Night-Shining Pearl 10

Being a martial artist, Xiao Congzhi recovered completely the next day.

He pushed Xie Mowen to go on duty, but Xie Mowen slipped deep into the quilt, saying "it's for your own good" but refusing to get up.

Having no other choice, Xiao Congzhi had to postpone the morning court session again and stay in bed with Xie Mowen until dawn.

Just as Xiao Congzhi was about to get up, Xie Mowen pulled him back down.

"Um?"

Xie Mowen propped himself up, rummaged through the bedside table and pulled out a small porcelain jar, saying seriously, "We need to apply medicine."

"?"

"Doctor Xu instructed that you should apply medicine after that. I applied it for you yesterday after you fell asleep, so let's do it now today."

"What?" Xiao Congzhi quickly distanced himself, saying urgently, "No! There's no need!"

Xie Mowen reached out and grabbed Xiao Congzhi, pressing him onto the bed.

"Xie Mowen, you..." Xiao Congzhi was no match for Xie Mowen.

"Don't move anymore, or I'll lose control of my strength." With that, Xie Mowen began to carefully apply the ointment.

Xiao Congzhi dared not move, but couldn't help but make a sound.

Xie Mowen held his breath, picked up Xiao Congzhi, and pressed him tightly into his arms, his hands continuing to carefully and slowly apply the medicine.

Xiao Congzhi buried his face in Xie Mowen's chest, biting Xie Mowen's clothes and occasionally shuddering.

When it was finally over, Xie Mowen was covered in sweat.

But Xiao Congzhi had just recovered from his illness, so he dared not do anything else. He just glared at Xiao Congzhi fiercely and gave up.

After lunch, Xiao Congzhi planned to go out of the palace, but Xie Mowen strongly stopped him. Helpless, the two could only stroll in the Imperial Garden.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly; it was the tail end of summer, and a gentle breeze occasionally blew, making it exceptionally pleasant.

"We can't delay with Sun Rang for too long."

"There's no rush. You've only just recovered from your illness and shouldn't be traveling."

"Fine, I can never win against you."

Xie Mowen smiled and hugged Xiao Congzhi from behind, nuzzling him with his head.

Xiao Congzhi turned around, refusing to be hugged, and sternly reprimanded, "This is the Imperial Garden. People may come at any time. Do not overstep your bounds."

Xie Mowen was reluctant, but he obediently followed suit.

The Empress Dowager did not enjoy admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden, so there was not much to see there.

After walking around for a while out of boredom, Xiao Congzhi suggested, "Why don't I go and get a chess set?"

"I'm with you."

"No need, let's not always be together."

Xie Mowen smiled. Since he arrived in Yidu, they had indeed become closer. He understood that for someone like Xiao Congzhi, being too dependent on others was not a good thing. Watching Xiao Congzhi's departing figure, Xie Mowen thought to himself that even emperors could hardly do as they pleased.

After Xiao Congzhi left, Xie Mowen sat down on a low stool under the lakeside pavilion and stared blankly at the koi swimming in the lake.

"Huh? What are you doing here?"

"Xiao Sizhao? You..."

“I was patrolling this area when I noticed you taking leave again today.”

"..."

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Xie Mowen shook his head helplessly and said, "No, I will go back to my duty tomorrow."

"That's good. What about what I mentioned before?"

Have you thought through what I've told you?

"I can't figure it out at all."

"Then let's not see His Majesty for now."

"Is there... any hint?"

Xie Mowen wanted to say something to quickly get rid of Xiao Sizhao, and was pondering his words when a woman's exclamation came from behind him.

Xie Mowen turned around and saw two women dressed as imperial concubines, followed by a group of eunuchs and maids.

Xiao Sizhao hurriedly knelt down to apologize, but the woman who exclaimed was not frightened by him, after all, Xiao Sizhao was wearing the uniform of the Imperial Guard.

Xie Mowen, however, did not appear; he was an outsider in the deep palace.

The eunuch beside the imperial concubine stepped forward and asked with an air of official authority, "Who are you? How dare you appear here and offend Your Highness?"

Xie Mowen raised an eyebrow: "May I ask which lady you are?"

That's a flippant remark.

"How dare you! These are Consort Zhao of Changchun Palace and Consort Chang of Changlin Palace."

Xie Mowen looked the two ladies up and down like a lecherous man. Ever since he learned about these imperial concubines from Xiao Congzhi, he had wanted to get to know them, but unfortunately, he had never had the chance before.

Perhaps it was Xie Mowen's blatant gaze that frightened the concubine into taking a step back, prompting Consort Chang to order the eunuchs to arrest her.

Xie Mowen casually dodged it twice.

