Chapter 77 The Sky Curtain Made Me a Historical White Moonlight The Sky Curtain, for publicity...
Si Qi's position in the State of Qi is very special. As can be seen from his reputation among the people, if Si Qi wanted to, he could quickly recruit his own followers in the State of Qi and establish a group that is even more unbreakable than the noble group.
However, because of Si Qi's reputation, even if Si Qi was not the kind person Tianmu described, but a wolf with ambitions, the emperor could not, or rather dared not, openly deal with Si Qi, otherwise the people of the whole world would definitely curse the royal family to death.
There are historical examples of emperors who, out of fear and fear, slandered and killed famous generals, and were thoroughly nailed to the pillar of shame, becoming objects of scorn by countless people throughout history.
The Emperor of Qi was of good character and did not want to cause any conflict with Si Qi over this matter. However, Si Qi was destined to marry, and it was clear that he would not marry only one woman. Many noble ladies were willing to marry Si Qi, which would inevitably lead to an unbreakable alliance between various forces and Si Qi.
Therefore, the question of who Si Qi marries is a very important matter that the emperor cannot ignore.
The reason for asking Si Qi directly was also to subtly inquire about Si Qi's attitude, hoping to resolve the matter peacefully with him.
He glanced at Chu Feng, wanting to see if the Crown Prince, who was close to Si Qi, knew anything about this. However, he never expected that the Crown Prince, who was usually the kindest to Si Qi, would have a livid face, as if he was extremely angry and was suppressing his intense emotions.
The emperor was completely bewildered, not knowing what was wrong with the crown prince.
He assumed Chu Feng was unwell and, considering Chu Feng's fatigue from the journey, kindly said, "Your Highness, please go and rest."
With a hoarse voice and a heart full of anguish, Chu Feng said, "Your subject... Your subject wishes to discuss this matter with Father Emperor and Lord Si."
He knew that Si Qi could not be with him, and he also understood that having children and continuing the family line was a major life event that everyone valued.
He couldn't be so selfish as to take control of Si Qi's life just because he was the future emperor, to seize things from him by force, or even to humiliate him by demanding that Si Qi have sex with him.
His infatuation will only tarnish Lord Si's innocent reputation.
so……
He stayed behind, forcing a smile, and said, "Lord Si doesn't mind, does he?"
Seeing that Chu Feng looked like he was about to cry, Si Qi's heart softened, and he gave him a comforting smile.
Then the emperor said, "Last Mid-Autumn Festival, many ministers' families were impressed by Minister Si's demeanor and asked the ministers to send visiting cards to Minister Si's residence."
"Some ministers also sent me letters asking for my opinion."
This was clearly because the ministers, fearing that the emperor would misunderstand them as forming cliques due to Si Qi's special status, and unable to resist their daughters' admiration for Si Qi, kept asking them to marry him, so they submitted a memorial to the emperor.
The emperor was having a headache dealing with these ministers. Seeing that Si Qi had finally returned, he realized that the matter could not be delayed any longer. So he first asked Si Qi for his opinion, hoping to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
Si Qi fell silent for a moment when he saw the emperor's expression that said, "My dear minister, just say it. Even if you want to marry a princess, I will definitely make it happen for you."
He was thinking about how to answer.
It's definitely not okay to just say that she only wants to be with Chu Feng.
He could euphemistically say that he was impotent, and the emperor, out of concern for his reputation, would probably still arrange for him to marry a number of women who still admired him despite his impotence, thus covering up his misconduct.
So……
Si Qi raised his head, looking ashamed, and said, "Your Majesty, I am attracted to men."
The emperor's gentle expression suddenly cracked, his eyes widened, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
After a long while, the emperor, still incredulous, said somewhat cautiously, "Minister Si, I think I misheard you?"
Si Qi cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your subject only loves men."
The emperor looked as if he had been struck by lightning, clutching his chest in disbelief at this reality.
Chu Feng, standing beside Si Qi, was breathing rapidly, barely managing to suppress his surging emotions and manage to keep from laughing out loud.
He couldn't empathize with his father's feelings at that moment. Seeing the emperor sitting at the head of the table with red eyes, he said sadly, "How could this be! My dear minister, you..."
