My Husband Can't Possibly Be a Tyrant Emperor! - Chapter 9

The spring night was silent. After clouds drifted in, even the last sliver of moonlight vanished. The chill of a spring night, combined with the desolation of the old palace, left the area outside the Phoenix Palace shrouded in darkness, with only the rustling of wild grass.

 

Yet the Phoenix Palace was ablaze with light, like an immortal’s cave in a world of darkness.

 

A black-and-gold sedan chair carried by four men slowly entered the Phoenix Palace. The sedan, painted in black lacquer, resembled a small, square coffin, draped with dark satin curtains.

 

Prince Fu, Fu Bo, glanced back at Zhao Zongliang, who had arrived from the palace. The man, who had been giving orders with an air of authority just moments ago, was now kneeling respectfully on the ground alongside the others.

 

Fu Bo sneered, then followed suit with a bow. The golden belt adorned with imperial fairy flowers and pearls jingled softly against his robes, a testament to his noble status.

 

Li Qing felt somewhat disoriented after spending two days at the Kuang residence and suddenly returning to the opulent Phoenix Palace.

 

The Phoenix Palace was not particularly large, but local officials had hastily refurbished it, leaving it adorned with gold, jade, and brocade. There were no palace maids here, only a group of eunuchs dressed in indigo-blue round-collared, narrow-sleeved robes, their waists cinched with jade belts and their hats topped with plain pearls. They had long been kneeling on the ground.

 

Spotting Zhao Zongliang, Li Qing immediately cupped his hands in greeting. “Eunuch Zhao.”

 

Zhao Zongliang had originally served in the Cien Palace. When the emperor ascended the throne, his position was unstable, and he was still young, so the Grand Empress Dowager specifically assigned Zhao Zongliang to serve as the emperor’s eunuch, overseeing the affairs of the Palace Domestic Service. Though he was ostensibly the emperor’s eunuch, he took more orders from the Grand Empress Dowager, acting more as a supervisor and watchdog—a true member of Chancellor Xie’s faction. However, this cunning old man had secretly switched sides to join the emperor’s camp, though on the surface, he remained the empress dowager’s man. The emperor never took him along on his travels.

 

After greeting him, Li Qing stepped aside and lifted the sedan curtain. The person inside slowly opened his phoenix eyes, half-hidden in the shadows.

 

Zhao Zongliang and the others immediately kowtowed again. “Long live the emperor, long live the emperor!”

 

Fu Yan emerged from the sedan and glanced down at Zhao Zongliang.

 

Zhao Zongliang prostrated himself on the ground, his tone full of deference. “Your humble servant, Zhao Zongliang, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”

 

Fu Yan gave a faint “hm” before turning his gaze to Prince Fu, who stood nearby. “What were you doing at the bookstore?”

 

Prince Fu grinned. “I went to see my sister-in-law.”

 

Fu Yan walked forward, and Prince Fu followed closely. “Brother, you didn’t even tell me about something like this. I only found out from my subordinates.”

 

Zhao Zongliang, still kneeling on the ground, was utterly confused. He raised his head slightly but dared not ask any questions.

 

The emperor took his seat on the dragon throne and asked, “Why did the Grand Empress Dowager send you here?”

 

Zhao Zongliang hurriedly replied, “The imperial consort selection is approaching. The Grand Empress Dowager sent me to urge Your Majesty to return to the capital as soon as possible.”

 

Prince Fu remarked, “Isn’t our little cousin not yet of age? Is Chancellor Xie in such a hurry to send her into the palace?”

 

Zhao Zongliang said, “Her coming-of-age ceremony is next month.”

 

Prince Fu asked, “I heard she’s quite a beauty?”

 

Zhao Zongliang replied, “Her appearance is considered the finest among the noble ladies of the capital… But what did Your Highness mean by ‘sister-in-law’ just now?”

 

Prince Fu laughed. “Does the eunuch not know about this? That shouldn’t be the case. The people at the temporary palace must be slacking off.”

 

Zhao Zongliang’s face paled.

 

The spies he had placed around the emperor were long gone. They had likely been eliminated one by one along the way.

 

“I only just arrived and truly had no knowledge of this matter. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven—how could marriage be treated so lightly? This…”

 

Zhao Zongliang looked up and met Fu Yi’s pitch-black eyes. The emperor was slouched on the dragon throne, clearly in a foul mood. At this hour, His Majesty should have been resting—no wonder his temper was so sour. Zhao inwardly lamented; he had originally planned to pay his respects to the emperor tomorrow, but as soon as he entered the city, he had been “invited” here by the Western Capital garrison.

 

So the Western Capital truly was now entirely under Prince Fu’s control!