Chang Jieyu: "You Imperial Guards over there, make your move!"

Xie Mowen placed one hand on Xiao Sizhao's shoulder and asked, "Why did you suddenly arrest someone?"

"With your lecherous eyes, you deserve to die," Chang Jieyu said angrily.

Xie Mowen's eyes flickered, and he said softly, "I just wanted to see what my two elder sisters look like. Since we both serve His Majesty, I'll only feel at ease after taking a closer look."

After he finished speaking, Xiao Sizhao looked at Xie Mowen as if he were a ghost.

Meanwhile, the two empresses on the other side looked even worse. Xie Mowen's words were too blunt, practically stating that the two empresses were not good-looking.

But upon closer inspection, Xie Mowen is indeed good-looking, with delicate eyebrows and eyes and smooth skin.

Although the concubine was timid by nature, she was proud. Upon hearing this, her face turned cold: "As a man, yet you use your beauty to serve others, subservient to them like a woman, you truly know nothing of propriety, righteousness, or shame!"

Xie Mowen smiled nonchalantly and replied, "How can someone who pleases His Majesty be considered shameless? But my two elder sisters, has His Majesty ever visited your palaces? I've been enjoying his company every night!"

Consort Chang was furious and said urgently, "It's only because His Majesty is in the mood now. Once His Majesty loses interest, let's see how arrogant you'll be then!"

"But at least I've had my good days, unlike my sister, who has never pleased His Majesty."

"You! His Majesty was simply persuaded by the Empress Dowager to vent his frustrations on a man; otherwise, it would have been your turn."

"Consort Chang!" Consort Zhao immediately rebuked Consort Chang for her reckless words.

Xie Mowen smiled and looked behind the two of them. Xiao Congzhi was walking over with a chessboard, looking helpless.

Xie Mowen wasn't looking for trouble; he was afraid that his presence, as an extra pawn, would affect Xiao Congzhi's plans in Yidu. The concubines in the harem were all the Empress Dowager's people, so he could use this opportunity to test the Empress Dowager's thoughts.

It seems there's nothing seriously wrong.

What's all this noise about?

"His Majesty!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."

The two empresses hurriedly bowed, and a group of eunuchs and palace maids behind them also knelt down.

Looking at the scene before him, Xiao Sizhao thought he might be dreaming. He pinched his arm hard with the hand hidden in his sleeve...

It hurts, so it's real.

Xie Mowen went completely mad, as if he had been possessed.

And the person who arranged for himself to join the Imperial Guard at the steamed bun shop in the city was indeed the current emperor.

I am utterly talentless and immoral, how could I have been chosen just for eating a steamed bun?! Could it be that what my fellow Imperial Guards said was true? That I have been chosen by the Emperor to become his male concubine?

Xiao Congzhi raised his hand and said calmly, "Rise."

After the two ladies stood up, they looked at each other, both wanting to say something, but they were certainly not as quick as Xie Mowen.

Xie Mowen ran and jumped into Xiao Congzhi's arms, leaning against his chest and acting coquettishly: "Your Majesty~~"

Xiao Congzhi reached out and patted Xie Mowen on the back. To outsiders, it looked like he was comforting him, but in reality, it was a warning to Xie Mowen to stop messing around.

"If you have nothing else to do, you should not gather here. I do not like noise."

The arrogant Consort Zhao and the hot-tempered Consort Jieyu didn't dare to say a word, nor did they dare to glance at Xie Mowen in His Majesty's arms. They left the Imperial Garden directly with their entourage.

"Alright." Xiao Congzhi patted Xie Mowen's waist.

Xie Mowen straightened up, a smile in his eyes, and looked at Xiao Congzhi.

"His Majesty!"

The two turned around and saw that Xiao Sizhao was still there.

Unfortunately, we still ran into each other.

Seeing Xiao Sizhao's serious expression, Xiao Congzhi assumed he was about to bring up the matter of assuming personal rule. Fortunately, no one was around, so he could listen in. He said, "Stop kneeling. What do you want to say?"

Xiao Sizhao remained kneeling upright, his voice booming with righteous indignation: "I am the only son in my family and cannot serve Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree."

Xiao Congzhi: ……

Xie Mowen: ……..

Xiao Congzhi looked at Xie Mowen with suspicion, as if he doubted that Xie Mowen had said something he shouldn't have.

Xie Mowen silently looked away.

"Ahem, I didn't mean that. Get up."

Xiao Sizhao still didn't get up, clearly not believing it. He kowtowed and said, "My family has had only one son for three generations, and I am the only one who can carry on the family line. I hope Your Majesty will have mercy on me."