The emperor had previously thought that after he abdicated, Crown Prince Chu Feng would raise the next Crown Prince, and Minister Si would raise the next successor. They, as emperor and minister, would work together to govern the country for generations and create a glorious era.
But who would have thought that Si Qi would prefer men! He doesn't even have a descendant to carry on his bloodline... This... this...
The emperor found it increasingly difficult to accept and appeared even more distressed than Si Qi.
He said, "Even if you prefer men, you may still have children with women!"
In the eyes of ancient emperors, the concepts of "one life, one love" and "same-sex marriage" were nonexistent.
He even felt that those women, even if Si Qi didn't like them, were getting a great deal by being able to have children for him.
Just as he disliked many of the concubines in his harem, he still took in some women from noble families and ministers' households to maintain balance in the court, sleeping with them regularly. They were more than grateful to have a prince or princess with them.
This was a limitation of the times. Love simply didn't exist before marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers. Most people lived in respectful but distant relationships, essentially widowed marriages.
Even in the Emperor's eyes, his urging of Si Qi, who was homosexual, to marry and have children wasn't coercion, but genuinely for Si Qi's own good. After all, what's the big deal about sleeping together? Is such a small matter so difficult to handle? Just like that, he could have children, enjoy the happiness of having a house full of children and grandchildren, and watch his family grow and prosper—why was Si Qi unwilling?
Si Qi is young and doesn't know any better, so as Si Qi's elder, he can't just let Si Qi act recklessly.
Si Qi probably knew what the emperor was thinking. Upon hearing this, he said with a face full of shame, "But, but I consider myself a woman among men and women, and I cannot be with other women..."
The emperor was practically going crazy. He covered his ears, not wanting to listen, and looked as if he wanted to bang his head against the table in pain. He waved his hands repeatedly, signaling Si Qi to stop talking.
Completely oblivious to his good Crown Prince Chu Feng, who was lost in his own imagination, his face was now flushed red, as if it could bleed.
The emperor clutched his chest and said to the eunuch beside him, "We must not let even a whisper of this matter leak out!"
The chief eunuch quickly agreed and hurriedly ran down to knock on the eunuchs and maids around who might have heard him.
The emperor said to Si Qi with great distress, "Minister Si, how do you know it won't work if you haven't even tried?"
He didn't care whether such matters were appropriate to be discussed in the serious Imperial Study, and broke the bottom line by earnestly telling Si Qi, "Women are delicate and charming; once you've tasted their beauty, you'll like them."
Si Qi said shyly, "But I would rather be embraced by a man."
The emperor leaned back, took a deep breath, and seemed about to faint. He almost jumped up from his chair and shook Si Qi's shoulder to wake him up.
What's so good about those smelly, hard men? How can I let those mortals tarnish my celestial beloved minister, Si Aiqing!
He couldn't stand the thought of any man daring to "humiliate" Si Aiqing.
Chu Feng quickly stepped forward to comfort him: "Father, this matter cannot be forced."
The emperor blurted out, "What do you mean 'reluctantly'! I'll have the imperial physician administer the drug to Minister Si! I refuse to believe it—" After saying that, he realized that Si Qi was right there, and he looked at Si Qi with a very interesting expression, clearly not expecting that he had lost his mind and said such a thing in front of Si Qi.
He clutched his forehead in despair and said to Si Qi, "I was just saying that in anger, please don't take it seriously, Minister Si."
Si Qi: "...Your subject will not."
This wasn't just said in anger; the emperor clearly did consider drugging him. Tsk tsk tsk, how terrifying.
The emperor was incredibly frustrated. Looking at Si Qi was like looking at his own rebellious child. He wanted to hit him but couldn't bear to, and he wanted to talk to him but couldn't get through to him. It was enough to make his blood pressure soar.
Chu Feng mediated between them, saying to the emperor, "Father, this matter is not urgent. Lord Si has traveled a long way; let him return to his residence to rest first!"
"You... sigh!" The emperor said helplessly, "Let Lord Si's parents give him a good talking to!"
He entrusted this matter to the least suitable person, and solemnly said to Chu Feng, "You must make sure that Lord Si thinks things through clearly and doesn't go astray!"
Chu Feng nodded solemnly: "Your subject understands!"
