Lou Guan Xue’s hands were indeed beautiful, befitting his noble status. He had been pampered since childhood, fair and slender, with distinct joints.
Yan Lan Yu sat on the wind couch, her voice as delicate as smoke, going through the formalities of “remembering the ancestors” and then talking about her “well-intentioned efforts,” before finally mentioning “continuing the family line.”
Anyway, the implication was clear: he was supposed to have sexual relations with his concubines to ensure the continuation of the Lou family’s bloodline.
Xia Qing let her words go in one ear and out the other, confirming there was no important information before leaving the Jing Xin Hall.
The Jing Xin Hall was secluded, located next to the Imperial Garden. Before Xia Qing could even admire the pavilions, terraces, and flowing water, he was interrupted by a girl’s exclamation.
“Raise it higher, yes, even higher!”
The voice was crisp and melodious, like a warbler’s song, carried by the breeze and bamboo, leaving Xia Qing momentarily stunned.
He turned to Zhang Shan and asked, “Is someone flying a kite?”
Zhang Shan smiled obsequiously, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
What on earth? Flying kites in this weather?
Xia Qing thought it was pretty cool. He was just about to look up to see how she managed it when suddenly something landed in front of him with a thud, accompanied by a girl’s startled exclamation.
“Ah, Your Majesty…”
Those three words were soft to the bone, as if they could drip water, on the verge of saying something but holding back.
Following the sound, Xia Qing looked over and saw a shy noble girl in a sky-blue dress at the end of the forest path, her teeth gently biting her lip as she shyly glanced at him.
After pretending for a while and confirming with Lou Guan Xue that no one cared about him breaking character, Xia Qing had let go of pretense altogether and couldn’t be bothered to maintain his poker face.
“Is that your kite?” Xia Qing asked.
The girl in the sky-blue dress blushed, “Um.”
Xia Qing replied, “Oh, then you can take it back.”
Zhang Shan, shocked and trembling, stole a glance at him.
The girl in the sky-blue dress blushed even more, her voice soft and timid, “Apologies for disturbing Your Majesty.”
Xia Qing said, “It’s nothing.”
Zhang Shan stole another terrified glance at him.
The girl in the sky-blue dress gracefully walked over with delicate steps, picked up the kite with a graceful bend, and finally, escorted by her maid, disappeared at the end of the forest path. Suddenly, she turned back, giving a faint smile. Her red lips curved, painting a picture of beauty.
Xia Qing: “?”
Xia Qing tilted his head, “Did she just smile at me?” He couldn’t be bothered to use the royal “I”.
Luckily, no one dared to question Lou Guan Xue. Zhang Shan thought the noble girl might have feelings for him and said with a fawning smile, “Yes, she smiled at you. This young lady admires Your Majesty.”
Xia Qing: “???”
Xia Qing’s expression cracked.
“Brothers, she smiled at me. Does that mean she likes me?” Who would have thought that such a phrase, which he used to joke around with straight guys in the past, would become real at this moment.
Xia Qing looked at the nearby armed guard. The guard, with a thick beard and a burly body, was at a loss when he noticed Xia Qing’s gaze. If it were anyone else, they would have already kneeled down, but unfortunately, this was a newcomer who was a bit slow, fumbling around for a while before awkwardly flashing Xia Qing a stiff, simple smile.
Xia Qing chuckled, lifting his chin. “He even smiled at me.”
Zhang Shan: “Um…”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Wlj Hlcu delqqfv, “Pr atja jirb jvwlglcu wf?”
Itjcu Vtjc klqfv tlr rkfja klat tlr riffnf. Ciatbeut tf vlvc’a ecvfgrajcv kts Llr Zjpfras kjr rb vloolmeia ab rfgnf abvjs, ktfc kjrc’a Llr Zjpfras vloolmeia ab rfgnf?
Wlj Hlcu mbcmievfv mbbiis, “Llr rwlif kjr wemt wbgf ufcelcf atjc atja ulgi’r pera cbk.”
The girl’s smile just now was too fake, so fake that even a straight guy like him could tell it was forced.
“Um, does Your M…Majesty mean…” Zhang Shan stood dumbfounded in place, looking at the guard, then back at Xia Qing, seemingly engulfed in existential doubt.
Feeling a bit tired, Xia Qing decided to head back to the bedroom for some more sleep. “Figure it out yourself. Don’t bother me for the next few days.”
Zhang Shan remained frozen in place, his face expressing disbelief, but he pondered, as if it might actually be the case.
Xia Qing was awakened early by Lou Guan Xue for work, and now he just wanted to go back to sleep.
Upon arriving at the bedroom, Lou Guan Xue was already awake, his soul sitting at the desk.
Xia Qing rushed in and quickly exclaimed, “Let me tell you, there are actually people flying kites in the Imperial Garden, and I happened to run into them.”
Lou Guan Xue, with a pale face and a hint of bloodthirsty aura in his eyes, glanced at him upon hearing this.
