The admired “Ling Guang Pearl and Jade“, truly embodies heavenly grace, flawless beauty.
As if a thunderbolt struck from the sky, with a deafening roar, leaving the mind blank.
Thump, thump, thump, Wen Jiao could hear his heart pounding violently, his hand holding the tray involuntarily exerting pressure, leaving white marks. Each step felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, he lowered his head, breathing rapidly, his throat hoarse.
The confidence in his beauty, nurtured by countless favors, shattered in this moment.
He even began to feel anxious, with a hint of fear.
Could he really seduce Luo Guan Xue…
When Xia Qing saw someone approaching, he obediently fell silent, sitting on the pear tree quietly observing the young eunuch. Observing people had become a habit, with no precise understanding of appearances, worldly features were as fleeting as delusions. His clear gaze fell on Wen Jiao, the first thing he noticed was the red mole at the center of his brow, causing even the hand holding the pear tree to pause slightly.
That mole… is truly weird.
Actually, this young eunuch could be considered good-looking, with tender skin and cute lips. That mole, placed on his snowy-white face, added a touch of charm.
But Xia Qing just felt that this red spot was very peculiar, causing him to furrow his brows.
As Wen Jiao walked, he suddenly felt someone looking at the center of his brow, he raised his head in panic, but only saw a thriving pear tree.
The petals fluttered in the wind, and the gaze was quiet and gentle. It was as if only a tranquil breeze passed over the mountains and rivers, free from any disturbances or thoughts.
Was it an illusion?
Wen Jiao was taken aback for a moment, but quickly turned his attention back to the young emperor in front of him, whom he was supposed to serve.
Luo Guan Xue sensed someone approaching but remained silent.
Wen Jiao’s fingers trembled nervously as he could sense that His Majesty’s mood was not too bad at the moment, his gaze falling on the wine cup in the tray. The feeling of grievance momentarily overcame his fear. He used to be a pampered little prince, so why should he have to degrade himself to serve others? This body was left to him by his mother, not meant for him to suffer.
“Your Majesty…” Wen Jiao spoke with a trembling voice.
The gentle breeze carried the soft and slightly sweet tone of the young boy’s voice into their ears.
Lou Guan Xue lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent.
Outside the pear blossom grove, as soon as Wen Jiao spoke, a group of court ladies and guards froze in shock.
Especially Bai He, the head lady-in-waiting. She wore a blue palace gown, her aging face lightly made-up, but now her expression was stiff, her eyes suddenly wide with alarm.
Those who had served this new emperor knew that during bathing, His Majesty most disliked people approaching him.
Every time they brought wine or water, they wished they could become invisible, not daring to walk too heavily or breathe too loudly, fearing that one misstep would lead to their heads rolling.
The only person who seemed at ease was Xia Qing. He was inwardly critical of Lou Guan Xue, thinking that he needed so many attendants just for a bath—truly a privilege of royalty.
Wen Jiao’s legs were weak, and the heat from the hot spring made his eyes red. He sniffled and spoke with a trembling voice.
“Your Majesty, I… I am here to serve you.” His wrists were thin, and he half-squatted by the edge of the bath, shaking as he poured wine from a jug into a golden cup.
Lou Guan Xue casually turned his head, his gaze dark and indifferent beneath lashes like raven feathers, watching Wen Jiao’s shaky hands as he poured the wine.
Outside, Bai He was so frightened that she was on the verge of fainting.
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.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself to walk inside, worried that this careless fool would get them all killed.
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Lou Guan Xue’s gaze lingered briefly on the red mole between Wen Jiao’s eyebrows, but he quickly lost interest. He reached out from the bath, his fingers slightly wet, to take the cup of wine.
Wen Jiao’s heart was in his throat, too anxious to even feel scared. He tried to play it off with a somewhat awkward smile, but he wasn’t used to serving others. When he felt Lou Guan Xue’s touch, he got so nervous and distracted that he accidentally dropped the cup.
Thunk.
The edge of the bath was made of white jade, and the sound of the cup hitting the ground was crisp. The murky yellow wine spilled across the floor.
It was like a string snapping in his mind.
Wen Jiao’s brain exploded with panic, his blood ran cold.
Bai He entered just in time to see this scene. The surge of anger made her forget her manners. Before the emperor could react, she quickly stepped forward, grabbed Wen Jiao by the collar, and slapped him hard, leaving a crimson-stained finger mark on his face.
“Who taught you to serve the emperor like this?!” Her eyes were blazing with fury.
The slap was loud and intense.
Wen Jiao was stunned by the blow.
Since his country was destroyed, and after being seized by the old emperor and forced into the Chu palace, he had been spared from major suffering, thanks to Fu Chang Sheng’s secret protection. Now, with his spoiled nature kicking in, his eyes turned as red as a rabbit’s, and he felt like crying.
“I… I…”
“Cry? How dare you cry?!”
Bai He, her chest heaving with rage, grabbed Wen Jiao’s hair and pressed his head to the ground.
Wen Jiao cried out and fell to his knees in disgrace, tears streaming down his face.
Bai He, now also on her knees, bowed her head to the white jade steps and shivered, saying, “Please spare my life, Your Majesty! This young eunuch somehow got in! He deserves death for startling you! Please spare my life, Your Majesty! I will take him away for punishment!”
Xia Qing was truly shocked by how easily the people in the Chu palace panicked over the slightest thing.
—Lou Guan Xue, just how bad is your reputation?
Lou Guan Xue’s gaze lightly swept over the two kneeling on the ground, and after a long pause, he chuckled lightly and said, “Hmm, it’s nothing, I won’t kill you.”
