When the Puppet Emperor Becomes a Heartthrob - Chapter 6

Palace Drama Female Supporting Character: “…”

Xianxia Novel Male Supporting Character: “…”

House-fighting Novel Male Supporting Character: “…”

Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead: “…”

Civil Service Exam Novel Male Lead: “…”

The group chat realized that Xi Huai’s mental state was not right. Nobody paid any attention to his rambling. The Apocalyptic Novel Male Lead even slapped him with a ban, depriving him of his source of amusement.

How sad. Not only had he failed to find the assassin who tried to kill him, but just a few days after joining the group, he was no longer their little favorite.

Xi Huai felt listless. In the main hall, the loyal ministers were furious at his perceived incompetence. “We beg Your Majesty to make a decision. Regarding the disaster relief in the north, there are now countless victims. The famine is unbearable; disaster relief cannot be delayed any longer.”

Wen Yulin said sharply, “The Northern Territory was only just conquered. I fear that rebellious elements are lurking among the disaster victims. I worry that the people are not united, which could cultivate a major disaster. What is the meaning of your impatience?”

Xi Huai: “?”

Xi Huai was shocked. It was unbelievable. Overnight, Wen Yulin’s hair had grown back. As expected of you, you political scheming villain.

“You!” Wen Yulin’s words made the Emperor’s faction furious, but mindful that Wen Yulin was a woman, they swallowed their anger.

Qin Mingjing suddenly stepped forward and stated righteously, “There are no foreign enemies in the Northern Territory, only disaster victims. Since the North has already submitted, the victims are also subjects of the Great Qing.”

Xi Huai’s eyelids twitched. Seeing Qin Mingjing was like seeing the youth from his dream who was constantly practicing swordsmanship. His scalp could not help but go numb, as he was terrified the man would make him watch him practice with a sword again.

As the two factions stood in opposition with grim expressions, a perverse voice rang out. “Since we cannot decide on a method now, why not wait and discuss it another day?”

Xi Huai turned his gaze toward the young man who had spoken. It was Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan was exactly as he appeared in the dream: handsome and charming. He was wearing standard official robes, but they were worn loosely, and he always looked at him with a lecherous, flirtatious gaze.

Catching his eye, Xiao Yuan smiled meaningfully at him. “In this way, Your Majesty can save on expenses and decide on the disaster relief matters after the wine pool and meat forest are completed.”

He sounded almost as if he were trying to curry favor with him. Xi Huai felt goosebumps rise all over his body. All the people from his dream were gathered here; what kind of Shura Field was this?

He understood the gist of it and felt it was utterly absurd. The survival of the Great Qing was actually in the hands of these people. They did not care about the disaster at all and were competing for power without any regard for the lives of the victims. But so what? He was just a puppet little Emperor who could not even save himself, let alone the people of the Great Qing.

Suddenly, a light laugh broke out in the hall. Xi Huai finally woke up from the absurdity of the discussion.

The man in official robes saw everyone looking at him and toned down his smile. “I seem to have heard a joke. The Regent does not even understand the principle of the boat and the water.”

The man was only just reaching adulthood, but his features were delicate and his temperament was very elegant. He had a feminine grace that made him look somewhat frail. However, while his exterior was gentle and scholarly, his jade-like eyes were filled with indifference. When he looked at Xi Huai, however, his eyes held a smile again, and he spoke softly. “Your Majesty cares for the country and performs his duties. You are the Lord of the Great Qing, and I believe the disaster relief should be decided by Your Majesty alone.”

The implication was that everyone else had to listen to the Emperor.

He was the male lead from the original novel, Sheng Mingyue. He was the only son of the Sheng family, a former official of the previous dynasty. Because his entire clan had been wiped out by the late Emperor, he held a grudge against the imperial Xi family. To take revenge, he concealed his identity and became the Chief Councilor step by step. He was truly the leading figure of the revenge trope.

Sheng Mingyue certainly knew how to grasp the human heart. He flattered the Emperor, holding him up to the heavens. If it were the real little Emperor, he would probably be floating with arrogance by now. But Xi Huai knew Sheng Mingyue’s intentions perfectly well; he was merely trying to achieve his goal of disaster relief through this method.

Xi Huai did not mind at all. He knew that the little Emperor was a vacuous fool, and Sheng Mingyue’s strategy hit the nail on the head. He pretended to be very receptive and lifted his chin with smug satisfaction. “The Chief Councilor is right. I am the Emperor of the Great Qing. I care about the country and the people and govern with diligence. How could I bear to see the victims suffer?”

“Your Majesty!” Wen Yulin frowned and stood up. He glared at him with displeasure. “Your Majesty is still young and does not understand the depth of these waters. Do not easily trust the Chief Councilor’s words.”

“Shut up!” Xi Huai feigned impatience. He stood up and roared, “I work hard from dawn to dusk. I rise early and retire late to work for the sake of the Great Qing and its people. How could I not understand?”

“I understand very well!” As he spoke, he pretended to be mysterious and flicked his sleeves. An aura of pretension surged toward the ministers, making them tremble with fear. “I am the Lord of the Great Qing. One word from me can determine the fate of the world.”

“This matter will be handled by the Chief Councilor. General Qin will accompany him to provide disaster relief, save the people, and soothe their hearts. Work tirelessly day and night for me.”

Wen Yulin: “…”

Working hard from dawn to dusk, I rise early and retire late, tirelessly day and night. Hello? Who are you talking about?

Even the expressions of the ministers were twisted, and their eyes toward Xi Huai were indescribable.

“Your Majesty, the Chief Councilor is, after all, a high-ranking minister. How can he leave the capital to provide disaster relief so casually?”