He led Si Qi away from the imperial study, feigning concern as he tried to persuade Si Qi, "How could you possibly like a man, my dear minister?"
Si Qi: "Since I was a child, I have only loved men and enjoyed being close to them."
What?! Lord Si wants to get close to other men?!
Chu Feng instantly went on high alert, his mind racing to recall which men Si Qi had been close to recently. After thinking it over, he realized that the men Si Qi had spoken to most often were elderly men with gray beards and uneducated, rude soldiers, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Lord Si definitely looks down on those people.
Si Qi: "As for Your Highness, I was truly ashamed to have concealed this matter from you, causing you to sleep in the same bed with me every day. From now on, I will—"
"I don't mind!" Chu Feng said quickly, "How could I care about such a thing! My dear minister, whatever you do is fine."
Si Qi was deeply moved.
"But my dear minister, do you feel uncomfortable because I previously forced you to sleep side by side with me?"
Si Qi said apologetically, "I don't mind."
“From now on…” Chu Feng said secretly.
"If Your Highness doesn't mind, I'm fine with it..."
Seemingly a little shy, Si Qi's voice was not as clear and open as usual. His soft and sweet voice made Chu Feng's heart itch, as if a little hook was hooking his heart, making him feel hot all over and extremely excited.
Under the pretext of "enlightening" Si Qi, Chu Feng escorted Si Qi back to the Si residence and once again legitimately stayed overnight in his room.
The Emperor eagerly awaited the Crown Prince's reply, wanting to know the attitude of Si's parents and whether they had persuaded Si Qi. Unexpectedly, the reply he received revealed that Chu Feng was staying at the Si residence with no intention of returning, and had even brazenly slept in Si Qi's bedroom once again!
The emperor was furious. He threw down the book in his hand and cursed, "Truly, truly ignorant of propriety!"
They showed absolutely no consideration for how anxious their father was. Not only did they take their time to reply with a single definite message, but after learning about Lord Si's orientation, they shamelessly slept next to him and took advantage of him. It was utterly despicable!
"Call the Crown Prince back to me!" the emperor roared at the guards outside.
The guards obeyed the order and soon arrived at the Si residence on horseback, knocking on Si Qi's door.
"Your Highness, by His Majesty's decree, we request that you come to the Imperial Study for a discussion."
Chu Feng: "I have something to discuss with Lord Si."
The guard hesitated, "His Majesty seems very anxious..."
Helpless, Chu Feng could only say, "Alright, I'll change my clothes and head over."
Seeing that Chu Feng was dressed in his undergarments, the guard wondered why His Highness the Crown Prince was dressed like this to "discuss matters" with Lord Si. He stepped back two steps, closed the door for Chu Feng, and waited silently.
Not long after, Chu Feng, having dressed again, was taken by guards to the imperial study in the palace, where he was severely reprimanded by the emperor.
The emperor angrily said, "Have you considered Lord Si's thoughts? How can you act like this!"
Chu Feng: "Lord Si doesn't mind."
"That won't do!" the emperor roared. "You must know your limits!"
"Kerchen is happy, Sir Si."
The emperor's curse, which was on the tip of his tongue, faltered. He then came to his senses and, in a fit of rage, grabbed the memorial on the table and slammed it onto Chu Feng's head: "Beast!"
Chu Feng did not dodge. His forehead was bruised from the blow, but he remained unmoved and said frankly, "Your subject has long admired Lord Si."
The emperor had suffered too much shock today; he slumped into his chair, his eyes bloodshot: "You, you..."
So, before that, Chu Feng always clung to Si Qi, eating and living together, even after Si Qi moved out of the East Palace, he still stayed at the Si residence. Was it because Chu Feng had long harbored ill intentions towards Si Qi?
The emperor, taking his anger out on the matter, said, "Minister Si's fondness for men, isn't that also your fault?!"
Chu Feng: "I do not agree with this. I have never thought of causing Lord Si to be childless. I have only loved him silently and have never expressed my feelings."
The emperor wouldn't listen to any of this. He pointed at Chu Feng's nose and launched into another tirade of abuse until Chu Feng's mouth was dry. He then picked up a cup of tea and gulped down several mouthfuls before finally managing to catch his breath, his head throbbing with anger.
