Saving My Life By Simping For My Empress - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Qin Ji: Is it possible for an ancient Emperor to die early from overwork? QAQ!

Qin Ji couldn’t spare a thought for the relationship between Wei Yu and his elder brother; his own studies were far too painful. Even as Gao De led him away to wash, his head was buzzing with “Confucius says.” He felt as though his brain was about to explode.

Qin Ji felt he should change his name to “Qin Firecracker”—it was only a matter of time before he went off.

After washing up, it was time for bed. He once again kept Wei Yu in the Ziji Palace to sleep beside him.

Having realized that the shell of the Emperor now housed a different soul, Wei Yu no longer feared the Tyrant. However… he was, after all, getting into the Dragon Bed, so he tried to decline.

“My bed is large and warm; is it so bad to share half with you?” Qin Ji was so sleepy his eyes were mere slits. He lacked the energy for a prolonged battle over sleeping arrangements, so he simply said: “You’re teaching me to read and helping me with memorials. Half of this bed is your payment.”

Wei Yu: “…” I’d rather you just give me a chest of gold.

Seeing Wei Yu remained unmoved, Qin Ji simply pulled him onto the bed and stripped him of his outer robe in a few swift motions.

Wei Yu was shocked, trying to grab his robe back: “Your Majesty, what are you doing!”

Qin Ji mumbled: “You’re too talkative, and I’m dying of exhaustion.”

Wei Yu: “…” How can there be an Emperor who begs someone to sleep in his bed? Does Qin Ji even realize he is the Emperor?

However, having survived the Tyrant’s torture in his previous life, Wei Yu’s body was frail and his strength was no match for Qin Ji’s. He could only watch helplessly as his clothes were removed.

“Allow me to at least take off my shoes, Your Majesty.” Wei Yu was still wearing shoes; he couldn’t possibly bring them into the bed.

Without a word, Qin Ji yanked off Wei Yu’s shoes, shoved him into the covers, and said: “Go to sleep.”

With that, Qin Ji pulled the quilt around himself and fell asleep instantly.

Wei Yu: “???” Are you a pig? How can you fall asleep so fast!

Gao De arrived to check the charcoal fire and caught sight of his Majesty sleeping like a log while Wei Yu lay beside him with a look of utter existential dread.

Something feels very strange about this.

Gao De lowered the bed curtains, whispering: “You’ve worked hard today. Rest well.”

Wei Yu had a favorable impression of this eunuch who had helped him before. Hearing Gao De’s words, he finally closed his eyes and slept. At least the person next to him wasn’t the Tyrant who had taken his life, but a bit of a ditz; he didn’t have to worry about being strangled in his sleep.

…

Qin Ji hadn’t had nearly enough sleep when Gao De woke him again for the morning court.

Seeing that Qin Ji had attended court successfully yesterday, was actively studying, and was even consulting Wei Yu on memorials, Gao De was convinced the Emperor was truly turning over a new leaf. Thus, he emboldened himself to wake him.

Qin Ji hung his head dejectedly as the maids dressed him in the complex court robes and the heavy beaded crown. He sat in the dragon carriage, facing the winter wind and snow.

The only thing the drowsy Qin Ji remembered was to tell Gao De to find a soft cushion for the throne. No one should have to suffer on that hard, cold chair; he certainly couldn’t take it.

The officials, encouraged by yesterday’s successful session, arrived enthusiastically, hoping to see the Emperor again.

The good news: The Emperor appeared. The “wait, what?” news: They saw Gao De place a thick cushion on the Dragon Throne.

The Ministers: “???”

Who puts such a thick cushion on the Dragon Throne? Are they not afraid the officials below will see it?

Under the confused and shocked gazes of the court, Qin Ji floated to the throne like a ghost. Looking at the sea of people kneeling before him, he felt helpless. Ancient people were so much trouble; there were far too many tedious formalities.

“You may rise,” Qin Ji said, trying to psych himself up.

Qin Ji didn’t know how to run a court session, and he was afraid of being found out. So, no matter what the officials proposed, he asked everyone else for their opinions. His own brain wasn’t enough, but he could crowdsource!

He really was a little genius!

However, Qin Ji’s nearly non-existent disguise and “cleverness” couldn’t hide the vast difference between him and the former Tyrant. Wei Yu, for one, had figured it out in less than a day.

Qin Ji forced himself to listen to the ministers ramble for over two hours. When he finally adjourned the court, his legs nearly gave out. He was so sleepy—sleepier than during a Marxist Theory lecture back in university.

On the way back to Ziji Palace, he rubbed his neck. It felt like his head was tilting forward.

“Gao De, go to the Imperial Hospital and get a physician to look at my neck.”

Gao De was alarmed: “What happened to Your Majesty’s neck?”

Qin Ji kept kneading it: “I feel like my neck is leaning forward. It’s crooked.”

