Finally, it was his turn to take control of Qin Li’s body and heart.
One Hour Ago
In the biting gusts of the cold wind, Yang Qiong wrapped himself in his cloak and limped out of Mei Ruoguang’s residence with the support of a cane. Since being dismissed from his post, he could no longer attend court sessions, nor could he step foot into the Commander’s Office of the Imperial Guards. Not only had his public accusation at the Heaven Worship Ceremony failed, but the man he had accused of poisoning, Xie Linchuan, had instead become the greatest hero of the assassination incident for saving the Emperor. With the Emperor’s favor, Xie Linchuan’s rapid rise was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Yang Qiong had been trampled under Xie Linchuan’s feet to serve as a stepping stone. In just one month, he had fallen from the ranks of the primary hero who surrendered the city to a total laughingstock of the capital. Other ministers now went out of their way to avoid him.
Because the sacrificial ceremony had been disrupted by assassins, Qin Li was overwhelmed with work and temporarily had no time to deal with him. Yang Qiong paced circles in his home, anxious and restless. Despite his unhealed injuries, he hurried to Mei Ruoguang’s house on his cane to discuss a counterstrategy.
The Yang manor was in the east of the city, while the Mei manor was in the west. He left his home with his usual caution; as long as he was not within the Imperial City, he prepared three carriages to take different routes and brought several personal guards to prevent retaliation or assassination. His cowardly, life-clinging behavior even earned him a hint of disdain from Mei Ruoguang.
The carriage sped through the streets. Yang Qiong leaned against the soft cushions with his eyes closed, calculating how to counter Xie Linchuan’s next moves on the way home. That day at the ceremony, the incense burner Xie Linchuan smashed over his head had not only broken his forehead but also left him smelling so foul that he nearly lost his appetite. He emitted a bizarre odor, a mixture of medicine, incense, and body odor, that had almost pickled his own nose.
Just as Jing Zhou had noted, his wounds had not yet healed. In this cold, early spring weather, he could not take a bath, so the smell clung to him constantly. Even his personal guards had to hold their noses and keep their distance. At the mere thought of Xie Linchuan, Yang Qiong’s teeth itched with hatred.
Suddenly, his carriage was struck by something. His unhealed backside was jarred with a jolt of numb pain. Breaking into a cold sweat, Yang Qiong pushed open the window in a rage. “What happened? Which blind fool dares to collide with my carriage!”
Before his words finished, a string of firecrackers exploded beneath the carriage, crackling loudly all around. The massive noise startled the horses, causing them to rear and kick wildly, throwing several guards from their mounts.
“Master, be careful!”
“Woof! Woof! Woof!” Dozens of stray dogs lunged out of nowhere, charging straight for Yang Qiong’s carriage. Caught off guard and enduring the bites of the vicious dogs, he was forced to flee the carriage.
With the continuous firecrackers, the terrified, out-of-control horses, and the swarming stray dogs, the surroundings were in total chaos. Yang Qiong was both shocked and enraged, and a massive, baseless panic instantly surged in his heart. His sharp intuition rang alarm bells: this was an assassination, a meticulously planned ambush targeted specifically at him!
But how could the assassins have known exactly which path he would take? The fear of death enveloped his entire body. He no longer had a chance to think. Several cold arrows pierced through the air from a dark corner; two hit his body, and one pierced his throat.
Yang Qiong’s eyes bulged in shock, filled with bloodshot terror. His life was over! Before the piercing pain extinguished his final consciousness, his throat only managed a raspy “Xie” before he breathed his last.
The poisonous oath he had sworn at the Great Temple during the ceremony had truly been fulfilled: he had died a sudden death in the street!
The Reward for Saving the Emperor
In the side hall of Zichen Palace, the silver-thread charcoal in the brazier burned silently with a warm, dark-red glow. Xie Linchuan tucked the fur blanket around his legs and used a spoon to stir the contents of a porcelain bowl, producing a soft clicking sound.
