Chapter 26

After slightly calming the restlessness in his heart, the Grand Tutor sat down at the bedside, gently brushing back the little Emperor’s slightly disheveled hair.

He suddenly noticed that beneath the quilt, the Emperor was wearing casual day clothes instead of sleepwear, and asked, “Why haven’t you changed into a sleeping robe?”

The Emperor inwardly complained: Isn’t it because Beloved Minister always drops by uninvited?

But on the surface, a faint smile bloomed: “We were worried that the Grand Tutor might be injured just now, and thought you might return shortly, so we lay down for a moment without changing. Who would have thought… we fell asleep.”

(T/N: This is actually the royal “we” (朕/zhèn) often used by the emperor. Previously, I translated zhèn as “I,” but the royal “we” is more accurate. Therefore, in all subsequent chapters, I will use “we” instead of “I.”)

As she spoke, she lazily opened her cherry-blossom lips to stifle a yawn.

At the teahouse, she had only eaten a few delicate lotus pastries and hadn’t had a proper meal.

For the moment, her energy wasn’t flowing well, and she felt rather languid.

Wei Lenghou looked at Nie Qinglin’s listless state and simply assumed he must have been frightened earlier.

If he hadn’t arrived in time, that bold and reckless Xiu Tulie might really have carried him off. And if that barbarian had torn open the little dragon pearl’s robes, only to discover he was actually a boy—then… just imagining it, Xiu Tulie would’ve likely flown into a rage out of shame and killed him to silence the truth…

Nie Qinglin suddenly noticed the Grand Tutor’s expression had turned unpleasant again.

Fearing he was about to start another round of fault-finding, she quickly straightened up and said, “We saw that the barbarian threw several heavy punches at the Grand Tutor earlier. Where were Tutor injured? Oh right, Imperial Physician Zhang recently prepared a refined ointment for me made from snow lotus and otter oil — it’s excellent for dissolving bruises and relieving pain.”

As she spoke, she signaled for An Qiao’er, who was waiting by the side, to bring the medicine box and present it to the Grand Tutor.

A sharp glint flashed in the Grand Tutor’s phoenix eyes.

In a slow and deliberate tone, he said, “If Your Majesty hadn’t mentioned it, your humble servant might not have noticed the pain.”

Then he casually ordered An Qiao’er and the rest to leave the room — and proceeded to unfasten his outer robe…

The little Emperor felt the Grand Tutor had misunderstood her meaning.

What she meant was for him to take the ointment back to his residence, and find a gentle, soft-handed concubine to apply it for him however he pleased.

But the Grand Tutor, having undressed, actually climbed onto the dragon bed, squeezing himself between her and the wall…

Was this setup meant for her to personally apply it with the imperial hand?

When Wei Lenghou finally bared his upper body and revealed large bruises mottling his solid abdomen, Nie Qinglin could no longer keep her complaints to herself.

Only then did she realize that this man who had appeared calm and unbothered had actually taken quite a few heavy punches from the barbarian — and still managed not to utter a single groan at the time.

Though today’s events were a sudden turn of fate, the Grand Tutor hadn’t needed to intervene personally.

That he arrived the moment trouble struck made it clear to Nie Qinglin that he harbored thoughts for her — and was still in the midst of that burning curiosity.

But even so, he had risked his own safety.

That counted as a debt of gratitude owed.

Silently, she accepted the box of ointment, twisted open the agate-inlaid lid, and scooped out a dab of salve with fingers slender as scallion stalks.

After a deep breath, she applied it to the knotted mass of bruised muscle.

The salve was truly miraculous — as soon as it touched the warm skin, it melted like jelly, becoming a smooth liquid that seeped easily into the flesh.

Wherever her fingertips passed, the area turned moist and glossy, steaming with rising heat.

Nie Qinglin felt as though she were spreading salve over a piece of red-hot iron.

After hurriedly rubbing it in, she used the excuse of washing her hands to try to climb down from the dragon bed.

But just as she climbed past the Grand Tutor’s body, about to descend — there was a sudden heaven-and-earth reversal.