Gao De: “…”

Regaining his composure, Gao De bowed: “Yes, I will send someone immediately.”

Your Majesty, you’ve only attended two court sessions. How could your neck be crooked?

He suspected this was just an excuse to skip court in the future.

Of course, the physician came. After a very thorough examination, he told Qin Ji: “Your Majesty only needs frequent massages to relieve the tension.” Translation: Your neck isn’t crooked.

“Good, as long as it’s not crooked.” Qin Ji breathed a sigh of relief. If his neck was tilted, wouldn’t that look terrible? As a handsome guy, he could not allow that!

And as a handsome guy… Qin Ji still needed to exercise!

He looked at his flabby stomach with distain. He had to get those six-pack abs back. So, in addition to his studies, he set a daily exercise plan: half an hour every night before bed.

But before that, he had to deal with the memorials again.

Qin Ji: Is it possible for an ancient Emperor to die early from overwork? QAQ!

Naturally, Wei Yu was still the one actually handling the paperwork, but he read every single one aloud to Qin Ji, explaining the contents and the issues at hand before suggesting a response.

Wei Yu might hate the Tyrant, but he never hated the people of Qin. Since this “ditz” had somehow become the Emperor, he was willing to help for the sake of the commoners. After all, he would return to the Wei State one day; he couldn’t stay here as a hostage forever, let alone process the Emperor’s paperwork every day.

Qin Ji found the learning process excruciating. Traditional characters he couldn’t recognize, sentences without punctuation, stuffy Classical Chinese, and matters of national importance… every single one of them felt like it was taking years off his life.

As Wei Yu taught him, Qin Ji couldn’t help but wonder if Wei Yu found him annoying. He must seem so stupid, not knowing or understanding anything.

Time seemed to accelerate during these sessions, and before he knew it, it was noon. Qin Ji’s eyes only lit up when Gao De announced it was time for the midday meal. The only thing in this novel world that brought him comfort was the delicious food from the Imperial Kitchen.

Qin Ji again invited Wei Yu to join him. After a busy morning, Qin Ji’s appetite was incredibly good. He used his chopsticks with such speed and ferocity that Wei Yu was left stunned.

Wei Yu began to wonder: Did this ditz never get enough to eat before? Is he really this hungry?

As it turned out, Qin Ji was indeed that hungry; it felt like being back in his senior year of high school. Despite the large table of dishes, Wei Yu barely ate anything while Qin Ji polished off almost everything, looking like he wanted more.

“Gao De, bring me some fruit.”

Gao De: “!!!” “Your Majesty, you have eaten enough today. Eating more will be bad for your health,” Gao De advised.

Qin Ji was disappointed. Ah, had he really eaten that much? Fine, no more.

He thought he could rest for a bit, but Xu Ziye arrived early. Despite the agreed-upon two hours, the teacher had “voluntarily” extended the lesson.

Qin Ji: Crying buckets.

Xu Ziye truly lived up to the title of an ancient doctoral supervisor. This level of professional dedication was staggering.

What could Qin Ji do? He could only act like a child on his first day of school: whatever the teacher said, he did.

More painful than the half-day of classes was the fact that it was all Classical Chinese. If they could just sprinkle in some politics, history, or geography, it would be fine… but a whole afternoon of Classical Chinese? Reading, memorizing, and reading comprehension? By the time Xu Ziye called it a day, Qin Ji had lost his will to live.

I examine myself three times a day: Did I attend court? Yes. Did I process memorials? Yes. Did I study? Yes.

If I keep this up, I’ll be a wise ruler of the next generation!

But that didn’t stop a wise ruler from wanting to eat.

Because Qin Ji had cleared his lunch plates so thoroughly, Gao De specifically asked the kitchen for two extra dishes at dinner. Wei Yu still had the appetite of a bird, so the rest went into Qin Ji’s stomach.

Gao De: “…” So studying really does take that much energy?

“Wei Yu, after I finish the homework the teacher assigned, could you check it for me?” Qin Ji knew his own level; if he handed it directly to Xu Ziye, he’d definitely get scolded.

Wei Yu: “…” “I am willing to serve Your Majesty.” Forget it, I’m on his turf. I’ll endure it.

Wei Yu wasn’t exactly thrilled to share the burden, but fortunately, Qin Ji was serious about his work. Although it was full of holes in Wei Yu’s eyes, for a beginner, the assignment was completed fairly well.

A beginner.

This was strange. Even if the soul had changed, the person didn’t look like a child. Why did Qin Ji seem to know absolutely nothing?

After finishing his homework, Qin Ji slumped for a while. He urged Wei Yu to go wash up first, while he himself began his grand exercise plan.

He was a handsome guy; he must have abs! Six-pack abs! For the sake of those abs, he would definitely shed this belly fat!

Qin Ji didn’t realize it yet, but having only been in this world for a short time, he was already starting to show the traits of a master of time management.

It was enough to make anyone weep with pity.