Xiao Congzhi choked, glared at the back of Xie Mowen's head, and said, "I remember you said before that you had a falling out with your family when you left home."

Xiao Sizhao's eyes widened, clearly forgetting the trap he had set for himself, and he immediately became even more nervous: "Your Majesty, I really... really."

Xiao Congzhi walked over, grabbed Xiao Sizhao's arm, and forcibly pulled her up. Xiao Sizhao had no idea that a person could have such strength and couldn't resist at all. When she stood up, she closed her eyes in despair.

But the Emperor said, "I can't even handle him alone, I really have no interest in you."

Xie Mowen, ever the quick-witted one, hurriedly asked, "What if you can handle it?"

Xiao Congzhi glared at Xie Mowen in annoyance: "Stop making things worse."

Xiao Sizhao was somewhat surprised by the way the Emperor and Xie Mowen interacted, and asked in a daze, "But if it was unintentional, how come eating a steamed bun led to me being assigned to the Imperial Guard, and even assigned to work under him..."

Xiao Congzhi stared at Xiao Sizhao for a long time before finally calling out to Xie Mowen, "Xie Mowen."

Xie Mowen then stood up, walked around carefully, looking around intently, and finally nodded to Xiao Congzhi: "Nobody's here."

Xiao Sizhao was at a loss for what to do by this commotion.

Xiao Congzhi asked, "When you wanted to come to Yidu, your family didn't allow it. Did they explain their reasons to you?"

"No, we only say that our Xiao family does not enter the palace."

"So, all these years, how have you viewed me?"

Xiao Sizhao was at a loss for words.

Xiao Congzhi said, "Just tell the truth."

“In our hometown, which is quite far from Yidu, we all feel that the Jiang family controls the government and that you are a puppet of the Jiang family. But the people are not doing well under the Jiang family’s rule, so I have always hoped that Your Majesty could rule in person.”

"What happens after you assume personal rule? Taking personal rule is not the end, but the beginning. It is not difficult to abolish the Jiang family lineage. What is difficult is that the emperor is not restrained by powerful ministers."

As Xiao Sizhao listened, he suddenly understood what Xie Mowen had told him earlier.

Xiao Congzhi treated Xiao Sizhao very well and then explained, "I have my own plans for this matter, so you don't need to worry too much."

"What does Your Majesty mean?!"

"The Xiao family of Jiangnan, the Xiao of desolation."

"!" Xiao Sizhao almost knelt down. When he left home, his father strictly forbade him from revealing this surname, but he did not take it seriously. But now the emperor had actually pointed it out. Could it really be something that cannot be revealed?

“You are from my maternal family, so you are my cousin. That’s why I brought you into the palace.”

"!!!"

"The Xiao family keeps a low profile because of this. I'm worried about you traveling around Yidu."

Xiao Sizhao seemed not to have reacted yet.

"I didn't want to tell you, but now that I've told you, it'll save you trouble. You can go back to Jiangnan in a few days."

After a while, Xiao Sizhao finally came to his senses. Although he still needed time to sort out his tangled thoughts, Xiao Sizhao firmly stated that he did not want to return to Jiangnan.

Xiao Congzhi offered a few words of advice, but seeing that it was useless, he was not in a hurry and sent Xiao Sizhao away.

Distracted like this, Xiao Congzhi and Xie Mowen lost their interest in playing chess and chatted idly as they walked in the Imperial Garden.

Why did you go and provoke those concubines?

"Isn't this just a way to test the Empress Dowager's intentions?"

"Although they were the Empress Dowager's people, they weren't very close. The Empress Dowager wouldn't tell them anything important."

"But so far, it seems that the Empress Dowager has not suspected anything."

"Very well. I still need to go to the palace tomorrow."

"..."

"We can't delay any longer with the Imperial Uncle and Sun Rang. I said something ambiguous that day to make them uneasy when they went back. It's not good to let it drag on."

"You're right. Fine, I'll go with you tomorrow."

Xiao Congzhi chuckled and asked, "What, in what capacity are you going?"

"..." Xie Mowen resigned himself to his fate, "How are your male concubines kept in the Imperial Guard?"

“I think it’s good,” Xiao Congzhi replied, but Xie Mowen grabbed his Adam’s apple and bit it.

Walking in the shadows of the trees, the atmosphere was deep and secluded. The two couldn't help but be intimate for a moment before releasing each other, panting.

"Autumn is almost here," Xiao Congzhi said.

"Hmm... I will have to return to the Demonic Sect in a few days."

"Anling?"

"Let's go back to Youheng Mountain first."

“Everything in Yidu has been arranged properly. After the envoys from the outer court leave, I will go with you.”

"good."