 

And this Prince Fu showed him not the slightest courtesy, growing ever more arrogant under the emperor’s favor.

 

He hurriedly bowed his head to the floor again. “This humble servant has come on the orders of the Grand Empress Dowager to see Your Majesty. She implores Your Majesty to return to the capital soon. The Grand Empress Dowager misses Your Majesty deeply and has been unwell for many days!”

 

He quickly retrieved the Grand Empress Dowager’s handwritten letter from his robe and presented it with both hands.

 

Li Qing stepped forward to take it and delivered it to Fu Yi.

 

Fu Yi opened and glanced at it. Prince Fu, standing nearby, remarked, “She likely just wants to trick Your Majesty into returning early.”

 

Fu Yi put the letter away and said, “Since the eunuch has come, let him stay a few more days. He need not concern himself with anything else.”

 

Zhao Zongliang replied, “As you command.”

 

His heart was set on pledging loyalty, yet he had not fully gained the emperor’s trust. This was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate his devotion to His Majesty and, at the same time, observe whether the Western Capital was already firmly within the emperor’s grasp.

 

And what did this talk of an unauthorized marriage mean? Had the emperor taken a fancy to some noble family’s daughter?

 

After Zhao Zongliang withdrew, Prince Fu finally spoke. “Did Your Majesty go to catch the embroidered ball because you’re troubled by the marriage issue? That won’t solve anything. Even if you find a hundred matchmakers, the position of empress will still belong to the Xie family.”

 

Fu Yi curled the corner of his mouth. “Then let’s see if he dares to marry his daughter to me.”

 

Ever since Fu Yi ascended the throne, everyone knew his empress would be the youngest daughter of Chancellor Xie—a girl several years his junior. If she hadn’t been too young and if Chancellor Xie hadn’t prided himself on being a virtuous minister for the ages, the Xie family would likely have gained another empress in the very first year of his reign.

 

But the last emperor to marry the daughter of a powerful minister as his empress was Emperor Chen Min of the Great Yong dynasty. As soon as his son was born, Emperor Chen Min was sent to the afterlife by his father-in-law.

 

How could Fu Yi possibly allow such a thing to happen to him?

 

On the very first day he sat upon the dragon throne, while the ministers below reported directly to Chancellor Xie as if he weren’t there, he sat quietly as a mere ornament, already calculating these matters in his heart.

 

Now that the Xie daughter had come of age, he was no longer that young emperor who had to live under others’ thumbs. Among the noble daughters of the capital, there was probably not one who did not fear his name.

 

His marriage was shrouded in a bloody haze, much like the current political situation in the capital. His marriage would be the final outcome of one faction’s victory and was destined to mark a new beginning.

 

His empress could only be chosen by himself.

 

Prince Fu noticed his phoenix eyes slightly lowered, the corners tinged with red, and even his cheeks flushed with a peculiar warmth. “Has Your Majesty stopped taking the medicine recently?” he asked.

 

Fu Yi tilted his head, exuding an elegant yet sinister air. “Show yourself less in front of him from now on. Don’t ruin my plans.”

 

Li Qing stepped forward, presenting a gilded medicine box. Inside were several pitch-black pills. Fu Yi took a handful and chewed them.

 

Prince Fu asked in shock, “Do you need to take so many now?”

 

He was aware of these pills.

 

The imperial physician said they alleviated “agitation.”

 

After taking them, one’s emotions stabilized considerably. In the palace, it was said they treated madness. Because their fourth brother, who was called insane, had taken these same pills in the past.

 

Fu Yi deeply disliked discussing this topic.

 

Seeing that he received no response, Prince Fu said, “What’s the background of that Kuang Xuexian?”

 

He didn’t find it inappropriate for Fu Yi to have moved in to live with a man.

 

If Fu Yi were to follow the conventional path of marrying a wife and having children, that would truly strike him as odd.

 

But Fu Yi was temperamental and inherently suspicious, and he had always wondered how Fu Yi had ended up entering Kuang Xuexian’s home so easily.

 

“Does Your Majesty trust him?”

 

Fu Yi was clearly more interested in this topic and said, “He’s quite interesting.”

 

Prince Fu laughed and said, “Indeed, daring to search the entire city for a man—that is interesting. He looks so delicate and small, yet his lustful courage is quite bold.”

 

He added, “Why don’t you just take him back with you? I’ll accompany you. I want to see the stunned expressions of the Grand Empress Dowager and Old Man Xie.”

 

Fu Yi ignored him and stood up, saying to Li Qing, “Tomorrow, before he wakes up, have breakfast prepared. The roof tiles in the northeast corner of the main room are broken—find someone to fix them.”

 

Li Qing replied, “Yes.”

 

Fu Yi added, “Don’t make the breakfast too elaborate.”

