Chapter 45.2
Editor: SimoB
When the people in the capital heard that Shi Qing had been detained in the palace, they all imagined the same thing.
No one believed that Shi Qing, who had humiliated the new emperor like that, would have a good ending.
He had been arrogant for many years. Naturally, he’d made plenty of enemies. There were many who disliked him.
Now that the little master seemed to have offended someone he shouldn’t have, the leader of the anti-Shi Qing club, Fifth Young Master Zhao, was ecstatic.
He even daydreamed about Shi Qing’s miserable life in the palace.
Since His Majesty hadn’t just executed him, he must be planning on showing the person who had bullied him the true meaning of humiliation.
Maybe Shi Qing was crying pitifully in the palace right now.
Celebrate!
They had to celebrate!
While they were filling holes in their brains, the actual scene in the palace was the complete opposite of the rumours outside.
Recently, Shi Qing’s life had been almost too relaxing.
He slept on a quilt made from the highest quality fox fur. He could also have any food he wanted delivered via horse within an hour.
In the past, although Shi Qing was favored at home, the prime minister always thought that his child shouldn’t live too extravagantly. He would provide the essentials, like charcoal, but luxuries and baubles were definitely out of the question.
His aristocratic family might have it all, but Shi Qing couldn’t enjoy all of it.
But Yu Chennian was different. The Imperial Palace was his, and the former emperor’s private storehouse was also his. In the four years he served in the military, he took many treasures from enemy nations.
Of course, those things became his as well.
And now, he gifted those things to Shi Qing.
It’s like a giant dragon who had searched for gold and silver all his life, only to give his h.o.a.rd to his beloved when he found them.
Shi Qing could have anything he wanted. His days were utter bliss.
But Shi Qing himself thought it was too much of a good thing. He was in danger.
[Dear Tong, we can’t go on like this.]
The System was just daydreaming. When it heard Shi Qing’s words, it came out, puzzled: [What happened, Host? Isn’t this good? The animosity value is in the single digits now, ah.]
[Didn’t you notice that something terrible has happened to me?]
The system was immediately nervous: [What?! What happened?!!]
Shi Qing was devastated: [My charisma is gone! I’ve been seducing Yu Chennian this whole time, but he’s resistant to my charms!]
System: [……]
Shi Qing: [How is this possible? Am I losing my touch?!]
Since he invited Shi Qing to the palace, Yu Chennian’s uneasiness has finally been suppressed. His animosity value dropped several times each day.
Regretfully, the one thing he hadn’t done was touch Shi Qing.
No matter how provocative Shi Qing was, or how many flirtatious actions he took.
Anyone could see that Yu Chennian was about to explode, but he insisted on holding on to his chast.i.ty through sheer force of will.
It was a real pity that Shi Qing couldn’t OOC and just throw him on to the bed. Then everyone could have a happy ending.
System: [……]
After pondering for a while, Shi Qing suddenly said: [It’s a good thing that you’re here to keep me company, Tongtong. Although I’ve only ever had one system before, I have to say that you’re the best. I’m really lucky to have someone like you around.]
System: [!!!]
It had never been so flattered in its life. The System was so touched that it exclaimed: [H-Host! I feel the same way! I never expected you to say it out loud though. Wuwuwuwu- Host I’m so happy.]
Shi Qing: [Pah, my a.s.s-kissing skills haven’t deteriorated at all! You seem pretty happy, so why is it no use against Yu Chennian?]
System: [???]
System: [……Wuwuwuwu.]
Shi Qing comforted it: [Fine fine. Although it was just a test, I meant what I said, alright?]
The gullible System immediately cheered up again. It agreeably restarted the train of flattery: [Host is also the best Host I have ever seen.]
After confirming his a.s.s-kissing abilities, Shi Qing let the System get back to its daydreams and TV dramas.
He had to change his approach.
There was nothing he could do before because Yu Chennian was at war, while he was in the capital.
But now the two of them slept on the same bed each night. Yu Chennian also seemed very spirited and eager.
He pondered for a moment, then came up with a plan.
***
Today, Yu Chennian was planning on cuddling his kitten after court ended for the day.
The servants informed him that Little Master Shi had left the palace.
Because His Majesty gave the little master great authority, no one dared to stop him for real when he left.
And he rode out on a horse.