In a blink, she was lying beneath Wei Lenghou.

“Grand Tutor… is there something else?”

The rest of her words were swallowed by those thin lips once more.

Nie Qinglin found herself entangled in lips and tongue, cursing inwardly.

This kiss felt different from before — this time, one of the Grand Tutor’s hands actually reached toward her chest.

Though she was wrapped in multiple layers of heavy cloth, if he slipped his hand inside her robes, wouldn’t her true identity as a girl be completely exposed?

In a panic, she bit down on his lips.

Wei Lenghou felt a sharp sting between his lips — the little one had bitten him like a cat.

Lifting his head slightly, he looked at the kitten beneath him with a trace of unsatisfied longing.

“Is the Grand Tutor intending to humiliate me like that barbarian?”

This was the first time anyone had bitten Wei Lenghou’s lips.

Wiping away the blood and saliva from his mouth, he felt a flash of anger, but seeing the little one’s pitiful expression, he couldn’t bring himself to follow through.

His tone turned slightly cold: “Your Majesty, this servant has always regarded you as a treasure held in the palm of my hand. Never did I expect Your Majesty would compare this humble servant to that barbarian…”

Nie Qinglin struggled to sit up, wrapping the blanket tightly around herself.

“Since the Grand Tutor has already chosen a worthy consort on my behalf, naturally the wedding will come soon. You are a senior minister of the court, and yet you dare to force me into such— such…”

The Grand Tutor looked unhurried, half reclining on the dragon bed, chest bared, tall body slanted against a bedpost, a slight smile on his lips as he raised a brow and asked, “Do go on. How has this minister forced Your Majesty?”

The little Emperor, shyness cast aside, drew a sharp breath: “Into committing such an unfilial and unruly act! Are you truly not afraid that the entire court will learn of this?”

The Grand Tutor thought the little one — who normally played the obedient kitten — looked adorably fierce, having been pushed into a corner, baring his claws in false bravado.

Though he longed to gather the kitten into his arms, the Emperor had asked a question and it had to be answered.

So he straightened up solemnly and said,”Senior Minister Wu has wasted his studies of the Four Books and Five Classics if he forgets filial piety. With national mourning just ended, how could Your Majesty bear to hold weddings? This subject has already reprimanded Wu Jinglin for his impropriety. Your Majesty’s marriage will be reconsidered after the three-year mourning period…”

“However,” he continued, “as a youth, Your Majesty may struggle with self-restraint. Since this subject assists in governing the land, tending to the imperial body’s… ‘lower regions’ is naturally this servant’s duty as well!”

Nie Qinglin gaped.

That cold-blooded Grand Tutor could deliver such shameless nonsense with a straight face?

Truly, Great Wei’s premier scoundrel!

Just then, the imperial stomach—slightly above the mentioned “lower regions”—emitted a loud growl.

The Grand Tutor’s teasing expression vanished.

“Has Your Majesty skipped meals again?”

The Grand Tutor immediately dropped the teasing in his eyes and frowned slightly: “Why has Your Majesty missed yet another meal?”

Ever since that fortune-teller’s nonsense, he’d been constantly worried about the frail constitution of this little dragon pearl.

Eating was top priority.

After adjusting his clothing, he instructed the palace attendants to prepare a meal.

Since the little one had fallen into a deep sleep earlier, his body was still limp and heavy.

And since he hadn’t undressed, having slept in his clothes, Wei Lenghou worried he’d catch a chill if he got out of bed.

So he had a small, lacquered and gold-trimmed kang table brought over and placed directly on the dragon bed.

Upon it, four delicate dishes were arranged — all specially chosen by An Qiao’er to suit her little master’s tastes.

One plate of tender greens, topped with rich autumn-preserved crab roe sauce and a steaming spoonful of milky-white broth.

One dish of dried maple-cured meat, shredded over fragrant rice porridge — a perfect match.

The rest were stir-fried shrimp with bean sprouts, and a small bowl of tofu soup steamed in lotus leaves.