Qin Li took off his thick black fox-fur cloak, placed it aside, and leaned back in a chair by the couch. He stared at Xie Linchuan for a moment before speaking slowly, “My subordinates reported that the young eunuch presenting the wine had clear oil smeared on the soles of his boots, which caused him to fall right next to you. Do you not think that is too coincidental?”
He waited for a while, but Xie Linchuan continued to slowly spoon the sweet soup into his mouth, vaguely murmuring, “Oh?”
Qin Li leaned forward slightly, stroking his chin with his index finger. “Did you think I would not see through the little trick you played at the ceremony? Xie Linchuan, you are very clever, but every action leaves a trace. You still slipped up.”
Xie Linchuan set down the spoon, wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, and asked calmly, “Your Majesty, do you believe I intentionally made him slip? What evidence do you have?”
While he maintained a composed expression, he smiled inwardly. In truth, that oil was a trace he had left on purpose; otherwise, how could he ensure Qin Li guessed that he had swapped the poisoned wine? If not for the unexpected incident with Yang Qiong, he would not have had the chance to publicly test the wine for the Emperor.
Although the goal of protecting Qin Li from the poison would have been achieved, would his merit in saving the Emperor not be like winking at a blind man if Qin Li never noticed it? How else could he escape his current state of house arrest? Had he still been living in the modern era, Xie Linchuan might have remained a righteous young man who did good deeds anonymously. Now, however, he was an old hand who had lived three lifetimes.
Good deeds must be credited, and the credit must be left “accidentally” so that the right people know while the wrong people remain in the dark.
Qin Li tucked Xie Linchuan’s hand warmer into his own robes; the heat radiated through the velvet fabric, warm and comfortable. His body temperature was naturally higher than others, and he did not fear the cold, but the hand warmer felt so pleasant that he could not help but rub his hands against it. He then thought about how such a small hand warmer could only warm the palms of one’s hands.
Qin Li looked at Xie Linchuan with a smile. “Evidence? Your reaction tells me I have hit the mark.” He hooked his pinky around the flat handle of the warmer and brushed it nonchalantly. “I will not bother asking how you got information from the rebels. Regardless, since you have the merit of saving my life, I will naturally reward you handsomely.”
He added suggestively, “With your wisdom, General, you must understand that the Li family’s cause is lost. They will never rise again.”
Even if Xie Linchuan still had thoughts of betting on both sides, it did not matter. At the very least, he had begun to place bets on Qin Li. Sooner or later, he would lean entirely toward him. Thinking of this, Qin Li’s mood grew increasingly relaxed and pleasant. As a wise ruler, he naturally possessed the magnanimity to tolerate others.
Xie Linchuan laughed inwardly. The Li family’s cause was indeed lost, but that required Qin Li to keep his head clear and not blindly use traitors. However, in his previous life, Qin Li refused to surrender the military tally or the Imperial Seal even under torture; Nie Dong still had an army of 200,000 loyal to him. If Qin Li had survived, there was no telling if he would have made a comeback. It was a pity his brain had failed him, and he surrendered the tally for Xie Linchuan’s sake.
Thinking of this, Xie Linchuan’s eyes darkened. He suppressed his untimely thoughts and smiled. “Then how does Your Majesty intend to reward my merit in saving your life?”
Qin Li wore an “I knew it was coming” expression. His posture became even more relaxed, his right leg crossed over his left knee, and his face propped up by one hand. “Tell me, what do you want?”
Xie Linchuan’s gaze flickered. “Will Your Majesty give me whatever I ask for?”
Qin Li paused, changed his sitting position to put his leg down, and tucked the hand warmer into his chest. He did not answer directly, but raised an eyebrow. “That depends on what you request.”
Xie Linchuan thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty knows that the court officials and the people of the capital harbor many misunderstandings about me. Even my younger sister had her engagement broken off because of the burden of my reputation. If Your Majesty truly values me, why not allow me to return to the Xie manor? If Your Majesty needs my company, I can simply come to the palace.”
