My Husband Can't Possibly Be a Tyrant Emperor! - Chapter 6

His books were generally only purchased by fellow enthusiasts. In ancient times, reading itself was a privilege largely reserved for the wealthy, let alone having spare money to buy miscellaneous books. Therefore, many of his customers were affluent and influential, though these gentlemen rarely came in person to make purchases. They usually sent servants or had him bring the books to their mansions for selection.

When Prince Fu suddenly arrived, he could only conclude that the news of his recent marriage lottery had even reached the aristocratic circles of Xijing. This young prince clearly seemed the type who loved to watch the excitement.

He hoped it was just a passing curiosity for them. Otherwise, he might have to move. This time, finding a husband had come at a great cost, but thinking of the handsome man at home, it was all worth it.

Speaking of which, Zhang Ji should be up by now. He wondered if the breakfast he left would suit his taste.

He vaguely sensed that Zhang Ji probably hadn’t endured much hardship and might not be accustomed to a frugal life.

Although his own standard of living was already better than that of ordinary commoners.

In recent days, due to the marriage lottery, he had fallen behind on much of his work. His business was thriving, yet he hadn’t hired any assistants. He wrapped up the books and handed them over to the couriers, who would deliver them to various customers. Xijing’s economy was prosperous, with specialized warehouses and couriers dedicated to such services. Especially in the city that never slept, there were even dedicated “meal deliverers,” almost identical to modern-day delivery workers.

He stayed busy in the shop until around eleven in the morning before preparing to close for the day.

Previously, he would have his lunch on the street, but now that there was someone at home, he planned to buy some food to take back.

Just as he was about to leave, Fu Mie and Li Qing walked in together. In Li Qing’s hand was a lacquered wooden lunchbox.

“What brings you here?” Kuang Xuexian asked in surprise.

“Nothing to do at home, so we came to take a look,” Fu Mie said, glancing around the bookstore. “And we brought you some food.”

“Ah,” Kuang Xuexian said, delighted. “Thank you.”

See, having a partner really was nice. When mealtime came around, someone was thinking of him. Wasn’t this the cozy, simple life he had always longed for?!

Li Qing smiled and said, “We didn’t know where your bookstore was, so we had to ask around. Fortunately, the young master is quite well-known on Jinwu Street.”

Kuang Xuexian replied, “I’m probably quite famous now. Prince Fu even came by this morning.”

Li Qing’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the lid of the lunchbox.

“What did he come for?” Fu Mie asked.

“He bought two books,” Kuang Xuexian said, helping Li Qing set out the food. “Have you two eaten yet?”

“The servant and the master have already eaten before coming,” Li Qing said. “The prince  came to watch the excitement, didn’t he?”

“Yes,” Kuang Xuexian said. “It seems he heard about my marriage lottery and came to take a look. He bought two books and left, which gave me quite a scare.”

Li Qing chuckled awkwardly.

Fu Mie, however, walked over to the counter and looked at the books he was wrapping. When he saw the cover of the storybook, he paused for a moment.

Kuang Xuexian felt a bit embarrassed.

Because the copy of The Lotus Chronicles on the counter was the most explicit among the short storybooks he had published. The cover was even bolder, depicting a young novice monk and a long-haired, handsome man with their robes half-undone, entangled on the ground.

His face flushed, and he was about to cover it with wrapping paper when Fu Mie picked it up.

Kuang Xuexian thought, Forget it, there’s no need to hide it from him. He’ll find out sooner or later anyway.

He forced himself to appear calm and said, “You’d better not look. It’s quite frightening.”

Fu Yi flipped through it and caught sight of the colorful illustrations inside—one man nakedly embracing another, engaged in intimate acts.

Fu Yi’s eyes suddenly fixed, and after a moment, he remarked, “It is indeed scarier than ghost stories.”

At this moment, he wasn’t smiling. He lowered his phoenix eyes to continue flipping through the pages, his eyelashes thick and long, giving him a strikingly handsome yet somewhat shadowy appearance. His eyebrows were somewhat similar to those of Prince Fu—sharp and upturned like unsheathed swords—but his face was soft and gentle. Overall, he still had the kind of looks that seemed suitable for a peaceful household. In the daylight, he appeared even more dashing and elegant than at night.

“Go ahead and eat,” Fu Yi said, looking up.

Kuang Xuexian had no choice but to sit down and eat. Fortunately, Li Qing didn’t lean over to look, focusing instead on serving him dishes.

He felt that Li Qing seemed more disciplined than the average household servant. Logically, as the only remaining servant, the bond between master and servant should be quite close. Yet, it was clear that the hierarchy between them was far more pronounced than in ordinary master-servant relationships.

However, Kuang Xuexian was soon captivated by the food he was eating. He casually picked up a bite and was instantly amazed. The food they had delivered today was incredibly delicious.

Even though it was all vegetarian, it tasted better than meat. For example, the boiled cabbage looked plain and watery but was exceptionally flavorful. He suspected some kind of meat broth had been used. Then there was the tea-scented tofu, with its clear broth carrying a rich aroma of tea leaves—truly unique.

