The Seductive Beauty Breaks the Insecure Bottom Script [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 41.2

But upon arriving, he not only failed to see Song Mingjiao immediately but instead heard that past history between Song Mingjiao and Shang Nanxuan.

He Wen didn’t know what he was feeling.

Unwillingness? Jealousy? Loss?

Song Mingjiao gestured for He Wen to sit opposite him. This man was naturally taller than him and sat very upright, as if he were treating the Emperor’s invitation to play chess as a grave matter of state.

Song Mingjiao, leaning casually on the low couch, appeared much more petite compared to He Wen.

Song Mingjiao reached out to stop He Wen’s hand from tidying the board. His slender fingers rested lightly on the back of He Wen’s hand. He Wen jerked his head up to look at the Emperor as if he had been struck by an electric current.

The Emperor blinked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up. In a rising tone, he said, “Don’t move. Play with me just like this.”

In the current state of the board, Song Mingjiao’s black pieces clearly had the advantage. If they didn’t restart, He Wen had almost no chance of winning.

It was a completely unfair game, yet Song Mingjiao spoke as if it were a rightful reward.

“Your subject obeys.”

He Wen had no objection. Perhaps this was why he and Song Mingjiao shared a wavelength. He truly felt that Song Mingjiao being willing to play chess with him was already a reward; he didn’t care if the disadvantage was forced upon him.

The game ended.

“Prime Minister, you lost.”

Song Mingjiao’s chess skills were excellent, he held the advantage, and his opponent’s mind wasn’t on the game at all. Thus, he won without much effort.

“Your subject’s skills are lacking; I failed to entertain Your Majesty.”

Even as Song Mingjiao cleared the board, He Wen looked at the white pieces by his hand with lingering interest. He rarely had such an opportunity to sit down and be with Song Mingjiao on equal footing, so he cherished it immensely.

“What? Does my official not think I was being overbearing? Forcing you into a losing game, just as I was ‘cold and heartless’ to my former lover earlier?”

Song Mingjiao kept his head down, gathering the stones into his palm one by one, not looking up at He Wen. But as soon as he finished speaking, he felt another warm sensation on his fingertips.

Song Mingjiao tried to pull his hand away a few times but couldn’t free it from the other man’s grasp. He frowned and looked up at He Wen.

He Wen’s expression was complicated, as if he had been struggling for a long time or suppressing intense emotions. After staring at Song Mingjiao for a long while, he said in a deep voice:

“Your Majesty, it is Shang Nanxuan who was unworthy. How could someone like him be worthy of Your Majesty’s favor? Today’s outcome is his own doing. Your Majesty is merciful for sparing his life; that is his great fortune.”

He Wen spared no effort in putting down his rival.

“Merciful? I like the sound of that,” Song Mingjiao said. He hadn’t expected He Wen’s “filter” to be so thick. It was somewhat funny; he wanted to see what else He Wen would say.

“Furthermore, Your Majesty was young back then. It must have been that villain Shang Nanxuan who failed his duty to advise you. Not only did he fail to guide Your Majesty properly, but he led Your Majesty astray. It is entirely his fault! He received Your Majesty’s grace yet lacked even a shred of gratitude; he is truly unpardonable.”

He Wen could speak endlessly when it came to belittling a rival. However, Song Mingjiao caught a keyword in that long speech.

“Astray? You think my relationship with Shang Nanxuan was a mistake? That one shouldn’t indulge in ‘male winds’ (homosexuality)?”

“No, I meant—”

Seeing the little Emperor starting to rest his chin and contemplate the philosophical question of whether relationships between men were truly against the heavens, He Wen felt his future happiness was in jeopardy. He hurriedly tried to pull the focus back.

He meant that being with Shang Nanxuan was astray, but being with a man was perfectly normal—no problem at all! The little Emperor absolutely must not “return to the path of righteousness” right now!

Unfortunately, He Wen didn’t get a chance to say that sentence.

Song Mingjiao pondered for a long time, then took He Wen’s hand and led him to the nearby desk.

“My official has a point. I have also thought about it for a long time and feel that I was indeed inconsiderate before. I liked novel things and thus touched the ‘male wind’ which should not be touched.”

“Since I have come of age, marrying and having children should be my proper path. So, look, these are the memorials from the ministers requesting that I hold a selection for a consort. The Prime Minister is surely more reliable than Shang Nanxuan. Since he was unworthy, why don’t you help me choose?”

He Wen was still savoring the feeling of Song Mingjiao holding his hand when he suddenly heard the words “consort selection.” He was stunned.

The little Emperor had indeed reached the age, but how could it… why so suddenly?

No!

Wait, he had no standing to object.

Song Mingjiao sat down, head resting in his hands, watching the stiffly standing He Wen with great amusement.

He Wen was shaken by the news of the impending imperial marriage, yet he was being forced by the Emperor to help him see which family’s daughter was suitable.

This is a great show, Song Mingjiao thought. He really was suited to being of the oppressor class.

