When the Puppet Emperor Becomes a Heartthrob - Chapter 3

Although Eunuch De had lived in the palace for a long time, the late Emperor had forbidden eunuchs from interfering in state affairs. Consequently, he was not well-versed in politics and only knew that Xi Huai’s reputation had been slandered. He had no idea what severe consequences Xi Huai’s imperial selection would bring.

Xi Huai did not intend to explain the current situation to Eunuch De. He simply applied the Baldness Warning on Wen Yulin, hoping that while Wen Yulin maintained his cool, villainous demeanor, he would also experience the sinister side of human nature.

A few days later, a strange piece of news unexpectedly spread throughout the imperial palace. Rumor had it that Empress Dowager Wen had been working too hard; though she had not yet reached menopause, she was already balding. Even the Imperial Hospital could not treat her hair loss, which infuriated her to the point that she had the imperial physicians dragged out to be sacrificed to the heavens.

Now, everyone knew that Empress Dowager Wen was extremely protective of her hair. This hair loss caused her great emotional distress, leaving her depressed all day and momentarily losing the desire to rule from behind the curtain.

The country could not go a day without a ruler. It was fine that the young Emperor had been ignoring affairs previously, as there was at least the Empress Dowager to hold things down. Now that even she was ailing, the officials could not help but be anxious. Preventing hair loss was a matter of urgent priority. The most pressing task was to treat the Empress Dowager’s hair loss. Only when her hair was treated would she regain her spirits and assist the young Emperor!

While the officials were fretting over the Empress Dowager’s hair, Xi Huai remained idle in his sleeping quarters, slicing fruits, chipping ice, and making fruit slushes. Seeing that the group chat was bustling with activity, Xi Huai thoughtfully shared his fruit slushes with the male supporting character from the Xianxia novel and the female supporting character from the Palace Drama novel.

Xianxia Novel Male Supporting Character: “Thanks, brother. May we share in each other’s future success.”

Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead: “Wait, were we forgotten?”

Palace Drama Female Supporting Character: “Want some? Call me big sister first and let me hear it.”

House-fighting Novel Male Supporting Character: “Palace Drama Female Supporting Character, do not go too far.”

The house-fighting character fumed in silence. Xi Huai suppressed his laughter and sent the prepared fruit slushes to them via red envelopes. “Do not be angry. I had already prepared them for you. I vented some of my frustrations today and need to celebrate properly.”

The Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead became interested. “Did something happen?”

Xi Huai could not help but gloat. “Did I not say before that I am playing the script of a cannon fodder little emperor? This emperor is just a puppet, and the real power lies with the Empress Dowager and the Regent. A few days ago, the Empress Dowager wanted me to fill the harem and insert her spies. I could not refuse and was really angry, so I used the Baldness Warning skill gifted by the Palace Drama female supporting character. The Empress Dowager suffered a bout of baldness, and she has been so emotionally distressed these past few days that she has no time to cause trouble for me.”

The Palace Drama female supporting character greatly appreciated his decisiveness. “As expected of our Palace Group.”

Xi Huai scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Thanks, I will keep working hard.”

Palace Drama Female Supporting Character: “Have you made any new discoveries lately?”

Xi Huai: “I found that the little Emperor’s Noble Consort has some issues.”

Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead: “What kind of issues?”

“The Noble Consort was forcibly abducted into the harem by the little Emperor. Logically speaking, she should despise him, but her attitude toward him is very strange.”

Palace Drama Female Supporting Character: “How strange?”

“She pretends to like me and is even willing to let me recruit more harem members.”

Xianxia Novel Male Supporting Character: “You kid, are you here to show off?”

Xi Huai replied helplessly, “No, I am trying to guess the Noble Consort’s intentions.”

House-fighting Novel Male Supporting Character: “Absurd. You do not even know the Noble Consort’s intentions?”

Xi Huai was embarrassed. “I have not had the chance to finish reading the original novel yet.”

Palace Drama Female Supporting Character: “I remember you saying that the male lead would steal your wife, and the Noble Consort is your wife. Does that mean the Noble Consort is the female lead?”

That was exactly what he wanted to say! Li Wan was indeed the female lead of the original story. She must have been playing along, pretending to like the foolish little Emperor just to survive. After all, besides having an attractive appearance, the little Emperor seemed to have no other merits.

Being cuckolded was quite miserable. Even the Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead felt he was truly pitiful. Seeing that he was a newcomer to the group, he sent him a red envelope.

Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead: “The cannon fodder of a political novel is truly miserable. I have a feeling you will have bad luck, so take this red envelope.”

House-fighting Novel Male Supporting Character: “Is it not possible that the Noble Consort was forcibly taken by the little Emperor and, as a result, could not help but fall in love with him?”

Palace Drama Female Supporting Character: “The House-fighting character must have read too much CEO literature. I suggest you listen to more of Teacher Luo’s legal lectures.”

Xianxia Novel Male Supporting Character: “Forced acquisition often leads to Stockholm Syndrome. Please note that such behavior is unacceptable.”

House-fighting Novel Male Supporting Character: “I did not offend any of you.”