 

Li Qing responded, “Yes!”

 

Prince Fu looked at Fu Yi, somewhat stunned, and sighed, “For a moment, I don’t know whether to pity you or Kuang Xuexian.”

 

Fu Yi said, “Hurry up with the tasks I assigned you, or you’ll end up pitying yourself. It seems to me that your Shuangluan City is still full of leaks.”

 

Fu Yi stood up to leave, and Prince Fu had no choice but to call out to Li Qing, “It’s not as safe outside as it is in the palace. Stay alert while serving His Majesty.”

 

“Ying Qi and the others are also here, and there are people secretly protecting us whenever we go out. Your Highness need not worry.”

 

Prince Fu looked at Fu Yi and said, “Actually, Your Majesty, I’ve always had a question. How did you end up living in someone else’s home? At the very least, you should have bought a residence and brought him over. This is… marrying down?”

 

Fu Yi replied, “Marrying into his family.”

Prince Fu: “…”

 

Li Qing gave him an awkward smile, bowed, and took his leave. Prince Fu escorted Fu Yi to his sedan chair.

 

“Your sedan chair looks like a coffin—it’s truly ugly,” Prince Fu couldn’t help but comment.

 

In contrast, his own sedan chair was exquisitely crafted and dignified, reflecting the extravagant style of Jiantai. Although Prince Fu resided in Xijing, he had always maintained the clothing and style of Jiantai. His brocade robes were embroidered with pearls and jade, and as he moved, the sound of jade and pearls filled the air. One glance from Li Qing reminded him of Jiantai.

 

Having been away from the capital for many days, he missed Jiantai too. Known as the City of Heavenly Fragrance, Jiantai was a place where fine horses and fragrant carriages filled the flower-lined streets, and silk and brocade adorned every corner. It was the residence of the Son of Heaven, gathering the most talented and noble lords from across the land.

 

He wondered if one day, His Majesty would truly bring Kuang Xuexian there. After taking several pills in a row, the bitterness seeped into his body, gradually calming him down along the way.

 

It was the middle of the night, and the wind had picked up. The journey was bitterly cold. Li Qing, wrapped in a cloak, followed along and said, “It looks like it might snow.”

 

The wilderness stretched endlessly, with nothing in sight except the lanterns they carried, swaying in the wind, faint as a drop in the ocean. Since following Fu Yi, Li Qing had spent most of the past few years in places of wealth and prosperity. This scene reminded him of the time two years ago when he accompanied Fu Yi to Shuocao Island to pay respects to his elder brother, Li Bai.

 

The entire island was covered in wild grass, with few trees in sight. When the wind blew, the poisonous grass swayed, stretching endlessly toward the cold, boundless sea. At night, it was even more terrifying.

 

His Majesty had grown up in such an environment—no wonder he wasn’t afraid of ghosts or gods.

 

A few scattered raindrops began to fall. Li Qing looked up, adjusted his hat, and said, “Your Majesty, it’s starting to rain.”

 

The howling wind was now accompanied by the sound of rain, pattering softly on the withered grass. The wind swept across the desolate plain, vast as the sea, stirring within him the same fear he had felt on Shuocao Island. By the time they returned to Master Kuang’s home, even that small courtyard felt incredibly warm.

 

Li Qing thought of the past and the uncertain future, suddenly feeling that this brief period of hiding his identity at Master Kuang’s home was like a fleeting dream in a long journey—one that would inevitably end, and he wouldn’t bother to call for the emperor anymore.

 

Fu Li stood in the courtyard for a moment, gazing at the pitch-dark main room, his shoulders already damp from the spring rain.

 

Li Qing: “Your Majesty?”

 

Fu Li entered the eastern wing and said, “The medicine I’ve been taking doesn’t seem to be working anymore. Tell the imperial physician to increase the dosage.”

 

Li Qing: “…”

 

He stole a glance at the emperor. Fu Li listlessly went to bed.

 

What did he mean by “not working anymore”? It sounded truly terrifying.

 

He carefully attended to the emperor as he settled down to sleep. Despite the cold weather, the emperor, wearing only his inner garments, seemed unfazed by the chill. Sometimes, Li Qing suspected the emperor was indifferent to sensations like heat, cold, or pain—or perhaps, due to his illness, he preferred the cold.

 

In any case, he still only covered himself with a thin quilt. His face was youthful and handsome, yet his expression was indifferent, and he rested his head on his arm with evident displeasure.

 

Li Qing drew the bed curtains and quietly left.

 

Unable to sleep, Fu Li picked up The Tale of the Precious Lotus to read.

