Saving My Life By Simping For My Empress - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: “Could you… kiss me again?”

“Your Majesty, Commander Chen sent word. He says the Princess Royal of Wei is quite fond of making friends; without even stepping out of the diplomatic hostel’s courtyard, she invited people into her quarters and spent a good while ‘bonding’ behind closed doors.” Gao De entered the study to report the news he had received from the hidden guards to Qin Ji.

Qin Ji set his brush down with a heavy thud. “She certainly has a wide circle of acquaintances. For her first time leaving the Kingdom of Wei, she seems to have friends spanning the length and breadth of the land.”

Gao De chimed in, “Indeed. With such a hospitable display, one would think this was Wei territory and she was the host.”

Qin Ji leaned back in a comfortable position. “Which country’s people was she talking to?”

Gao De: “The Kingdom of Duogua.”

Qin Ji clicked his tongue, his tone impatient. “Why is it always Duogua?”

Gao De bowed with a smile. “Perhaps Duogua feels that since they already have people here in our Qin State, they are in no hurry to enter the palace to have an audience with Your Majesty.”

Reminded by Gao De, Qin Ji recalled that the envoy who had stayed in Qin since last year was finally due to reunite with his colleagues.

“Didn’t they previously intend to send their princess into my harem?” Qin Ji smiled, his expression clearly mischievous. “Both are princesses of their respective nations, and it wouldn’t be right to slight either by making them a mere consort. Since both Duogua and Wei have this intent, I wonder… who exactly should the position of Empress of Qin fall to?”

Gao De: “Then perhaps it would be best to let the two countries settle the matter themselves.”

Qin Ji raised his hand and pointed into the air. “Gao De, you understand me well.”

Gao De was humble and respectful. “Since I serve Your Majesty, it is only natural that I share Your Majesty’s thoughts.”

Qin Ji tilted his chin. “Go and handle it. Let Wei and Duogua argue it out. I’d quite like to see how solid—or fragile—the bond between these two ‘allies’ really is.”

He had no intention of marrying a woman from either country. Whether it was Wei Wuxia or that princess from Duogua he had never met, neither was entering his harem.

“I shall see to it immediately.” Having received his orders, Gao De withdrew from the study.

Qin Ji returned to his work.

That’s right—even a grand Emperor had to finish the homework assigned by his teacher on time.

After having lunch in the palace and resting briefly, Xu Ziye arrived to give Qin Ji his lesson.

“Teacher, tomorrow is my twentieth birthday. I can’t have class.” Qin Ji looked at Xu Ziye expectantly.

Xu Ziye replied, “Your Majesty’s studies must not be neglected. Since we cannot hold class tomorrow, I shall assign tomorrow’s work today. Your Majesty may complete it on your own, and I shall review it the day after.”

Qin Ji: “???” Why do I have to do homework on my birthday!

Xu Ziye’s shrewd eyes were suddenly as good as blind; he treated Qin Ji’s desperate plea for a day off as if it were mere passing clouds. A truly good student should study diligently every day and not set aside their work easily.

Qin Ji attended the lesson with metaphorical tears in his eyes.

Had he known Xu Ziye was this strict—stricter even than his high school homeroom teacher during a mid-term breakdown—he never would have opened his mouth. He should have just skipped it tomorrow as a matter of course. He regretted it deeply.

Qin Ji sat upright at his desk, studying painstakingly.

“Teacher, I’ve finished.” Qin Ji handed over the political essay he had been struggling with for half the day for Xu Ziye to inspect.

While Xu Ziye checked the work, Qin Ji wasn’t allowed to be idle. Xu Ziye ordered him to recite texts, leaving no room for slacking off. Under Xu Ziye’s watchful eye, Qin Ji had no chance to fake it and had to flip through his books and memorize.

After studying for so long, he had made some progress. He was no longer reciting the Analects but was now learning the Five Classics. He could recognize many characters now, so he didn’t have to raise his hand every few minutes to ask: “Teacher, how do you pronounce this word?”

Qin Ji didn’t really want to look back on his early lessons. He had been exactly like a primary schooler, memorizing and writing new characters and raising his hand whenever he didn’t understand.

“Your Majesty’s calligraphy has improved significantly,” Xu Ziye commented fairly.