“And so what? Sheng Mingyue has not said anything. What are you all shouting about?”

“Your Majesty!”

Xi Huai flicked his sleeves and left in displeasure, leaving behind one sentence before he departed. “In any case, I am the Emperor. What I say goes!”

But in reality, Xi Huai was dying of embarrassment inside. He felt so awkward that he could have clawed a hole in the palace floor, but this was the only way he could save the victims. In the original book, the little Emperor refused this relief effort to collect soldiers and taxes, which indirectly led to his death. He did not want to die yet, and he did not want to see the disaster, so he had to agree with Sheng Mingyue’s proposal. This would not only solve the disaster, but it would also send the male lead out of the palace, so he would not be killed by him in the short term. However, even after the court adjourned, his ears remained a shameful pink.

Only Eunuch De said, “Your Majesty is benevolent. You gave up your dreams for the sake of the disaster relief.”

Xi Huai: “?”

Was Eunuch De being sarcastic?

Eunuch De really only felt that although the Emperor’s actions were absurd before, he was now fair, accepted the advice of loyal subjects, and was afraid that Empress Dowager Wen would make things difficult for him.

Wen Yulin did not make things difficult for him. He simply sent a young eunuch to summon Xi Huai. Xi Huai quickly calmed down and arrived at the Cining Palace with a heavy burden on his shoulders.

“Mother Empress, that is too much!” He struck first, pointing at the locust tree to scold the mulberry. “How could you defy my authority and force me to agree to the Chief Councilor’s request?”

Wen Yulin scrutinized him. Seeing his angry expression, he did not look like he was lying, so he sipped his tea and said, “I thought you were not planning to recruit soldiers and increase taxes.”

Xi Huai said with regret, “Why would I want to give up the wine pool and meat forest? If the Chief Councilor had not been so eloquent and made me dizzy for a moment, I would never have agreed!”

“It seems I have wronged you, then.”

“I am glad you understand, Mother Empress. I will not hold it against you, but regarding the imperial selection, please put it on the schedule for next year.”

Xi Huai pretended to be blinded by lust and muttered, “Since I no longer have the wine pool and meat forest, I must make up for it elsewhere.”

Wen Yulin: “…”

Wen Yulin had never liked stupid things. Who would have known that he dreamed of the little Emperor last night and recognized his inner aspirations? Regardless of who it was, even the members of the Wen clan had never looked at his true value—only the little Emperor had. Only the little Emperor in the dream had recognized him, and now, even the little Emperor before him looked much more pleasing to the eye. Wen Yulin did not even want to argue with his stupidity and sneered, “You rejected me before, Your Majesty, and now you want me to put it on the schedule?”

The youth choked. He looked angry but did not know how to refute. His jade-like face was dyed with a brilliant crimson from his annoyance. He pulled on his wide sleeves unwillingly and pleaded, “Mother Empress, please help me.”

It was like a coquettish civet cat stretching out its claws to scratch at his heart, making it itch. Wen Yulin felt a surge of affection and wanted to stroke the youth’s head, but when he saw the boy’s puzzled expression, he woke up as if from a dream, and a sense of absurdity washed over him.

He waved his hand wearily. “Enough, I agree. Your Majesty may leave.”

The youth seemed to feel he had been toyed with and left the Cining Palace with a grim face. Only when the youth’s figure was completely out of sight did Wen Yulin look at his own sleeves. His expression was complex; he took off his outer robe and threw it into the brazier. “Absurd!”

Xi Huai knew nothing about this, thinking that Wen Yulin was indeed just testing him. He had only just begun to show his talent and was terrified of causing suspicion. Everyone in this palace was unfathomable and not easy to fool. Xi Huai broke out in a cold sweat, as if trapped in a quagmire, sinking deeper the more he struggled. He boarded the dragon carriage, intending to return home, but was intercepted.

“Ah Huai.”

Xiao Yuan appeared before him with a beaming smile and intimately called his name. Xi Huai’s body trembled, and a memory that did not belong to him surfaced. The young little Emperor had raised his neck and said condescendingly to the Regent, “I do not permit you to call me Highness; I permit you to call me by my childhood name, Ah Huai.”

No wonder he dared to call him that; it turned out that the young little Emperor had permitted it.

Xi Huai’s lips twitched, and he turned around calmly to look at Xiao Yuan. At this moment, Xiao Yuan had not taken off his official robes, and his hair was loose, looking quite untidy. He was indeed careless. Seeing his displeasure, he changed his tone. “Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yuan’s eyebrows rose, and the heat in his eyes as he looked at him was undisguised. He did not fear showing a look like a hungry beast, wanting to swallow him whole. Being looked at with such an explicit gaze made Xi Huai’s hair stand on end. Alarm bells rang in his heart. “What is it?”

Xiao Yuan looked at him, his cheeks inexplicably stained with a faint blush. “Your Majesty, why must you belittle yourself?”

Xi Huai: “?”

“It is only disaster relief. Why did Your Majesty give up building the wine pool and meat forest? It pains me to see it.”

Is he joking? Why is he more like a foolish ruler than the little Emperor?

Xi Huai was stunned, but before he could react, Xiao Yuan had already leaned in and said, “Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the wine pool and meat forest, I am willing to share your worries.”

The distance between the two was too close, and his body stiffened. Remembering that the little Emperor should not be timid, he pretended to be interested. “Tell me, how will you share my worries?”

Xiao Yuan laughed lowly, his eyes burning as he stared at him. “That would naturally be…”

He paused, then Xiao Yuan leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “Offering myself to warm your bed.”

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