BLPSG Chapter 40: If I like a man

The Emperor increasingly relied on the Fuxuan Flower Pill, but its effects became uncontrollable—sometimes beneficial, other times detrimental.

 

That night’s events remained suppressed on the surface, with everyone present maintaining silence. Privately, however, the news spread like wildfire, becoming the topic of every conversation.

 

The Songxiu Palace was a crucial stop during the Emperor’s southern tour. Apart from paying respects at the mausoleum and temples and assessing public sentiment, the Emperor also performed a ritual here to honor the River God, seeking favorable weather for the canal and the entire Jiangnan region.

 

For the people of this era, such rituals held immense significance. All members of the imperial family, including the previously confined Consort Hui and Xie Guanzhi, stood alongside Xie Zhaolin on the banks of the Yin River.

 

The Emperor was the central figure in this ceremony, the others were mere spectators. As the Imperial physician, Wen Qingci stood at the back, just as he had during the previous celestial rites.

Wen Qingci had only participated in one grand ritual before and was unfamiliar with the specifics of this era’s ceremonies. However, he believed that royal events should be grand and sacred.

 

Yet, today’s river ritual felt oddly out of place. The flat terrain by the river made it difficult to see beyond the crowd. Wen Qingci glimpsed distant priests in purple robes, wielding swords—a far cry from the typical imperial ceremonies. Were they performing some other kind of ritual?

 

It wasn’t just his imagination, a chill crept up Wen Qingci’s spine. He recalled the story Xie Bufeng had shared about the hidden secrets behind this canal. Perhaps the Emperor’s unwavering southern tour, directly to Songxiu Palace, was driven by a desire to suppress vengeful spirits through these rituals.

 

In this era, it was entirely plausible.

 

As drums played ahead, Wen Qingci closed his eyes. Clutching the medicinal jade hanging from his wrist, he felt an inexplicable coldness despite the summer sun. The cicadas’ chirping and the wind seemed to transform into mournful wails.

 

Beneath the wide canal lay countless restless souls, burdened by injustice. The river ceremony seemed to bring some solace to the Emperor’s troubled heart.

 

Later that afternoon, when Wen Qingci checked the Emperor’s pulse, he noticed that the Emperor had called Consort Lan over. They played chess as usual. June had arrived, and the air in Songxiu Palace carried a sultry heat.

 

While diagnosing the Emperor’s symptoms and noting the adverse reactions to the Fuxuan Flower Pill, Wen Qingci paid little attention to their casual conversation. Until Consort Lan’s voice unexpectedly rose a few decibels:

 

“…The busy traffic on the Yin River is crucial for our grain supply. Your foresight in implementing this policy was remarkable, Your Majesty.” Consort Lan smiled, placing a chess piece on the board.

 

The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly. Xie Zhaolin, well-maintained despite his age, had developed deep wrinkles between his brows.

 

“Previous dynasties had discussed this matter, and I merely put it into practice,” the Emperor replied calmly. Unlike other eras, this dynasty did not shy away from discussing past events or tarnishing their memory.

 

Whenever they spoke of the past, the Emperor’s words carried a mix of reverence and nostalgia, as if he couldn’t discern truth from fiction.

 

Consort Lan had often broached topics related to previous dynasties. This time, she spoke casually, as if referring to a long-lost friend.

 

Wen Qingci, initially uninterested in their conversation, now listened attentively. Consort Lan’s words hinted at a connection between the Emperor and the late Emperor Ai. Their ages were similar, and they likely knew each other well.

 

Perhaps that’s why Consort Lan spoke so casually, treating Emperor Ai as an ordinary friend from years past.

 

Seeing the slight change in the Emperor’s expression, Wen Qingci realized that Consort Lan’s words had touched a sensitive chord. The Emperor’s lips tightened, and he absentmindedly tapped the chessboard.

 

“He did indeed have an affinity for Songxiu Palace,” the Emperor said, finishing the game abruptly and changing the subject.

 

Consort Lan dropped the matter of the past. As they played a few more moves, the game ended hastily.

 

After finding solace in the river ritual, the Emperor had regained some calm. But now, his gaze grew distant once more as he held the Fuxuan Flower Pill.

 

“Beloved consort, tend to the princess. I need some rest,” the Emperor said in a low voice.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Consort Lan rose gracefully, leaving the room with her usual composure.

 

Hearing the emperor say that he wanted to rest, Wen Qingci also prepared to leave.

 

Just as he raised his hand to pack up the medicine box, Xian Gonggong entered the hall with a man clad in silver armor. The air carried a faint scent of blood.