Yes, it was the warhorse that had just been gifted to Yu Chennian. Shi Qing liked it, so Yu Chennian had given it to him.
The face of the man wearing black dragon robes immediately darkened.
Maybe it was due to the shadow that his miserable first 17 years of life had cast on him, but Yu Chennian lacked security and was quick to hold grudges.
He liked Shi Qing, so he wanted to imprison him in the palace – for the rest of his life if he could.
If he hadn’t been afraid of making the little master sad, he would’ve done it a long time ago.
These days, Yu Chennian wanted to present Shi Qing with all of the treasures of the world. He cared for this spoiled little kitten diligently, like he was afraid of it running off if he didn’t work hard enough.
Fortunately, the little master was more than content. He had never brought up leaving the palace before.
But now, Shi Qing ran away while he was away at court.
Yu Chennian almost immediately sent someone to investigate where Shi Qing had gone while changing his clothes to head out himself.
He nearly had an aneurysm when he got the news.
Shi Qing had gone to the brothel.
***
Shi Qing did in fact go to the brothel.
He was holding the super large night pearl that Yu Chennian had gifted him. It was part of the tribute from a subsidiary country, but he was using it as a plaything.
His aim was to show off.
He was showing off to Fifth Young Master Zhao, who had called Shi Qing a gra.s.shopper in late autumn before he had entered the palace.
Fifth Young Master Zhao, who could fight on the same level as Shi Qing, was naturally a dandy as well.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Shi Qing. He wasn’t as good looking as Shi Qing, he wasn’t as popular as Shi Qing and his family was not as well off as Shi Qing’s. Although his family members favoured him, only Shi Qing had the favour of the previous emperor as well.
He felt like he was the unluckiest person in the world.
Why did Shi Qing have to be born at the same time period as him?
If you asked anyone in the capital about dandies, the first person they would think of was Shi Qing. Fifth Young Master Zhao was nothing more than an afterthought. He had no presence in this city.
So he hated Shi Qing and made things difficult for him whenever possible.
Lately, Shi Qing was the talk of the capital once again. The unfavoured prince actually overturned the hand that fate had dealt him and became the emperor. Fifth Young Master Zhao was ecstatic.
This was retribution!!!
When he heard that Shi Qing was taken to the palace, he was even happier.
The time for retribution had come!!!
And when he heard that news about Shi Qing had disappeared after being taken into the palace, he was even more gleeful.
Now he was happily pouring himself a gla.s.s of wine in the brothel.
As soon as it was full, the door was kicked open from the outside.
“The one surnamed Zhao!” The little master strode in with his head held high. He presented the super large night pearl to his flabbergasted audience: “Didn’t you say you got a night pearl last month? Come on, I’ve got one too. Let’s compare them.”
Fifth Young Master Zhao finally came to his senses. His eyes bulged out of his head as he gave his archrival a once over.
WTF. Not only was Shi Qing not pale and emaciated, he was even ruddier and chubbier than before!
Wasn’t he supposed to be suffering in the palace?!
“You’re fine?!!”
“This little master will be fine even if something happens to you.”
Shi Qing sauntered in casually and planted his foot on a stool. “What, are you chicken? If you’re afraid to compare them, just say so.”
Provocation was always super effective on a dandy.
Fifth Young Master Zhao immediately stood up: “You’re still acting up? Who doesn’t know that you’re just a gra.s.shopper in late autumn now? Instead of jumping around, worry about yourself first.”
“Don’t waste this little master’s time. Spit it out. Are you scared to compete or what?”
Of course Fifth Young Master Zhao didn’t want to compete. His pearl looked like the little grandson of Shi Qing’s pearl. How could he willingly humiliate himself?
So he remained silent for a long time before spitting out: “……You d.a.m.ned gra.s.shopper!”
Shi Qing: “Is that all you know how to say? I’ve only been gone a few days and you’ve already become a wuss.”
Fifth Young Master Zhao sneered: “Everyone knows you’ve offended the current emperor. It doesn’t concern you if I’m a wuss or not. All I know is that your days as Little Master Shi are over. Who knows? If I want to laugh at you in the future, I might have to visit you in prison to do so.”
Shi Qing narrowed his eyes and put down the night pearl.
He was somewhat intimidating when he stared others down without a smile. At least, Fifth Young Master Zhao felt like he was. He had suffered many times in the past after such a look was directed at him.