Grand Tutor Wei wasn’t hungry himself — he just sat nearby and watched the little Emperor eat.

But once all the dishes were brought out, the sight of those bland, light meals made him frown.

Yet even with so little food, Nie Qinglin still managed to finish it all in just a few quick bites.

The Grand Tutor found His Majesty’s eating habits truly lacking, so he pointed at the remaining dishes and said, “Finish all of these.”

Nie Qinglin still had lingering fear from the last time she’d been force-fed until she was stuffed.

Now, seeing that the Grand Tutor was about to do the same again, she pressed her lips together and said, “Does the Grand Tutor want to stuff me to death?”

But the Grand Tutor left no room for discussion.

“Your Majesty, do not make your ministers anxious. Always so frail—one fears you’d fall to pieces with a mere touch…”

“……”

Nie Qinglin felt her cheeks were hot enough to fry a pancake.

According to this treacherous court official’s logic, if he were raised into a fair and plump state, then the man wouldn’t even wait a moment before doing something reckless!

Eunuch Ruan and the others waited in the outer chamber, occasionally catching a phrase or two drifting from inside.

But they were all seasoned palace hands—no matter how unbelievable it sounded, what strange thing hadn’t already happened in these deep palace halls?

Lately, the Grand Tutor had been far too gentle in front of the emperor.

That Fourteenth Prince, usually so cautious and restrained, now even spoke to the Grand Tutor in a tone that was slightly… different.

And even his gestures and movements had grown more relaxed.

No matter how one looked at it, there was an air of ambiguity…

Eunuch Ruan, thinking this far, stole a glance at An Qiao’er across from him, who was pouring tea with a similarly troubled expression.

He felt ashamed for only now figuring it out.

Quietly, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, secretly wishing his eyes were blurrier, that he could see nothing and remain safe and sound.

Just… which school of martial arts had this fourth-generation descendant of Great Wei practiced that he even managed to tame someone like the Grand Tutor, who was like a monstrous flood dragon?

Recalling the slight neglect he’d once shown the emperor, Eunuch Ruan felt a surge of panic.

Only after accompanying His Majesty through the meal and spending a while longer inside did the Grand Tutor finally exit the emperor’s bedchamber.

As he stepped outside, the Grand Tutor noticed a plum tree in the courtyard that looked a little withered.

Likely, in the past few days, it had been used by the white cat, Fluffball, as a scratching post, damaging the bark—half of its blossoms had already fallen.

(T/N:Instead of maintaining the Chinese name, I find the English name cuter for the cat… hehe.)

The Grand Tutor frowned.

Though the plum tree had once been pleasing to the eye, now he felt that “plum” (梅 méi) was a homophone for “none” (没 méi), and thus inauspicious—like a hidden curse.

He spoke up: “Something so short-lived and ill-fated—how can it belong in the emperor’s bedchamber? Pull it up completely, and replace it with something long-lived and majestic. Only then can it suppress the aura of this vast residence.”

If this had been before, Eunuch Ruan would surely have interpreted the words on a deeper level, certain that the Grand Tutor was once again pointing at the mulberry to scold the locust—an oblique curse, suggesting the emperor should die soon so he could take his place.

(T/N: To criticize or scold someone indirectly by referring to someone or something else present.)

But just now, after sweating buckets and finally seeing the light, he secretly cursed himself as a useless old eunuch —just how far had the pampering gone? Even the withering of a plant in the courtyard was unacceptable to him now!

How had he not figured this out before?

So he hurriedly replied with a smile, “This lowly one deserves death. I’d already been thinking of replacing it. The imperial garden recently acquired a new crabapple tree—its color is exceptionally elegant. Once the weather warms in a few days, I’ll have it transplanted here. When His Majesty rests beneath it, looking at clusters of blooms all over the tree, his appetite is sure to improve.”

The Grand Tutor nodded, took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and stared coldly at Eunuch Ruan.