Qin Ji was nearly moved to tears. He had actually received a compliment from Xu Ziye!

“Rest assured, Teacher, I will practice more and strive to master a fine hand as soon as possible.” Qin Ji nearly beat his chest in a vow to his teacher.

After finishing the review, Xu Ziye pointed out the weaknesses one by one, leading into a half-hour-long dialectic debate. Qin Ji’s head began to spin.

“Your Majesty, what exactly are your intentions regarding that Prince of Wei?” Although class wasn’t officially over, Xu Ziye stopped the lesson and asked out of the blue.

Qin Ji: “Huh?”

He was completely lost, his face a mask of confusion. “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, Teacher.”

Xu Ziye thought: Is His Majesty oblivious in every aspect? No, he’s actually slower at this than he is at his lessons!

Taking a deep breath, Xu Ziye said slowly, “Your Majesty has kept that Prince in the Ziji Palace all this time. Not only does this defy protocol, it is also detrimental to the Prince himself.”

A man staying in the Ziji Palace long-term, eating and sleeping alongside the Emperor—if word got out, what would become of Wei Yu’s reputation? Would people not view him as His Majesty’s male favorite?

Qin Ji frowned. “But I have to ask Wei Yu for help every day when I get back. It wouldn’t be convenient if he lived far away.”

Xu Ziye: Fine. I shouldn’t have thought better of him just because his political skills improved.

“Your Majesty, how do you not understand?” Xu Ziye pulled up a chair to sit opposite Qin Ji and spoke earnestly. “That Prince is a man. It is inappropriate for him to live anywhere in the inner palace. Your Majesty, the only people who live in this palace, aside from yourself, are your consorts.”

Xu Ziye taught him with the same devotion he had shown over a decade ago when Qin Ji was just a toddler, brought by the late Emperor and Empress to take him as his master.

Qin Ji blinked softly, his heart feeling a bit chaotic.

“Teacher, I don’t want Wei Yu to leave. I want to stay with him. Is that not allowed? I have no intention of humiliating him.”

Qin Ji had complained more than once about how troublesome ancient people were. He just wanted to eat, chat, and sleep with Wei Yu—why did he have to worry about all this?

“Your Majesty, Prince Wei Yu is a hostage. A hostage should reside in the Hostage Manor, not the Ziji Palace,” Xu Ziye said.

Qin Ji’s expression slumped. “Teacher, I don’t want Wei Yu to live in the Hostage Manor.”

Wei Yu was all alone. What if he was bullied again? He was the type to endure in silence; otherwise, he wouldn’t have put up with that idiot Wei Qiong for so long. Furthermore, Wei Yu’s health required careful recovery. Where else besides the palace could have so many skilled imperial physicians on standby every day? He didn’t feel safe letting Wei Yu live outside.

And, he had promised Wei Yu he wouldn’t abandon him.

Xu Ziye shook his head inwardly. As members of the imperial family, the Qin clan should avoid being overly sentimental.

“Does Your Majesty have any plans to hold a selection to fill the harem?” Xu Ziye asked.

Qin Ji didn’t understand how the topic had jumped to a selection, but his answer was clear: he didn’t want to. His pout was practically reaching the sky; he was clearly unwilling.

“Your Majesty, the throne of Qin cannot be without an heir. If Your Majesty has truly set your heart on Prince Wei Yu, then you must make plans early.”

Xu Ziye’s words were like a gust of wind, scattering the long-lingering fog.

Qin Ji’s expression turned frantic. “Teacher, don’t talk nonsense! There is nothing like that between Wei Yu and me!”

Wei Yu was the protagonist of the novel. He… what was he?

“If Your Majesty has no such feelings for Prince Wei Yu, then issue an imperial decree now. Bestow a manor upon him, assign servants, and do not have him stay in the Ziji Palace any longer,” Xu Ziye said mercilessly.

Qin Ji replied instinctively: “No!”

Xu Ziye looked at Qin Ji calmly. He knew that as Qin Ji became more “normal,” he would only grow more similar to the late Emperor. But he never expected the most similar trait to be this one.