The emperor certainly felt sorry for Chu Feng, but he knew that Chu Feng was the crown prince and that Si Qi was too important to the Great Qi. Just thinking about the two of them getting mixed up together was enough to give the emperor a huge headache. If not handled properly, it would definitely cause a huge uproar and lead to unpredictable consequences.
"Does Minister Si know about your filthy thoughts?" the emperor said irritably.
"Your subject does not know," Chu Feng replied.
Previously, Chu Feng would have thought that the lesbian-oriented Lord Si would not have noticed his many actions, and would have assumed that his gestures of goodwill and closeness were the Crown Prince's consideration for his court officials.
But now that he knows Si Qi is attracted to men and has been paying attention to matters between men, he is unsure whether the perceptive Lord Si has already seen through his thoughts and knows his feelings.
The emperor calmed himself down and seriously considered the matter, then said to Chu Feng, "Was your attraction to Lord Si merely a momentary lust, or...?"
"Your subject is sincere!" Chu Feng quickly assured him.
"What good is sincerity if you're still the Crown Prince!" the Emperor retorted angrily.
When Si Qi said she liked men, the emperor was thinking about how to get Si Qi married and have children, while also considering which men were worthy of Si Qi—he couldn't let Si Qi really live a life of abstinence.
He was thinking of having Si Qi marry some men to serve him, and never considered making Si Qi one of the men's harems.
Chu Feng, being the crown prince, was destined to have a harem and father a dozen or twenty princes and princesses with his concubines, which was never within the emperor's considerations from the beginning.
Who would have thought that Chu Feng would be so audacious as to set his sights on Si Qi?
If Si Qi were to actually fall for Chu Feng one day, and become jealous and unhappy that Chu Feng had a child with someone else, causing unpleasantness between the two, the State of Qi would definitely be affected by their conflict.
The emperor grew increasingly angry and warned, "I forbid it!"
Chu Feng pleaded, "Father, I will treat Lord Si well. I will love Lord Si more than any other man and will not let him down."
"So you don't want the Crown Princess or the princes anymore?!" the emperor roared. "What nonsense are you spouting!"
"Your subject only wants Lord Si!" Chu Feng said without hesitation, "If I can stay with Lord Si forever, your subject will not want children or concubines, and will never let Lord Si down!"
"You!!" The emperor was furious with Chu Feng. He picked up the empty teacup and smashed it next to Chu Feng's legs, yelling, "If you dare say such a thing again, I'll break your legs!"
Chu Feng: "Your subject loves only Lord Si!"
The emperor rushed down and started punching Chu Feng, yelling, "Shut up!"
"Father!"
The father and son were making a scene in the imperial study, while the guards outside were sweating profusely, fearing that they would suffer for knowing something they shouldn't have.
Fortunately, the emperor was as benevolent as ever. He simply ordered them to confine Crown Prince Chu Feng to the East Palace and keep him under strict guard. He did nothing else.
For the next half month or so, there was no further news of the Crown Prince in the court.
Many ministers were discussing it.
Because the ministers were always trying to curry favor with him and introducing their daughters to him, Si Qi was kept in the imperial study by the emperor to ask if he had a woman he liked.
Si Qi used the same excuse as before, politely declining the emperor's bestowed marriage, while asking with suspicion, "Have I not seen His Highness the Crown Prince recently?"
The emperor gets angry whenever he hears Chu Feng's name.
That guy was ambitious and had been clinging to Si Qi for so long that Si Qi had gotten used to his presence. Si Qi even felt uncomfortable not seeing him for a while.
The Emperor said, “The Crown Prince has made a mistake. I have ordered him to stay in the Eastern Palace and reflect on his actions.”
Si Qi asked worriedly, "His Highness the Crown Prince is gentle and respectful, how could he be like this?"
Seeing that Si Qi spoke highly of Chu Feng, the emperor was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and didn't know what to say.
He changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about that. If Minister Si doesn't like women, then is there a man you like?"
The emperor knew his crown prince well. As long as Si Qi was already with someone else, no matter how much the crown prince admired Si Qi, he would never do anything to interfere or break them up.
Si Qi shook his head.