 

It told of a small foreign kingdom, its name unknown, where there was a crown prince named Chunming. This Prince Chunming was said to be as exquisite as layered jade blossoms, with a noble and pure appearance unmatched by any in the royal family. He was not only beautiful but also virtuous, with the promise of becoming a wise ruler. However, upon reaching adulthood, he suddenly began to behave strangely—applying powder and rouge to dress as a woman, covering his face with a cloth when going out, and taking a peculiar interest in secretly observing intimate affairs between men and women. When his actions were exposed, his father, the king, was furious. He deposed Chunming and sent him to a temple to cultivate himself. Yet, Chunming refused to shave his head, insisting on living as a nun, adorned in elaborate and ornate nun’s robes. No matter how many eminent monks chanted sutras to exorcise his demons, nothing worked.

 

In the temple where he resided, there was a young martial monk named Faqing, still a novice. Faqing was aloof and solitary, wholly devoted to Buddhist teachings despite his martial training. He kept to himself, rarely interacting with others. One night, he stealthily entered Prince Chunming’s meditation room.

 

Amidst the howling wind and rain, with thunder and lightning raging outside, the novice Faqing pushed open the door and rushed in, pinning the prince to the ground. The prince, clad in nine layers of nun’s robes, struggled and crawled on the floor like a snake slithering through grass. Faqing untied his sash, then stripped away his garments layer by layer, as if peeling lotus petals. When the final layer was removed, the prince lay naked, crawling on the floor. Faqing seized his feet and dragged him back. Dark hair cascaded over his body, revealing glimpses of pale skin, as if illuminated by sinful desires. The room was filled only with the sound of wind and rain beating against the window.

 

Thus, the night passed. At dawn, Faqing left in the spring mist. The prince remained naked and silent, lying on the floor.

 

When night fell again, Faqing returned to the prince’s room.

 

No words were exchanged between them. They simply faced each other in silence until Faqing extinguished the lamp.

 

In the darkness of the secluded room, only their warm breaths and the prince’s lingering sweet fragrance filled the air.

 

From then on, the meditation room became their secret haven.

 

Lost in passion and desire, their souls entwined, the prince wished never to leave that hidden chamber.

 

This was a semi-forced story, written with such gripping intensity that the coercive nature unexpectedly suited Fu Yi’s taste.

 

Fu Yi sat with his inner robe carelessly open, trousers pulled down, eyes lowered, his hand moving mechanically. He had no idea how long it had been when he impatiently tossed aside the storybook in his hand. Apart from emotional agitation and physical discomfort, there seemed to be nothing else.

 

The spring rain before all things awaken is the coldest, drizzling incessantly throughout the night.

 

The next day, when Kuang Xuexian woke up and heard the sound of rain outside, he hurriedly got out of bed. The room was freezing, so he put on a thick robe and stepped outside, only to see the ground soaked, with a puddle of water collected in the lower parts of the courtyard.

 

The weather was bitterly cold, and the sky outside had just begun to brighten. As he was about to head to the east wing to check on Fu Yi and the others, he saw Li Qing emerging from the kitchen, wearing a thick robe and a hat.

 

A faint wisp of white smoke rose from the kitchen eaves. Li Qing smiled and said, “Good morning, young master.”

 

“Morning,” Kuang Xuexian sniffled. “You’re up so early too.”

 

“It’s all your fault, young master. Since you rise this early, how could I dare sleep in?”

 

Kuang Xuexian quickly replied, “I’m used to waking up early. You don’t have to get up before me.”

 

Li Qing said, “I’m also used to rising earlier than my master. You could sleep in a bit later in the future, if only to spare me. I’ve already prepared breakfast. Please freshen up and get ready to eat.”

 

Kuang Xuexian hurried to wash up. When he came out again, he saw that Fu Yi was also up.

 

Fu Yi was still wearing the same narrow-sleeved robe from the previous day—or perhaps he had changed into another one, as he owned many robes that looked identical, making it impossible for outsiders to tell whether he had switched or not.

 

But the robe was undeniably thin.

 

“Morning.”

 

Kuang Xuexian asked, “Aren’t you cold?”

 

Fu Yi replied, “It’s fine.”

 

The cold had turned the tip of his nose slightly red, making his fair and handsome features stand out even more. The dark circles under his eyes were now visible, giving him a somewhat weary appearance.

 

Kuang Xuexian asked, “Didn’t sleep well?”

 

Fu Yi hummed in agreement.

 

Whether it was due to the cold or something else, Kuang Xuexian felt that Fu Yi’s silhouette seemed to be soaked in the damp chill of the courtyard, as if he were in a foul mood. Fu Yi was brushing his teeth with a willow twig outside the bathhouse, leaning against the doorframe. As he brushed, he gazed at Kuang Xuexian with a distant, somewhat vacant look, as if his lack of sleep had slowed his reactions.