Li Qing asked softly, “How does the young master find it?”

“It’s really delicious! Which restaurant did you buy it from?”

How could he not know about such a delicious restaurant?

Li Qing hesitated, “Well”

Of course, it was prepared by the imperial chef!

It was well-known that His Majesty was extremely particular about his food. Whenever the emperor traveled, local officials would recommend renowned chefs from the area. It was no exaggeration to say that the imperial chefs accompanying them now were the best among the best—surpassing not only the chefs of ordinary restaurants but even the imperial chefs of previous dynasties.

Take that plain-looking boiled cabbage, for instance. Its value lay not in the cabbage itself but in the broth. The broth alone required over twenty ingredients, including old hens, abalone, sea cucumbers, dried scallops, and various seasonings, simmered for two hours to achieve its exquisite flavor. As for the seemingly simple stir-fried bean sprouts, each sprout was hollowed out and filled with a tiny amount of minced ham. The ingredients weren’t expensive, but the preparation was incredibly time-consuming!

His Majesty had tasted a few bites of the food Kuang Xuexian prepared earlier, looking as though he couldn’t believe he was eating such fare. So, at noon, he ordered the imperial chef to prepare a meal and deliver it.

It was unclear whether it was out of pity for Kuang Xuexian or to broaden his culinary horizons.

Just as Li Qing was hesitating, the emperor suddenly spoke.

“We just picked a random roadside stall. I didn’t catch the name,” the emperor said from behind the counter. “Do you like it?”

Kuang Xuexian nodded enthusiastically. “It’s delicious! I can’t believe I didn’t know about this place. If it’s freshly made, it must be even better. Let’s go to the restaurant tonight.”

Just then, a customer walked in—Madam Sun, the owner of the painting studio, coming to collect the illustrations she had ordered the previous week.

Kuang Xuexian quickly stood up. “Madam Sun.”

Fu Yi glanced at Li Qing. “Understood?”

Li Qing hurriedly nodded.

Understood, understood! He would notify the imperial chef right away to set up a stall!

Meanwhile, Madam Sun smiled and said, “Master Kuang, enjoying your meal? I’m here to pick up the paintings. Are they all finished?”

“It’s finished,” Kuang Xuexian hurried to fetch her painting. However, Madam Sun’s eyes were fixed on Fu Lie behind the counter. “Ah, Shopkeeper Kuang, could this be…”

Before Kuang Xuexian could answer, Fu Lie smiled faintly and said, “I am.”

Madam Sun clicked her tongue in admiration. “Ah, Shopkeeper Kuang has such remarkable taste! What a handsome young man!” She then turned to look at Kuang Xuexian. “You two make such a perfect match!”

Fu Lie chuckled. “Is that so?”

“Yes, yes, yes! To be honest, when I heard Shopkeeper Kuang was looking for a husband, I thought she was just being reckless—what kind of good man could she possibly find?” Madam Sun glanced at Fu Lie and sighed a few times. “Young man, you seem to be from out of town?”

“From the capital,” Fu Lie replied.

His temperament was gentle, and he answered whatever Madam Sun asked. Coupled with his handsome appearance and refined demeanor, he was easily likable. Madam Sun simply sat down on a stool and chatted idly with him.

“I heard that in the capital nowadays, everyone is rushing to marry off their daughters. Is that true?”

Fu Lie said, “I’ve been away for some time, so I’m not entirely sure.”

Kuang Xuexian asked, “Why are they all rushing to marry them off?”

Madam Sun explained, “I heard the emperor is about to select consorts! Not just in the capital—even here in Shuangluan City, several officials are preparing for weddings. They say once the imperial decree is officially issued, free marriage will no longer be allowed.”

Kuang Xuexian remarked, “No wonder.”

She immediately stole a glance at Fu Lie and saw that he seemed to be listening with interest. However, although his face still wore a smile, his posture had grown lazy as he leaned against the counter. When His Majesty was idle, he would reveal a weary expression, his dark eyes seeming as though even a smile couldn’t warm them.

Unfortunately, the other two in the shop were completely unaware. It had long been said that people from Xijing loved to gossip about royal affairs, and those from Jiantai disapproved, claiming Xijing had “unruly hearts.” It seemed those words were not unfounded. The emperor’s reputation was so poor that they discussed him without fear. Madam Sun even raised her voice and said, “Tell me, anyone with a shred of conscience—who would willingly marry their daughter to such an emperor?”

Kuang Xuexian agreed, “That’s true.”

Li Qing: “…”

Young Master Fu, I urge you to think twice before speaking!

Li Qing hurriedly interjected, “His Majesty the Emperor rules the world, is young and handsome, and isn’t as terrifying as you make him out to be.”

“But isn’t it said that he’s a capricious tyrant?” Kuang Xuexian asked.

Li Qing: “…”

He might as well bang his head against the ground. For a moment, he felt his hair standing on end, not daring to look at His Majesty’s expression!

But then he heard His Majesty’s voice, tinged with laughter, say, “You seem to know quite a lot.”

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