Chapter 87: "Your Majesty, Mine.
Xu Shikai failed to persuade the Emperor and could only leave dejectedly.
On the way, he ran into Xu Xingchen, who was preparing to see the Emperor. Xu Shikai’s face fell. "Your cousin has had her engagement called off."
Xu Xingchen stopped in his tracks and stated the facts plainly. "Zhu Liang frequented prostitutes and indirectly caused someone’s death. A scumbag like that is not worthy of Xu Ling."
Logically, it shouldn’t have been Xu Ling who had the engagement broken off, but the Xu Family who should have broken it off.
Xu Shikai clenched his fists. "Mr. Zhu is a dear friend of mine, and he has helped your father in the past. You show no regard for our personal ties. How am I supposed to face them?"
Xu Xingchen could not understand. "So, for the sake of your own pride, Uncle, you’re willing to sacrifice your own daughter’s future?"
Xu Shikai explained hastily, "He was just sowing his wild oats. He’ll settle down once he’s married. All men are like that."
Except for a freak like Xu Xingchen.
He didn’t understand the ways of the world, much less the affairs between men and women. He’s as stubborn as a block of wood, utterly devoid of feeling.
"He didn’t directly kill that prostitute. Her life was cheap, so how can he be blamed for her death? You already had him beaten; that’s punishment enough. Why sentence him to three years in prison? It’s too harsh..." He had said this to Xu Xingchen more than once.
Xu Xingchen couldn’t comprehend his uncle’s reasoning, nor would he compromise for it. Since they couldn’t see eye to eye, he turned and left, refusing to waste another word.
When Xu Xingchen arrived at Zichen Palace, Xiao Yang was just about to begin her meal, her chopsticks newly in hand.
"Add a bowl and a pair of chopsticks for him."
Xu Xingchen, not one for false modesty, did as Xiao Yang bid and sat down right beside her.
"Are you having fun at the Ministry of Justice?" Xiao Yang asked.
"Mm," Xu Xingchen replied.
Xiao Yang smiled. "As long as you’re enjoying yourself."
Xiao Yang didn’t feel it was necessary to tell Xu Xingchen what his uncle had said.
’For a child with certain social deficiencies like him, being misunderstood is the norm.’
"I’ve reviewed the cases you’ve presided over these last few days. They’re quite good."
Many felt Xu Xingchen’s sentences were too severe. A scion of a noble family merely raped a commoner woman and was sentenced to castration. Another merely beat a poor man to death and was forced to forfeit his own life. It was simply too unfair, they cried.
In their eyes, they were a cut above the rest; the lives of the poor were not lives at all.
Xu Xingchen didn’t understand such convoluted logic. He simply acted according to the law. Because of his inability to see nuance—right was right, and wrong was wrong—he had, ironically, brought true fairness to the value of a life.
The Xu Family wanted Xu Xingchen to compromise, to play the game of social obligations and connections, because that was the world they lived in.
But Xiao Yang... she simply liked Xu Xingchen’s extraordinary rigor and dispassion. It was as if Xu Xingchen had been born for the sole purpose of administering justice.
Therefore, as long as she was on the throne, she would protect him. If she were to die, well, any ensuing chaos would be none of her concern.
Xiao Yang placed a piece of food in Xu Xingchen’s bowl. He stared at it, wide-eyed and overwhelmed by the gesture, before obediently eating it.
Xiao Yang chuckled, poured herself a cup of wine, and asked him, "Want some?"
Xu Xingchen hesitated. Xu Xingchen nodded. And then, Xu Xingchen was drunk.
His cheeks were visibly flushed, and his eyes were glazed over. From his dazed expression, it was clear he was drunk.
From just one cup!
Xiao Yang grew a little worried. ’It couldn’t be an allergic reaction, could it?’
Xu Xingchen tried to stand, but as soon as he got to his feet, he pitched forward right into Xiao Yang. She quickly caught him, and as she steadied him, she felt his skin. He was burning up.
"Quick, summon an Imperial Physician!"
Drunk, Xu Xingchen was surprisingly docile. He just stared at her foolishly, eyes full of fascination, murmuring things like, "hide..." and "mine..."
Xiao Yang had Lin Yi help her support Xu Xingchen to a side hall.
The entire way, Xu Xingchen’s head rested in the crook of Xiao Yang’s neck. As he breathed in her scent, he felt himself grow even more intoxicated.