He Wen took a deep breath, wanting nothing more than to hurl the memorials in his hand away.

Those ministers did nothing all day but advise the Emperor to take a consort. What was the use! But he didn’t dare do anything so treacherous in front of Song Mingjiao.

Irritably flipping through several portraits and biographies, He Wen looked up only to see Song Mingjiao’s sincere and hopeful gaze, as if he truly hoped his elder Prime Minister would give him advice like a brother.

“Does my official have any brilliant insights?”

“Your subject… I shall look further. Currently, they are all of mediocre temperament! They are not worthy of Your Majesty.”

He Wen stared intently at the names, thus missing the glint of amusement in Song Mingjiao’s eyes.

Oh my, he can still endure this?

Song Mingjiao felt that after all these provocations, if He Wen didn’t seize the opportunity, it wouldn’t matter how much he tossed and turned when he got home.

Song Mingjiao idly twirled a brush, thinking to himself that maybe he should just switch to someone else. This world’s He Wen seemed a bit slow to catch on.

Actually, the General from the other day was quite good hard muscles and loyal; he would likely provide a great experience.

Alternatively, his “innocent on the outside, scheming on the inside” younger brother wasn’t bad either. Never mind theoretically, this body was related to him. One shouldn’t “eat the grass near one’s own burrow.”

While Song Mingjiao was daydreaming, the memorials he used to provoke He Wen weren’t fake. To be precise, from the first day he arrived in this world, such talk had never ceased in his ears.

But Song Mingjiao never took them to heart. He had no intention of letting a bunch of old-fashioned ministers arrange his marriage.

Besides, why must one get married? To use an ancient term, must one be “wedded” to have an intimate relationship?

Song Mingjiao was not a “perfect host,” nor was he a “perfect person.” His eyes always held a touch of naive cruelty; he was merely acting out a role that understood human etiquette.

While Song Mingjiao was dazed, He Wen suddenly slammed down the memorials calling for a selection. His breathing quickened, and he said through gritted teeth:

“I believe none of them are worthy of Your Majesty.”

Song Mingjiao rested his head on his hand, hair falling beside his face. The candlelight flickered, casting a hazy beauty over his features.

His expression seemed a bit troubled, but his eyes were full of hidden laughter:

“Oh? These were meticulously selected by the ministers from the noble daughters of the capital. If their qualifications won’t do, where will the Prime Minister find a consort for me who is both dignified and gentle?”

He Wen could no longer hear the Emperor’s teasing. He acted with great solemnity, as if performing a deed that could lead to his execution. He lifted his robes and, with a thud, knelt beside Song Mingjiao.

Song Mingjiao covered his mouth, eyes smiling: “Why such a big commotion?”

He Wen didn’t dare look into Song Mingjiao’s eyes. He lowered his head and hands, as if making a final resolution, and said: “Your subject can.”

He Wen recalled how he had previously wondered what he would do if the Emperor forced or invited him to be a lover.

But now, he clearly knew that the Emperor would never invite him. On the contrary, everything required him to petition the high-and-mighty Son of Heaven.

“My official just said that the path between men is not the ‘proper path’.” Song Mingjiao’s voice sounded troubled.

“It is your subject who seduced Your Majesty. Whether it be the Heavens or the common people, if there is any objection, it is entirely my fault. I will never let it involve Your Majesty.” He Wen’s tone was dead serious.

“But why should I enter an intimate relationship with you? I don’t even like you, my dear official.”

The Emperor’s blunt words pierced He Wen’s heart like a needle.

“Your subject will satisfy Your Majesty. I will do… better than Shang Nanxuan. Your Majesty has invited me to play many times; I must have some way of pleasing Your Majesty or making you feel entertained.”

“Hmm, then I shall reluctantly give the Prime Minister a chance.”

Song Mingjiao smiled and reached out a hand, intending to pull He Wen up.

But He Wen was ecstatic, as if he had found a priceless treasure. The usually steady and self-controlled Prime Minister almost jumped off the floor. Then, he did something that left Song Mingjiao stunned.

He Wen pressed a light, cherished kiss onto the back of Song Mingjiao’s hand.

This was a gesture that did not belong to this era at all. In ancient society, there was only status and hierarchy; there were no romantic tropes or “free love.”

In He Wen’s memory, he had never seen this gesture. Yet for some reason, today, after receiving Song Mingjiao’s permission and the chance to open the Emperor’s heart, this was the first and only thought that appeared in his mind.

Not to accept the right to be pulled up like an ordinary subject, but to leave a kiss on the hand of his beloved.

And Song Mingjiao, who had been full of smiles, stiffened imperceptibly the moment he saw He Wen’s action.

In that instant, he seemed to see the shadow of someone else in this ancient-styled Prime Minister dressed in official robes.

After that day, He Wen thought he could enjoy “wind and moon” (romance) with Song Mingjiao, but he didn’t expect that Song Mingjiao only wanted to skip straight to the “wedding night.”

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