Xia Qing: “Why aren’t you surprised at all?”
Lou Guan Xue calmly replied, “The kites are meant for me to see. Why should I be surprised?”
Xia Qing: “???”
Lou Guan Xue didn’t explain further. As he leaned closer, he pointed his finger at the body’s brow and took control of his body.
After experiencing this several times, Xia Qing had become accustomed to the sensation of detachment. He gave Lou Guan Xue a puzzled look but didn’t ask further questions. He simply lay down and prepared to sleep.
Three days of rest passed in the blink of an eye.
On the first day Lou Guan Xue attended court, Xia Qing woke up early and insisted on following him to the Jin Luan Hall.
He wanted to see what it was like for ancient emperors to attend court, and Lou Guan Xue certainly surprised him.
As the courtiers spoke below, he listened from above, appearing lazy and unconcerned. When the topic of “a criminal from the Liang Kingdom in the Ministry of Justice” and “the son of the Regent” came up regarding punishment, Lou Guan Xue simply said, “Oh, just kill them.”
Hearing this, Xia Qing almost spat out when he heard this. So, in Lou Guan Xue’s eyes, even the Regent could be offended?! He was truly fearless and domineering.
However, he had no understanding of political matters and could only be a pure spectator.
The courtiers looked at each other, none daring to speak. The Regent’s complexion was pale, which looked quite pleasing. Finally, he spoke a few words, saying that it was just a mischievous child’s behavior, and the matter could be of great or little significance, urging the emperor to be discerning.
Lou Guan Xue smiled, his red lips curling up, clearly indicating that the emperor was not someone who paid attention to every detail.
Nevertheless, he still gave face by inquiring about the mermaid courtesan.
“To provoke disciples of two prestigious families to fight each other, I am quite curious about this extraordinary beauty.”
The focus of this court session was primarily on the selection of a consort.
With the emperor’s casual approval, the courtiers were overjoyed.
Soon after, Xia Qing also quickly learned what “crazy bees and fluttering butterflies” meant.
The blood of the Lou family was noble and supreme in the Chu Kingdom.
Since the establishment of the pagoda, this bloodline ceased to be merely a symbol of power; it also represented the favor of the gods.
He also finally understood what “the kite was flown for him to see” meant.
With the Queen Mother’s approval, paper kites filled the Imperial Garden every day. There were also candied haws. He encountered countless naive girls holding candied haws, sticking out their delicate tongues to lick them, which made him frightened for days, afraid to venture outside.
“These people must be insane,” he asked Lou Guan Xue in confusion, “What do candied haws and kites mean?”
Lou Guan Xue, whose condition worsened day by day but still maintained a cold demeanor, replied, “They don’t mean anything. Someone once indirectly asked me what I liked to eat, and I said candied haws.”
“As for kites,” he chuckled meaningfully, “Well, I do enjoy flying kites.”
Xia Qing: “…” Why doesn’t he believe that?
To avoid these people, Xia Qing had to spend a lot of time in the study.
Except for palace maids and eunuchs, no one else was allowed near here.
The study was illuminated by bright candlelight, and the scent of sandalwood made one drowsy. Xia Qing rarely tidied up his messy hair and revealed his face. Although the body in his soul state wasn’t his modern body, it looked exactly the same. If it weren’t for the fact that he appeared younger, he would have thought the system had dressed him in ancient attire.
He lowered his head, his dark hair falling to the side of his face. Xia Qing’s skin was the kind of white that glowed with fluorescence, and even though his ghostly form was hazy and indistinct, one could still see his eyebrows and eyes, their colors like the dawn of spring. However, his gaze was too clear and pure, lacking the extravagance and allure that his appearance suggested. He asked casually, “Haven’t you been feeling well these past few days? It seems your complexion is getting worse.”
Lou Guan Xue faintly responded with a “Hmm.”
Xia Qing’s light brown pupils widened slightly. “Why? Is the aftermath of the Zhai Xing Tower affecting you so much? I didn’t feel anything when I entered your body.”
Lou Guan Xue replied, “It’s not the Zhai Xing Tower.”
Xia Qing asked, “Then what is it?”
Lou Guan Xue looked at him calmly. “It’s the blood in my body, or rather, the curse on my soul.”
Xia Qing exclaimed, “Huh?”
Before he could get a response from Lou Guan Xue, the young eunuch guarding outside came in with tea.
The eunuch was none other than Wen Jiao, with a hint of red on his forehead, and his hands and neck were unusually pale, trembling like a little rabbit.
Seeing the protagonist’s troubles, Xia Qing remained silent. Although Lou Guan Xue currently showed disdain for the protagonist, who knew how the plot would develop? Love, if it’s not inexplicable, is it still love?
Of course, he didn’t deny that the he harbored malicious intent. Although he didn’t want to witness a love triangle, he wanted to see Lou Guan Xue get his comeuppance!