“Your talent is exceptional, and you are unlikely to be found among ordinary people,” the Emperor said. “Then why not take a better look and find a few of each: those with good looks, those with high knowledge, and those with strong martial skills.”
Si Qi was both amused and exasperated: "Your Majesty, I only need one person. I do not wish for anyone else to enter our relationship."
The emperor couldn't understand Si Qi's thoughts. How could someone who could have a group of men but only wanted one?
However, he also had to admit that it was indeed a good virtue, and that promiscuous and fickle behavior was not something to be publicly praised.
Si Qi's words were tantamount to saying that if he found a man he liked, he would never look for another woman, and he wouldn't even allow that man to look for another woman.
The latter is alright, after all, Lord Si doesn't want anyone else and only wants to be with him, which already shows his deep affection for him. But he dares to shamelessly go and have children with other women, which is truly shameless.
The former, however...
The emperor said, "Then you don't want children?"
"I teach my younger siblings, or other people's children, in the same way," Si Qi said. "When it comes to inheritance, what's important is never bloodline, but thought. Bloodline may one day be cut off, but thought will be passed down from generation to generation, and live on forever."
The emperor remained silent.
He recalled the words of sages from thousands of years ago that he had read in books, and the many great people whose spirits live on even though their descendants have died out.
Compared to the descendants of great people who have long since disappeared, their thoughts and spirit are what truly resonate with people and will endure forever.
Perhaps this is the magnanimity of a sage; the emperor had to admit that he was moved by the spirit in Si Qi's words.
Moreover, even if Si Qi's successor is not Si Qi's biological son, Si Qi's wisdom and spirit can still be passed on to Si Qi's apprentices, nephews, and any next generation raised by Si Qi.
Since Si Qi had clearly stated that he did not care, after careful consideration, the emperor felt that there was no need to dwell on whether Si Qi should have children or not, and to impose his own ideas on Si Qi.
He couldn't bear to force his beloved Si Aiqing.
People in the future will not care about the descendants of the Si family who have long since lost touch with Si Qi; they will only truly respect Si Qi's thoughts and achievements.
The emperor sighed, his heart filled with mixed emotions, and said, "No wonder Tianmu said that you, my dear minister, have lived a lonely life and never had any children."
At that time, the emperor thought that Si Qi was in a bad situation and that no woman was willing to be with him. Now that he thinks about it, Si Qi was the one who kept his word. He said he didn't want to delay those women, and he really didn't even have a child.
Considering Si Qi's "lonely future" in the sky, the emperor's bottom line has been lowered again and again, from "Minister Si must get married" at the beginning, to "Minister Si can marry a man but must have offspring", and now to: "Even if you don't want offspring, at least find someone to take care of you".
Si Qi: "I will."
Seeing Si Qi's refined and pleasing appearance, the Emperor thought that with Si Qi's qualities, he would surely have no trouble finding someone he liked. So he couldn't help but say, "If you have someone you admire, just tell me, and I will personally act as your matchmaker!"
Si Qi: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"But it's best not to let the Crown Prince get too close to you," the Emperor kindly advised. "He clearly knows your situation, yet he still demanded to be with you that day—"
The emperor suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Wait.
It's understandable that Chu Feng is infatuated with Si Aiqing and shamelessly demands to sleep with her.
But Minister Si is not the kind of person who doesn't know his place. After revealing his orientation, how could he still agree to the Crown Prince's request? Didn't he say that he wanted to be with only one person for life and didn't want others to interfere in his relationship with his beloved?
The emperor grew increasingly uneasy, looking at Si Qi with suspicion and uncertainty, and tentatively asked, "What do you think of the Crown Prince, my dear minister?"
Si Qi's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly lowered his head, trembling as he said, "Your subject dares not, Your subject, Your subject..."
The emperor's mind went blank. Seeing Si Qi's reaction, he knew perfectly well that Si Qi also had feelings for Chu Feng.
Yes, yes, Chu Feng initially didn't know that Si Qi preferred men, and asked to sleep with Si Qi. Si Qi agreed, which was simply a matter of good relations between ruler and subject, and no one would think much of it.