A man who is Emperor should not be devoted to one person; he should not love too deeply. The three palaces and six courtyards, the balance between the court and the harem—that was the path of an Emperor.

Yet, he didn’t want to see Qin Ji walk that path either. This was the child entrusted to him by the late Emperor and Empress, after all.

Qin Ji realized what he had said and froze. What was he saying? Had he lost his mind? Clearly, what his teacher said was correct, so why was his heart so unwilling?

“Your Majesty, Prince Cheng’s son and daughter-in-law passed away young, leaving behind a child. I believe if Your Majesty were willing to bring that child into the palace to be raised as your own son, Prince Cheng would be very willing.” Xu Ziye had no intention of stopping Qin Ji; he knew he couldn’t. Since that was the case, he might as well pave the way for Qin Ji’s future.

“If Your Majesty one day achieves your heart’s desire, then take that child under your wing.” After all these years, Xu Ziye once again placed a hand on Qin Ji’s head. “Consider it yourself, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave.”

This kind of matter was something only Qin Ji could figure out for himself; no one else’s words would count.

Qin Ji remained in a daze, not even reacting when Gao De told him it was time for dinner.

“Your Majesty,” Gao De raised his voice. “It is time for dinner. The Prince is waiting.”

Qin Ji looked up. This young man, who had recently begun to look like a decisive emperor, now looked more lost than ever before.

“Gao De, Teacher says I have… ‘those’ kinds of feelings for Wei Yu.”

Gao De: “?”

“Is it possible Your Majesty doesn’t have those feelings for the Prince?” No way? Had he misread the situation?

Qin Ji closed his eyes, covering them with his arm to hide his loss of composure. Even Gao De saw it clearly—he had developed feelings for Wei Yu, yet he himself had never realized it.

Had he not treated Wei Yu well simply because he was the protagonist? Had he not just been trying to stay on his good side to keep his own head on his shoulders?

Having been Emperor for these past few days, Qin Ji knew that reason no longer convinced him. If he truly feared Wei Yu would kill him in the future, he should have found a way to execute him legitimately, pinned the blame on Wei, and attacked them again for more land and silver.

But the thought of killing Wei Yu… he couldn’t bear it. When Wei Yu was injured, he was more devastated than anyone.

Qin Ji returned to the bedchamber in a trance. The night air was chilly; he went back to change his clothes.

Wei Yu was still reading, curled up on the small couch. Seeing Qin Ji return looking so absent-minded, he put his book aside, climbed down, and went to help Qin Ji pick out an outer robe.

“What is wrong, Your Majesty?” Wei Yu waved for Gao De to leave. He personally brought the clothes and helped Qin Ji dress. “Did Master Xu scold you?”

Qin Ji mumbled, “No.”

Wei Yu smiled and asked, “Then what is it?”

Qin Ji looked at Wei Yu and said nothing.

Wei Yu: “?”

Fine, you don’t want to say?

Wei Yu gave a mischievous smile and suddenly reached out to tickle Qin Ji’s waist.

The sudden tickle made Qin Ji burst into laughter instantly.

“So Your Majesty can smile? Why the long face?” As if addicted to the tickle, Wei Yu boldly reached for Qin Ji’s waist again.

Qin Ji was extremely ticklish and didn’t dare let Wei Yu continue. He struck first, tickling Wei Yu back.

“You’re counter-attacking!”

The two of them—both turning twenty tomorrow—played as mischievously as young children, tickling each other. Wei Yu’s health hadn’t fully recovered, and he soon ran out of breath, falling into the disadvantage.

In their playful scuffle, Wei Yu accidentally tripped.

“Watch out!” Qin Ji’s hands were fast, and he caught Wei Yu, twisting to switch positions before they hit the floor.

Wei Yu fell on top of Qin Ji, the force of the fall causing him to bump into him.

Their lips brushed against each other accidentally.

Qin Ji’s mind went blank.

Soft. Warm.

Outside, the moon was surrounded by stars; inside, the candlelight flickered.

Qin Ji’s heart skipped a beat.

“You…”

“I…”

They spoke at the same time.

Wei Yu looked away awkwardly. “Your Majesty speak first.”

Qin Ji’s eyes were burning, his arms tightening around Wei Yu’s waist. “Could you… kiss me again?”