Xi Huai found their reasoning sound, but he knew clearly that Li Wan did not suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. This meant that Li Wan was not as simple as she appeared, a fact he had confirmed. Xi Huai thought to himself that this was too difficult. He was surrounded by top-tier players and experts. For survival, he clicked on the red envelope from the Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead. Inside was an invisibility armor, similar to a Level 3 vest that provided defense. He decided to put it on immediately.

Before he had even finished thanking the male lead in the chat for his generosity, a faint noise of commotion arose outside the door.

“General Qin! You cannot enter! His Majesty has not yet woken up.”

“Please, Eunuch De, announce my arrival. Qin Mingjing requests an audience.”

Xi Huai’s heart skipped a beat. Qin Mingjing had arrived. He was all too familiar with this name; was this not the person who had bitterly denounced the little Emperor in the memorials? In the original novel, Qin Mingjing was the eldest grandson of the founding General Qin. In his childhood, he had been a study companion to the little Emperor. Because he was fortunate enough to be saved by the Emperor once, they had made a pact of being a wise ruler and a loyal subject. To protect the Emperor, he abandoned his literary path for a military one, climbing from a mere soldier to the rank of General. He had endured countless hardships, paying a thousand-fold price, just to fulfill that childhood wish.

Unfortunately, the little Emperor had treated it as mere childish prattle and had not taken it to heart, continuing down the path of a foolish ruler. And now, Qin Mingjing had returned in glory!

Xi Huai: “…”

Xi Huai was doomed! He was playing the foolish little Emperor. Qin Mingjing must be coming to discipline him for betraying their initial promise. He was the least adept at dealing with upright, serious people. It reminded him of the fear of being dominated by his teachers in the past, and he wished he could burrow into a hole like a gopher. But Qin Mingjing had already walked in.

“Your Majesty, why have you not attended the morning court for several days? Although the Empress Dowager is ailing, you are still present. You are the Emperor of the Great Qing. Do you intend to shrink away and let the Regent manipulate the court?” the imposing young man asked, his voice steady and severe.

His voice was like the clashing of gold and jade, round and resonant. He did not possess the ruggedness of a typical warrior; his skin was fair, as if he were born incapable of tanning. His appearance was delicate but not effeminate. Although he wore standard official robes, his posture was straight, highlighting his heroic spirit. He looked at Xi Huai with righteousness, his eyes filled with disappointment.

No, brother, is it that I can attend the morning court whenever I want? I am confined to the sleeping quarters; I can only go if the Empress Dowager permits it!

Before he could speak, Eunuch De was already kneeling on the floor, pale with fear. “Your Majesty, this servant was unable to stop General Qin.”

Xi Huai could not help but act, feigning anger as he roared, “Get out and accept your punishment! If you cannot even stop a single person, what use do I have for you?”

Eunuch De left, his face deathly pale, still shaken. Only Qin Mingjing remained, frowning slightly.

“Does Your Majesty know that the northern villages have suffered a drought and the early rice harvest is nonexistent? Yet Your Majesty is busy building luxurious grounds and wasting resources.”

While Qin Mingjing was droning on, Xi Huai shoved his fruit slush into his mouth, cutting off his long speech. “How does it taste?”

Holding the spoon, Qin Mingjing subconsciously replied, “Not bad.”

Qin Mingjing soon regained his senses. Xi Huai had bestowed the fruit slush upon him. “General Qin, you have made great contributions in pacifying the North, and this slush is your reward. However, without my permission, you are not allowed to barge into the Yangxin Palace again. You must understand.”

Xi Huai paused and stood with his back to him, his tone filled with an air of authority. Solemnly, he declared, “I am the master of this palace.”

No matter how foolish or incompetent he was, he was still the Emperor of the Great Qing, and a subject was merely a subject. There is a distinction between a ruler and a subject. The dignity he inadvertently projected stunned Qin Mingjing. It took a long while for him to look at the young man before him, as if re-evaluating him. He knelt down sincerely, “This subject has overstepped his bounds and transgressed the duties of a loyal subject. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”

“I do not want to.” Xi Huai tossed the spoon, which was covered in Qin Mingjing’s saliva, away with disgust. He lounged on the grand chair, lazily peeling a lychee with his fingers. “If I punish you just because you asked me to, would I not be losing face?”

Even so, who would dare to punish Qin Mingjing? He was a member of the Emperor’s faction and had always helped the little Emperor. Xi Huai naturally did not want to lose Qin Mingjing. As long as he existed, the male lead would have some reservations when attempting to usurp the throne.

Qin Mingjing did not know the turmoil in Xi Huai’s heart; he only knew that the consistently foolish little Emperor seemed to have changed. He could not say exactly what had changed, only that the delicate-faced youth before him had fingers that were unusually long and beautiful. The youth was simply peeling a lychee, and the juice flowed down his plump, rounded fingertips to his delicate wrists. Qin Mingjing’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his eyelashes, concealing the dark, indecipherable light in his eyes.

His entire body was burning hot, and his heart pounded like a deer. He could not control his gaze, which was fixed on those jade-like fingers. Just as he wanted to divert his attention and bring up state affairs, an arrow suddenly whizzed through the air. In an instant, following the sound of the arrow, Eunuch De’s panicked voice came from outside: “Protect the Emperor! There is an assassin who intends to harm His Majesty!”

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