Si Qi clearly knew long ago that she was in love with the man. Even if she wanted to avoid suspicion or not want to be taken advantage of, she shouldn't have agreed to the Crown Prince's proposal!
If Si Qi truly does not wish to, how can the Crown Prince force him?
Si Qi was clearly willing.
The emperor felt dizzy and looked at Si Qi with a pained expression.
Seeing Si Qi's pale face and terrified expression, the emperor didn't know what to say to Si Qi. Si Qi clearly knew the gravity of the situation and didn't dare to consider being with the crown prince.
Si Qi bowed deeply and said in a heavy tone, "Please punish me, Your Majesty."
The emperor remained silent for a long time.
A deathly silence fell over the atmosphere. The emperor, seeing Si Qi, who was always so composed, looking so grief-stricken, felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help but try to excuse Si Qi in his mind.
His crown prince was so outstanding, far surpassing ordinary people, it was perfectly normal for Minister Si to admire the handsome and extraordinary crown prince and look down on others.
Besides, the Crown Prince also likes Minister Si, so it can't be said that Minister Si deliberately took advantage of the Crown Prince.
Not to mention that Minister Si also said that he, cough cough, is the woman among men, so if you really want to calculate it, it was clearly him who was taken advantage of by the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, Minister Si never expressed his love for the Crown Prince from beginning to end, keeping his feelings hidden in his heart. What wrong did he do? He never hurt anyone! He couldn't even ask his parents, brothers, or his beloved for a marriage proposal like other women do when pursuing men.
Minister Si, you suffer so much.
The emperor, whose favoritism was boundless, felt more and more sorry for Si Qi. Seeing Si Qi trembling and looking desperate, he got down and helped Si Qi up, saying gently, "My dear minister, don't be afraid, I don't blame you."
Si Qi's voice was hoarse: "I never dared to dream of being with the Crown Prince. I am willing to dedicate myself to the Great Qi and die for it, to assist Your Majesty and the Crown Prince."
These words made the emperor feel even more sorry for her. He said, "Why do you suffer like this, my dear minister? There are so many outstanding men out there!"
Si Qi lowered his head and said, "But they are not His Highness. I have seen His Highness, so how can I see anyone else? If I cannot stay with His Highness forever, I am willing to live a lonely life."
After much hesitation, the emperor tentatively asked, "What if I were to allow you to be with the Crown Prince in private?"
Si Qi shook his head, "Your Highness will have other people. I cannot accept that. It would have been better if we had never been together in the first place."
The emperor had a headache.
Indeed, judging from the way the Crown Prince looked at Minister Si with such disdain, Minister Si must have already realized that the Crown Prince liked her. The reason she didn't say anything or confess was because she thought the Crown Prince would have other women, so she preferred to keep it a secret for life rather than compromise, right?
The emperor sighed repeatedly, recalling that Si Qi had chosen to withdraw voluntarily and had never had the slightest thought of using his status to demand concessions from the royal family. He could not possibly blame Si Qi for this.
Si Qi has already made it clear that he will not force the emperor or Chu Feng, and the emperor cannot make any more demands on Si Qi.
The problem lies with Chu Feng.
During his confinement, Chu Feng constantly tried to gain the emperor's favor by having people do so, saying that he didn't want children or concubines, only Lord Si, and that Lord Si was the only one in his heart. He said he was unworthy to be the crown prince, that his father had chosen another prince, and that he didn't want the throne, only Lord Si…
These words are simply unbearable to hear! They only make me angrier the more I listen!
Looking at Minister Si's expression that said, "I only want His Highness the Crown Prince, otherwise I'll be a lonely widow for life," the Emperor was at his wits' end, worrying himself sick over these two unfortunate children.
He figured that time might heal all wounds, so he delayed letting the two meet, trying to straighten them out.
But a month passed, then two months, and even the Zhao family was wiped out and their heads were scattered all over the market. Many big and small things happened in the court, but Si Qi and Chu Feng remained the same.
The emperor was troubled and worried. Then one day, the celestial canopy that appeared every few days brought up a rather unusual topic.
The content is: "A Detailed Account of the Unfortunate Couples Separated Throughout History"
emperor:"…………"
Why does this Heavenly Curtain interfere in everything?! Does it really not tolerate His beloved Minister being wronged?!
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