After several years of treatment, I’m much better now, though I still need to rely on these pills to calm my mind for the time being… You won’t look down on me, will you?”

 

“Of course not,” Kuang Xuexian quickly said.

 

Looking at the gentle and refined gentleman before him, he truly couldn’t imagine he had experienced such things. His first reaction wasn’t disdain but heartache.

 

Fu Li’s voice lowered, “I really suffered a lot when I was young.”

 

If a demon wants to gain more pity from mortals, he must make good use of his deceptive appearance.

 

Stroke by stroke, he paints his skin to look even more beautiful. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Kuang Xuexian’s gaze grew even softer. Just as he had thought, he was indeed a very kind-hearted person.

 

“I’m telling you this because I want you to know I’m not as good as you think,” he couldn’t help but gently stroke a strand of Kuang Xuexian’s hair. “I have many flaws, and I only dare to tell you slowly in the future. Don’t let it scare you away, Kuang Xuexian.”

 

The first time he called his name, his tone was soft and lingering, incredibly gentle and tender. He looked most beautiful at night, like the spring river under moonlight.

 

So elegant and refined that he was most adept at bewitching hearts. Kuang Xuexian had a sleepless night. At first, he thought about Fu Yi’s illness.

 

Fu Yi’s face drifted before his eyes, lingering for so long that he began to imagine many pitiful moments from the past. He thought of how much suffering Fu Yi had endured at such a young age, and a wave of compassion welled up within him.