Bai He felt a mix of anger and fear burning in her mind, and upon hearing these words, her body froze.
Wait a minute.
What did His Majesty say?
I won’t kill you?
Bai He trembled as she raised her head, her forehead already bleeding from her bowing.
Wen Jiao, beside her, was sobbing uncontrollably.
Lou Guan Xue leaned back lazily, tapping the ground with his fingers, and said, “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.”
Xia Qing: “…”
It was quite amusing to hear Lou Guan Xue say something so gentle and considerate.
Bai He’s eyes were still red with fear, but upon hearing these words, her disbelief quickly turned into overwhelming joy. Tears of relief streamed down her cheeks as she repeatedly bowed her head, her forehead hitting the floor with loud thuds.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing us! Thank you for your mercy! I’ll take this blind fool away immediately!”
She hurriedly wiped her eyes and grabbed Wen Jiao’s wrist, her hair disheveled from bowing, concealing her intense anger and hatred.
—If it weren’t for this fool! She wouldn’t have been so humiliated!
Wen Jiao was completely terrified.
His pale face was full of confusion, and his hands and feet felt like they didn’t belong to him.
Lou Guan Xue suddenly spoke: “Raise your head.”
Bai He was stunned.
Wen Jiao was also stunned.
However, no one dared to ignore the emperor’s command. Wen Jiao timidly lifted his head, revealing his tear-stained face and a red, runny nose.
Lou Guan Xue curled his lips into a smile: “What’s your name?”
Wen Jiao’s fingers tightened around his sleeves, sniffling as he forced a smile. “My… my name is Wen Jiao.”
Xia Qing, who was watching, thought Lou Guan Xue was a man of his word, earning some good karma. But upon hearing that name, he nearly fell off the tree, his pupils constricting as he quickly turned his gaze toward Wen Jiao.
Lou Guan Xue’s smile deepened as he repeated the name with a subtle tone: “Wen Jiao, is it?”
Wen Jiao felt awkward and uneasy.
Bai He was also fearful and uncertain, knowing that this young emperor was notoriously unpredictable and capricious.
Fortunately, Lou Guan Xue didn’t trouble them further, turning his head away and closing his eyes. “You may go.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty,” Bai He said as she withdrew.
Bai He, relieved to be alive, bowed respectfully, but when she looked at Wen Jiao, her previous anger had turned into suspicion and doubt. Her grip on his arm was noticeably gentler.
Wen Jiao’s body remained stiff, his handsome face blank and vacant, showing no signs of coming back to his senses.
He looked pitiful and naive.
Xia Qing had floated down from the pear tree and approached Wen Jiao slowly, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, observing with curiosity and puzzlement at this protagonist described by the system as “heartless and foolishly sweet.”
Although he had once commented, “All the characters in this book are villains”, in this era, everyone had their own way of living.
So he harbored no animosity towards Lou Guan Xue or Wen Jiao.
He was just an outsider, purely curious about the “people he knew.”
Wow, so this is the protagonist being bullied?
Wen Jiao’s face was swollen from the slap, hot and red, as he was led away by Bai He, his thoughts still unclear. As he passed by a pear tree, that quiet, watery gaze returned, as if the wind was soothing his wounds.
A petal from a pear blossom brushed his eyelashes, and he couldn’t help but flinch.
Xia Qing waited until Wen Jiao’s figure disappeared before turning back, meeting Lou Guan Xue’s ambiguous gaze.
“Have you seen clearly?”
Xia Qing: “Hmm.” But he quickly reacted, “Why are you asking me this?”
Isn’t it supposed to be you who should see clearly?! I have nothing to do with Wen Jiao!
Lou Guan Xue said, “Can you really predict fate?”
Xia Qing: “?”
Xia Qing: “Please don’t put the bullshit of that fireball on me.”
Lou Guan Xue smiled, “Well, it seems it’s not very accurate.”
Xia Qing wholeheartedly agreed, “I also think it’s not very reliable.”
Lou Guan Xue casually picked up the fallen wine glass with his fingers, “If it were that kind of seduction, he wouldn’t end up in my bed, he would end up in a shallow grave.”
Xia Qing: “…………”
Damn.
Sorry, system. I should have listened to you. I regret it, I really regret it.
With the current disdainful attitude of Lou Guan Xue, thinking back to how he later sought after Wen Jiao in vain, even willing to give up his life, that feels pretty cool!
But that thought quickly fades away.
Xia Qing pursed his lips and ignored him.
As a straight, hot-blooded man born and raised, he simply couldn’t muster any interest in the tortured love between two men. It just looked like nauseating torture to him.
It’s only because of his current soul state that he can’t leave Lou Guan Xue!
If one day he had a body, Xia Qing would definitely run away immediately!
Run away to do what?
Xia Qing picked up a pear blossom branch from the ground. The branch was cold, and holding it gave him a subtle feeling.
Paused for a moment, the pear blossom branch seemed to turn into something else, carrying the sharp coldness of mountains, rivers, and trees, evoking a familiar instinct.
To do what…
Like being electrocuted, a tender, crisp voice flashed through his mind.
With youthful spirit, amidst the roaring waves, it was filled with the “edgy” vibe of a fearless novice.
“Off I go, I’m going to conquer the world.”
Oh dear… Xia qing, u r so random.
Uh, are you serious dear? You’re going to conquer the world?? Or did someone else tell him that once upon a time a lifetime ago? And now I’m wondering if his peoplewatching is related to this.
Thanks for the chapter!
Oh my oh my, conquering the world huh.. Not sure if the little emperor will allow yiu to leave, ever 😳
Oh, mc is here
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