Qin Li’s brow furrowed instantly. He thought Xie Linchuan would ask for an official post or power; he had not expected him to ask to leave the palace again. How much did this fellow hate living in the same palace as him? Qin Li gnashed his teeth inwardly. A feeling of annoyance rose along with his stubbornness. The more Xie Linchuan wanted to leave, the less he wanted to let him go.
He said stiffly with a dark gaze, “I will take charge of your sister’s marriage. Just tell me whom she likes. This request is no good; pick another one.”
Xie Linchuan could not help but smile to himself; he knew Qin Li would not agree easily. “My sister’s affairs will not trouble Your Majesty.” He lowered his eyelashes and said coldly, “Since that is the case, I have no requests. That Your Majesty was willing to pardon me from prison and spare the Xie household from misfortune is already a grace. Since I have agreed to follow Your Majesty, it is only right for me to protect you.”
Qin Li was stunned. He thought Xie Linchuan would argue his point, or even show his anger and mock him. Who would have thought he would yield so simply? Now, Qin Li did not know what to say.
Looking at Xie Linchuan’s unhealed and somewhat pale face, the disappointment in his downcast eyes, and the faint melancholy between his brows, Qin Li’s spine stiffened. His heart felt hot and cold like it was being scratched by a cat; he felt an indescribable frustration. For the first time, Qin Li actually reflected: had he been too hard on him?
That Li Xuehong was able to win Xie Linchuan’s absolute loyalty by giving him whatever office or power he wanted, was he not? It was not that he was unwilling to let Xie Linchuan return to the court; he was just waiting for the man to bow his head and ask for it himself. But this fellow was stubborn and always maintained an air of being above worldly desires. Those mediocre people in court scrambled for promotions and favor, always trying to guess the Emperor’s thoughts. Yet Xie Linchuan was the only one who remained indifferent, forcing Qin Li to be the one to ask what reward he wanted. How could such a person exist? The mere thought was infuriating!
Qin Li stood up abruptly from his chair. With a dark expression and a tight lip, he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Xie Linchuan remained silent, sitting on the soft couch and slowly eating his sweet soup.
Qin Li finally could not hold back and turned around, saying dryly, “I will restore your official rank and give you a new position. How about you return to court and participate in politics?”
Military power was out of the question for now, but he could enter the Bureau of Military Affairs or the Ministry of War. Regardless, Xie Linchuan was talented in both civil and military matters; he would shine wherever he was placed. Qin Li was already considering which position would give Xie Linchuan face without allowing him to escape his control.
A faint smile touched the corner of Xie Linchuan’s mouth before it vanished. He looked up at Qin Li. This tactic of “retreating to advance” never failed with Qin Li. This man’s stubborn temper was like an untrained fierce dog: if you hit him with a whip, he would bark and bite, but if you stepped back, he would follow you eagerly. Come to think of it, Qin Li was not the only one who had suffered from a stubborn temper in the past life.
Xie Linchuan’s skill at knowing when to stop was perfected. He rose from the couch and bowed with cupped hands. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.” He did not try to ask for more to avoid backfiring.
Seeing him so sensible, Qin Li’s brow relaxed and his ears twitched. His dark expression turned to one of pleasure, and the corners of his mouth curled into an unconscious smile. For some reason, he felt that he had finally become a true Emperor in front of Xie Linchuan. It was like the indescribable satisfaction he felt the first time he sat on the dragon throne in the Ziji Hall and looked down at the kneeling officials.
Qin Li struggled to restrain his smile and maintain his royal dignity. He sat back in his chair, crossed his legs, and smiled faintly. “If the General truly wishes to thank me, do not just use words. Why not give me something practical instead?” He instinctively touched the corner of his lip; the place bitten last time had long since healed.
Just as he was feeling an itch in his heart and thinking of some unspeakable romantic ideas, Li Sanbao’s voice sounded outside.
The Report of a Sudden Death
“Your Majesty, there is urgent business to report.”
The smile Qin Li had just formed instantly dropped. He let out a huff and said crossly, “Come in and speak.”
Li Sanbao hurried in, leaned toward Qin Li’s side, and glanced at Xie Linchuan. “Your Majesty…”
“Just speak plainly.” Qin Li picked up his tea and casually used the lid to scrape the foam.