The Imperial Physician came and confirmed that Xu Xingchen was simply drunk; there was nothing seriously wrong.
’He really is a lightweight.’
Xiao Yang ordered someone to brew a sobering soup. Just as she was about to rise, Xu Xingchen gripped her hand tightly. When drunk, the little freak couldn’t hide his true thoughts at all. His eyes were filled with longing and greed. "Your Majesty... mine."
Xiao Yang flicked him on the forehead. "Dream on!"
After drinking the sobering soup, Xu Xingchen fell asleep, and Xiao Yang paid him no more mind.
She reviewed some memorials for a while, then went to bed when the hour grew late, completely unaware of the storm brewing outside the palace walls.
Xu Xingchen had stayed the night in Zichen Palace!
He was the first man ever to spend the night in Zichen Palace!
Her Majesty, it seemed, had finally made her move on a man!
CRACK!
In the Regent Prince Mansion, Rong Yin had crushed a teacup in his bare hand.
Qing Feng reported, "Xu Xingchen was drunk and slept in a side hall. Her Majesty paid him no attention."
"I know."
Rong Yin lowered his gaze. He knew Her Majesty wasn’t that kind of person, but he was still consumed by jealousy.
Her Majesty avoided him like the plague, yet she was so tolerant of that boy.
Once news spread that the Emperor had taken Xu Xingchen as a favorite, those who had been wronged by him couldn’t help but curse him for his shamelessness.
He was relying on the Emperor’s favor to act with impunity! A man, willing to debase himself as a male consort—he had brought utter shame upon the Xu Family.
The next morning, Xiao Yang was informed of the rumors swirling about. There was no need for an explanation. She hadn’t done anything, so what was there to explain?
There was no explaining a matter like this; the more you try to clear your name, the guiltier you look. It was better to pretend she hadn’t heard a thing. The rumors would die down on their own eventually.
The doors to her chambers were pushed open, and there was Rong Yin, already waiting.
"Today is the day this subject is scheduled to tutor Your Majesty."
SLAM!
Xiao Yang slammed the door shut with a deadpan expression. ’I must still be asleep,’ she thought. ’This has to be a nightmare.’
At the breakfast table, to her left sat a still-drowsy and bewildered Xu Xingchen, who had just woken up. To her right sat Rong Yin, his face a stony mask radiating cold anger.
Between them, Xiao Yang held her bowl, eating at a leisurely pace.
But the moment she remembered that she was about to resume her miserable days of studying and martial arts training, her food suddenly lost its flavor.
After the meal, Xiao Yang went to the Imperial Study Room. Xu Xingchen had to leave the Imperial Palace for his official duties, so only Rong Yin followed behind her.
Books, a disciplinary ruler, and the Four Treasures of the Study.
The sight made Xiao Yang’s temples throb. "Rong Yin, you should know that no one likes a harsh and cruel teacher."
Rong Yin decisively pushed the ruler and books toward Xiao Yang. "Then how about the reverse? Your Majesty can teach this subject instead."
Xiao Yang was speechless. ’...’ She had expected him to bring up the late Emperor.
’This was a move she truly hadn’t anticipated.’
"I’m hardly qualified to teach you. Why don’t we discuss official business instead?"
Xiao Yang brought out the memorials regarding the recent disaster, inviting Rong Yin to review them with her. They then discussed matters of disaster relief, the punishment of the responsible officials, and the selection of new ones.
Once they began discussing matters of state, any hint of romantic tension vanished.
Xiao Yang’s rare, serious attitude thwarted all of Rong Yin’s ulterior motives.
They worked until noon, at which point Xiao Yang ran off to eat without inviting Rong Yin to join her.
When Rong Yin returned to the Imperial Study Room, he waited for a long time, but she never appeared. Realizing the Little Emperor had likely run off again, he immediately went to find her. This time, however, the Little Emperor was not in the Imperial Palace.
The gates of the Imperial Palace could no longer hold her.
Rong Yin searched everywhere, only to discover that it wasn’t just the Little Emperor who was missing. The three Xiao brothers were gone, Xie Liuzheng was gone, and so was Xu Xingchen.
She had even taken Xiao Jinsu with her, leaving him, and only him, behind.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yang, having finally escaped the palace: ’Rong Yin who? Who cares! Time to go treasure hunting!’