Eunuch Ruan’s knees gave out, and he dropped to the ground. “G-Grand Tutor… if this lowly one has done something wrong, Your Excellency may punish me as you see fit. But looking at me like that… I’ve got no backbone—I’ll wet myself at this rate…”

Seeing that Eunuch Ruan was truly afraid, the Grand Tutor finally lowered his eyelids slightly and said, “This Marquis cannot always remain in the palace. So the affairs big and small here will fall to Eunuch Ruan to keep in order. If the emperor’s food or clothing is ever lacking, that can be remedied. But if the sanctity of His Majesty’s golden body is defiled, that is not a stain you servants’ filthy blood can wash away. Go back and screen the people close to His Majesty. If any are gossipy busybodies with long tongues, there’s no need to report—just have them beaten to death on the spot. But if you find any dull and honest ones, those may be worth cultivating…”

This time, Eunuch Ruan fully understood.

He kowtowed hard onto the stone path, his heart now clear: if even a single word of palace scandal were to leak out… his old life would be finished.

A few days later came the early court audience held at the start of every month.

This time, the Xiongnu envoy was formally granted audience—Nie Qinglin had no choice but to make an appearance.

(T/N:In Chapter 25, I mistakenly translated the Xiongnu as Hun, and Xiu Tulie was not a Hun envoy but a Xiongnu envoy. Please forgive this tired and sleep-deprived translator… huhu…)

When the young emperor, dressed in full dragon robes and ornate ceremonial crown, sat upon the dragon throne, the Xiongnu envoy boldly scrutinized the new ruler of Great Wei seated high above.

Nie Qinglin knew exactly what he was doubting and calmly gave Xiu Tulie a slight smile—there was even a touch of mockery in it.

Xiu Tulie glanced again at the solemn ministers in full regalia to the sides, and couldn’t quite find anything wrong with the emperor on the throne.

For a moment, the Xiongnu prince was thrown into doubt, wondering if perhaps he truly couldn’t tell male from female anymore.

Could it be that all men in the Central Plains were this delicate-looking?

From that point on, the Grand Tutor took full charge of the proceedings.

Even when the Xiongnu prince tried multiple times to bypass him and speak directly with the emperor, the young monarch acted as if he didn’t understand the Xiongnu accent at all—leaning lazily on the throne, gazing off in a daze at the incense curling from the crane-shaped burner at his side, completely ignoring the verbal sparring between the Grand Tutor and the prince.

In truth, this peace negotiation from the Xiongnu was a reluctant stalling tactic.

Back when Emperor Wei Ming reigned, he favored Minister Rong and followed his advice—recalling several of Wei Lenghou’s key frontline generals.

As a result, the previously dominant Wei army exhausted its own strength.

After suffering heavy losses in several battles, Emperor Wei Ming sought peace.

But the Xiongnu, ever the wolves and tigers, had no intention of giving up the fat meat already in their mouths and pressed forward relentlessly.

However, once Wei Lenghou took over the reins of power, internal strife broke out within the Xiongnu as well.

The old Chanyu’s own younger brother had colluded with several Xiongnu nobles in an attempt to usurp power.

Although the old Chanyu managed to suppress the rebellion with the backing of several of his sons, his brother, Xiu Tuwu, still managed to escape.

Not only that, he began lobbying neighboring tribes, clearly intending to stage a comeback.

After much reflection, the old Chanyu concluded it would be wiser to make peace with Great Wei for now—quell the internal unrest first, and then make plans for pushing southward later.

So he dispatched his youngest son to negotiate peace, while also using the opportunity to gather intelligence on Great Wei’s new regime.

Looking at it this way, those earlier rumors about Wei Lenghou seem to hold water after all.

But what’s going on with that little emperor? Judging by Wei Lenghou’s demeanor, he seems to be guarding that puppet like his own heart’s flesh!

That very night, a spy assigned to keep tabs on the Xiongnu envoys reported back in secret: around the time the lamps were being lit, those envoys swaggered off to the most extravagant brothel in the capital—Spring Welcoming Courtyard, where they booked not only the top courtesans but also a good number of pretty-faced boys…