Li Sanbao cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “Reporting to Your Majesty, news has just arrived. Deputy Commander Yang Qiong was just assassinated by assassins on his way back to his manor. He died on the spot!”
“Yang Qiong is dead?!” Qin Li’s pupils constricted in shock. The self-satisfaction and pleasure he felt from handling Xie Linchuan just a moment ago instantly froze and vanished.
He turned his head sharply, his arrow-sharp gaze shooting straight at Xie Linchuan as if trying to pierce through his deep eyes and see into his heart. With a clatter, the tea lid he was holding fell into the cup, making a sharp noise and splashing tea onto his clothes. Li Sanbao hurried to wipe him with a handkerchief but was pushed away by Qin Li’s hand.
Xie Linchuan’s expression was normal. His eyes showed a hint of appropriate surprise, and the corner of his mouth carried a vague arc. “Deputy Commander Yang Qiong was actually assassinated in the street? That is truly unexpected.”
He said this with his lips, but the mockery in his eyes was almost overflowing. He did not even bother to hide the satisfaction of having his revenge fulfilled.
Qin Li stared at him suspiciously, pursed his lips, and took the detailed report from Li Sanbao. Only then did he learn the full story of Yang Qiong’s death. He frowned deeply, staring at the thin paper as if he were going to burn a hole through it. Ambush, a pack of dogs, startled horses, hidden arrows; everyone in court knew how cautious Yang Qiong was when traveling. How could he have fallen into an ambush?
Qin Li instantly recalled the scene at the ceremony when Xie Linchuan overturned the incense burner and smashed it against Yang Qiong’s head. At the time, he wondered why Xie Linchuan, who rarely let his emotions show, was so angry. This fellow had maintained a calm and composed manner even when threatened in the dungeon. What merit did a lowly person like Yang Qiong have to make him fly into a rage in public?
What a grand scheme! Qin Li raised his eyebrows, unsure what expression to make for a moment. He slammed the report shut and gripped it tightly. Pointing at Xie Linchuan’s nose, he narrowed his eyes, his mouth curling into a mix of a mock and a smile. “Good, good, good!”
“You, Xie Linchuan! I thought I already held you in high regard, but it seems I still underestimated you! You have truly given me another surprise!” This face of Xie Linchuan’s was handsome beyond compare, yet he always found a way to make Qin Li fuming with rage.
Xie Linchuan leisurely took a sip of tea and said flatly, “What is Your Majesty talking about? I have been sitting here talking with Your Majesty all along. How can the assassination of Deputy Commander Yang Qiong be blamed on me?”
“Still playing dumb with me?” Qin Li stood up abruptly, dismissed the trembling Li Sanbao, and approached Xie Linchuan with a cold wind from his sleeves. He leaned down and stared straight at him. “At the Heaven Worship Ceremony, you did something to Yang Qiong’s person so the assassins outside could track his movements.”
“You knew I wanted to preserve his life. You refused to bow to me or please me, but you still wanted to take revenge on your enemy, so you simply bypassed me and killed him. Did I guess correctly?” Qin Li laughed from pure anger. Gnashing his teeth, he squeezed out the words, “Xie Linchuan, your audacity is boundless. Even if Yang Qiong was stripped of his rank, he was still a meritorious official of the court. How many heads do you have to lose for murdering an official?”
Xie Linchuan lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment. Just as Qin Li thought he would continue to play dumb, Xie Linchuan suddenly let out a low laugh. He tilted his chin slightly, revealing the well-defined line of his jaw. A vague smile played on his thin lips as a crease appeared at the corner of his eye. Meeting Qin Li’s fierce gaze, he spoke unhurriedly:
“What if I did, and what if I did not? How does Your Majesty intend to deal with me?”
“You!” Qin Li squeezed his chin forcefully, but after uttering a single harsh sound, he was stuck again.
How else could he deal with him? Xie Linchuan had left virtually no handle or evidence this time; at most, he had only dumped incense ash on Yang Qiong. Qin Li felt he should naturally be furious; Xie Linchuan had acted far too recklessly. He had not just taken revenge on Yang Qiong; he had clearly trampled on Qin Li’s dignity as well!