The fifth young master carefully hid behind the brothel girls. “W-What are you trying to do? Start a fight? Let me tell you Shi Qing, now that there’s a new emperor, no one will protect you!”
Shi Qing raised his little chin: “I don’t know if I’m going to prison or not, but I’m more than capable of sending you there for a few days!”
Fifth Young Master Zhao: “Pah. You still think you’re the same Little Master Shi who owned the streets. You couldn’t do anything to me before, let alone now.”
“Fine! Don’t believe me then!” Shi Qing picked his pearl back up and said: “What will you do if I do send you to jail?”
Fifth Young Master Zhao: “If you manage to do that, I’ll give you my favorite set of jade chess pieces!”
The other young master present who had been listening to their conversation whispered in Fifth Young Master Zhao’s ear:
“Fifth brother, have you forgotten? You’ve never won a bet with Shi Qing. How many good things have you lost to him? This set of jade chess pieces was given to you by our uncle. How will you explain giving it away?”
“I won’t have to! I’ll win for sure this time!” Fifth Young Master Zhao was full of confidence: “I’m the son of an official. I don’t steal from or rob or hit people. Even if His Majesty wanted to imprison me, he has to find a reason first!”
“Fine!”
Shi Qing’s plot succeeded. His pair of beautiful eyes immediately crinkled.
He stepped forward. The little master’s hands swiftly took out the packet of medicine from Fifth Young Master Zhao’s shirt before he could react: “I knew you would take such a thing to the brothel.”
Fifth Young Master Zhao only realized what had happened after a second or two. He immediately became embarra.s.sed and indignant: “What is wrong with you?! Give that back!”
The young master on the side whispered again: “Wu-ge, maybe he wants to provoke you into beating him so you’ll be sent to jail. Don’t step into his trap.”
That made sense.
When Fifth Young Master Zhao thought about it, his anger transformed into smugness: “Nice try. I won’t hit you no matter what you do, though.”
However, the little master practically ignored him. He found a new cup under the table and dumped the medicine in. He then poured himself a full cup of wine.
The two young masters were completely lost. They had no idea what Shi Qing was plotting.
They could only watch dumbfoundedly as Shi Qing picked up the cup and downed its contents.
Fifth Young Master Zhao: “??? Why’d you drink my medicine?! Don’t you know what it’s for?!!”
——Bang!!
The door that just closed after Shi Qing was mercilessly kicked open again.
Yu Chennian walked in with a blank face. As soon as he came in, the people who were following him immediately rushed in and surrounded him on all sides.
Fifth Young Master Zhao looked at his younger brother: “Who is this?”
He had never seen Yu Chennian when he was the ninth prince. He was also not anyone of importance, so of course he hasn’t met the new emperor either.
As the emperor, Yu Chennian naturally had someone whose job was to announce his ident.i.ty.
One of the imperial guards closed the door first before inspecting the sound insulation of the building. Only then did he clear his throat: “His Majesty has arrived! Why are you all not greeting him!?”
Everyone in the room fell on their knees.
Except for Shi Qing.
Fifth Young Master Zhao tugged urgently on the leg of his trousers: “Do you have a death wish?! Get down here!”
Then he watched the boots embroidered with golden dragons stepped in front of him.
The new emperor embraced Shi Qing.
His voice was a little hoa.r.s.e, but there was a indulgent tone to it: “Why did you run off to such a place again.”
“I came to see a friend.” Shi Qing’s normally overbearing nature was nowhere to be seen. His voice was soft and sweet, like mochi: “Why did you come?”
“I wanted to take a stroll outside.”
Now that he knew Shi Qing didn’t come here to have ‘fun’, Yu Chennian put away his razor sharp claws and looked at his little master with a tender expression.
Then he saw the boy’s face becoming more and more flushed.
Confusion gradually clouded his eyes, and he even began to nuzzle Yu Chennian gently with his face.
Yu Chennian felt something wasn’t right. He quickly held him up: “Shi Qing? What’s the matter?”
Shi Qing complained in a weak and pitiful voice: “Wu……Um, just now, Fifth Young Master Zhao made me drink an aphrodisiac…… I think……we should lock him up for a few days……”
Fifth Young Master Zhao: ???
Who made you drink it?! You did that yourself!!
Yourself!!!!
The end of the third arc is near! Prepare yourself for the overbearing school bully!