“Your, Your Majesty…”
Wen Jiao’s familiar soft voice echoed.
Lou Guan Xue, perhaps troubled by illness, looked up, his brows and eyes as cold as frost.
Wen Jiao had been instructed by Bai He.
But he had never seduced anyone before, clumsy and awkward, he stuttered and couldn’t speak under such scrutiny. He set the tea down, lowered his gaze, and then took the initiative to grind ink nearby. In Lou Guan Xue’s visible range, he deliberately exposed his fair wrist and delicate waist. His slender neck looked fragile, igniting sadistic desires in others.
Xia Qing drifted away, perching on the beam silently munching on melon seeds, enjoying the show.
Lou Guan Xue propped his chin on his hand and looked at his book, his eyelashes drooping, his expression cold and indifferent.
Wen Jiao’s hands were sore from grinding, his nose slightly red, feeling wronged. However, unwilling to give up, the last time Lou Guan Xue spared him in the bathhouse gave him some hope and courage. Spoiled since childhood, he decided to take a bold step. Pretending to stumble due to weak legs, he let out a soft gasp and prepared to fall forward.
“?”
Xia Qing silently munched on melon seeds. Based on his experience dealing with those “crazy bees and fluttering butterflies” over the past few days, the protagonist being seduced like this was… not quite right. It was simply suicidal.
As expected, the protagonist didn’t manage to fall down completely; he ended up half-kneeling on the ground.
The flute that had been hidden in Lou Guan Xue’s sleeve extended out, pressing directly against the vulnerable spot of his throat, preventing him from falling forward.
Xia Qing: “…” This situation felt oddly familiar.
Lou Guan Xue lowered his gaze, devoid of any smile, calmly asking, “Do you know that today, at the morning court, I just executed a Liang general?”
The killing intent flooded in densely like tidal waves.
Wen Jiao’s face turned stark white, his breathing trembling, fear of death suddenly occupying his mind, his pupils contracting.
Lou Guan Xue, however, just watched him quietly.
Wen Jiao’s teeth chattered.
His throat felt parched, his mind blank, as if the bone flute could pierce through his flesh and blood.
In moments of imminent death, instinct took over.
Wen Jiao’s pupils dilated.
“Yo-Your, Your Majesty…” Wen Jiao’s eyes reddened, and as he lifted his head, the candlelight in the room flickered.
A faint breeze slipped through the crack in the door, carrying a strange fragrance, cold and eerie yet bewitching, clouding the mind.
Xia Qing sat on the beam, observing everything clearly.
A hint of azure light shimmered in Wen Jiao’s iris, like tears suspended within, harboring centuries-old tenderness and charm.
This… is it the enchantment of the Pure Merfolk?
Even though Xia Qing was usually composed and undisturbed, he couldn’t help but admit that at this moment, Wen Jiao seemed to exude a demonic allure that could overturn the world and captivate souls.
Lou Guan Xue remained silent, his eyes shaded by his lashes, making it difficult to discern his thoughts.
After a long while, Lou Guan Xue let out a faint, almost imperceptible laugh.
Perhaps this was the most ironic and coldest laughter Xia Qing had ever heard from him, tinged with a hint of amusement.
Lou Guan Xue calmly remarked, “Since when did illusion eyes become a method for mermen to seduce men??”
His slender, pale hand held the flute, inching upward, pressing against the meridians, as if intending to cleave Wen Jiao’s throat open.
“I’ve heard that the royal family of Liang was buried alive by the late emperor.”
Lou Guan Xue leaned forward slightly, his black hair flowing like water beneath the jade crown. His tone was calm as he spoke, and the smile in his pitch-black eyes was as thin as ice. He gently chuckled and asked, “So, do your late father and mother, beneath the nine springs, know that you act like a prostitute in front of your enemy’s son?”
The brain seemed to explode.
Wen Jiao was so frightened that he burst into tears immediately.
He knelt on the ground, unable to stop kowtowing.
Xia Qing: “…”
Xia Qing almost couldn’t take out the melon seeds! Damn it, damn it, damn it! Lou Guan Xue, are you that wild?! Just because of that sentence, you’ll have an 80% chance of chasing after your wife’s funeral pyre later!!!
“Get out.” Lou Guan Xue put away the flute, lowered his gaze, his pupils dark and unfathomable like the deep sea.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Wen Jiao was already crying so hard that he could hardly catch his breath. After crawling for a while, he finally got up unsteadily and then stumbled away.
Xia Qing’s hand dropped the melon seeds, and he turned his head to meet the cold gaze of Lou Guan Xue, like a cold pond.
Um.
For a few seconds, Xia Qing’s brain also went blank, thinking about what to say. However, in a moment of nervousness, his thoughts came out before his rationality, with a complex tone, and he blurted out.
“Wild fairy.”
LMFAO not his brain fart
Pls xia qing you’re gonna get yourself punished in a nasty (maybe pleasurable) way sooner or later- 😩🖐️
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