But peeling back this surface layer of anger, what was throbbing and rushing in his heart was an even more indescribable excitement and an admiration that made him want to cheer. Most people in the world were as mediocre and cowardly as Li Xuehong, or as treacherous as Yang Qiong. But someone like Xie Linchuan, as fierce and loyal as a horse, as cunning and wise as a fox, was unique in the world. And he, Qin Li, was the one who possessed him! Only he, the master of the world, could conquer and own such a man.
At the thought of this, the hot heart in his chest began to race wildly. Qin Li leaned in closer to his face, his hot breath spraying over the other man’s cheek. Xie Linchuan’s features had a sharp, upright quality. His manner and movements were always calm and steady, showing neither joy nor anger. His black, bright, narrow eyes were full of a sense of abstinence. The red mole on the bridge of his nose was like a small hook, constantly enticing him to break the rules.
Qin Li’s gaze as he stared at him gradually became dark and deep. His Adam’s apple slid slightly. “Xie Linchuan, you truly are something.” Qin Li’s voice was raspy and low. His nose nearly touched the other’s. His rough finger stroked the man’s lower lip as his breathing grew heavy. “How do you think I should deal with you?”
Xie Linchuan narrowed his eyes, his dark pupils darkening. He was all too familiar with this look of Qin Li’s. It was filled with raw, naked desire. Qin Li did not have the patience to wait for Xie Linchuan’s answer. Gripping his chin, he impatiently kissed the red mole on the bridge of his nose. The intimate kiss was accompanied by the sound of moisture as Qin Li’s tongue and lips repeatedly ground against that blood-red spot.
The ambiguous gasping made the body feel hot. He closed his eyes and gradually became lost in it, but suddenly heard a muffled groan of pain from Xie Linchuan. Qin Li opened his eyes immediately, waking up a bit. He felt a bit of regret, having nearly forgotten that Xie Linchuan still had a wound on the back of his shoulder.
“What is it? Where did I touch?” Qin Li leaned over to check the injury.
Xie Linchuan gave a deep, downcast laugh. His left hand suddenly grabbed Qin Li’s collar and slammed him down forcefully. Caught off guard, half of Qin Li’s body fell across the tea table. The handsome face before him zoomed in as Xie Linchuan pinned him down. Holding the back of the other’s head with one hand, he bit onto Qin Li’s lips roughly and irresistibly.
“Mmph, mmph.” Qin Li’s eyes widened in disbelief. He wanted to resist but feared hitting the other man’s injured shoulder. In the end, he turned red from the lack of air and the sound of the intimate kiss. Just as he was slowly closing his eyes and his arm was about to reach for Xie Linchuan’s neck, the other man let him go.
Xie Linchuan slowly stood up, a trace of a smile touching his reddened lips. “Your Majesty, have you forgotten that your loyal, meritorious official’s bones are not yet cold?”
Qin Li was momentarily choked up and froze in place. The tips of his ears hidden beneath his silver hair turned a burning, noticeable crimson. He stood up immediately, picked up the report that had fallen to the floor, and said with a stern face as he pointed at Xie Linchuan’s nose:
“Wait until I finish cleaning up your mess, then I will deal with you tonight!”
The smile on Xie Linchuan’s lips grew even wider. Watching Qin Li’s back as he almost fled the room, his smile faded. He lightly wiped a trace of moisture from the corner of his mouth with his finger. In his past life, he had always been controlled by Qin Li. This time, it was finally his turn to take control of everything, be it Qin Li’s body or his heart.
A moment later, the door opened a second time. Xie Linchuan looked up in surprise, only to see Qin Li walking back in with a cold aura. He grabbed the fox-fur cloak left by the chair, wrapped it around his back, and let his silver curls scatter in a mess.
He threw the hand warmer he had taken back to Xie Linchuan, wore a fierce expression without saying a word, and walked away in his fluffy cloak.
Xie Linchuan: “…”