 

The man bowed hastily, without even glancing at his surroundings, and knelt down and said, “Your Majesty! The Northern Di people are heading south, gathering all their forces and heading straight for Changyuan… They not only stole cattle and sheep, but also… even…”

 

Having said this, he suddenly began to hesitate.

 

“What’s the matter?” The emperor raised his voice, “Just tell me!”

 

The man slammed his head heavily on the ground again, and finally squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth: “Even… occupied Changyuan.”

 

The emperor’s face suddenly turned ugly.

 

No one expected that this time the leader of Northern Di would not play by the rules at all.

 

After returning to the grassland after looting, they only took a short rest before heading south again to occupy Changyuan, located at the northernmost tip of Wei Dynasty!

 

Logically speaking, this amount of time is not enough for them to repair and recover from the disaster…

 

But they chose to take the risk.

 

A faint green smoke flowed out from the gaps in the incense burner, tying people inside like a silk thread.

 

The emperor took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “Sit down first and tell me in detail.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Seeing that the two were going to talk about military intelligence, Wen Qingci packed his medicine box a little faster.

 

Just as he packed up his things and prepared to leave the back hall, the emperor suddenly spoke, and said slowly in the direction of Wen Qingci: “…The eldest prince is about to turn eighteen. Logically speaking, he should have left the palace and set up his own residence long ago.”

 

Perhaps because of the long period of incense burning, his voice became particularly low.

 

Wen Qingci’s footsteps paused slightly.

 

After saying this, the emperor turned around and murmured to the man in military armor beside him: “Now, he should also go and gain some experience.”

 

The other party was stunned for a moment. Although he didn’t understand what the emperor meant, he nodded hurriedly.

 

Wen Qingci slowly walked out of the back hall.

 

He couldn’t help but stand in the yard and coughed lightly twice.

 

The person who came to deliver the military report might not understand what the emperor meant.

 

But after hearing this, he, who had watched “Supporting the Ming Hall”, understood everything.

 

——The emperor wanted to send Xie Bufeng to the battlefield.

 

“Your Majesty… uh, Your Majesty?” Inside the hall, the soldier talked for a long time before realizing that the emperor had lost his concentration at some point.

 

His eyes were still on the place where Wen Qingci disappeared, and no one knew what he was thinking.

 

The emperor slowly withdrew his gaze.

 

“Continue,” he said softly, taking a sip of tea.

 

“Yes…”

 

Seizing the opportunity while sipping his tea, the emperor concealed the smile on his face.

 

He intended to kill Xie Bufeng.

 

But this eldest prince of his, apart from being a bit unlikeable, hadn’t committed any major offenses.

 

As a “benevolent ruler” and a father, he couldn’t arbitrarily punish Xie Bufeng or secretly have the young man killed to avoid scandal.

 

After careful consideration, sending Xie Bufeng to the battlefield seemed like the best choice.

 

Xie Bufeng had grown up in Suzhou and had no exposure to martial arts or military matters.

 

Sending him to face the new leader of the northern barbarians on the battlefield was essentially sending him to his death.

 

But so what?

 

The emperor’s smile widened.

 

As a prince, Xie Bufeng should undergo trials, and dying on the battlefield would only indicate his lack of talent.

 

The silhouette of Wen Qingci had already disappeared completely outside the hall.

 

In the emperor’s eyes, his plan was nearly flawless.

 

The only variable was Wen Qingci.

 

Everyone in the Taishu Palace knew that Xie Bufeng was always by Wen Qingci’s side, almost inseparable from him.

 

And Wen Qingci, who is a Hanlin, was also the emperor’s confidant.

 

The emperor wasn’t worried that Wen Qingci, who was focused on medicine and indifferent to court affairs, would help Xie Bufeng.

 

His concern was that after Xie Bufeng went to the battlefield, those around him might place the young man in a safer position out of respect for Wen Qingci.

 

However, solving this problem was simple.

 

…Just have Wen Qingci personally send Xie Bufeng to the battlefield.

 

Knowing the emperor’s intentions, Wen Qingci became increasingly uneasy.

 

That night, he half-dreamed and half-awoke, barely getting two hours of sleep.

 

His heart raced with anxiety.

 

As dawn broke, Wen Qingci got up, changed clothes, and left his room to get some fresh air and calm down.

 

Although it was summer, the early mornings at Songxiu Manor still carried a chill in the air.

 

Wandering aimlessly, Wen Qingci recalled the plot of “Supporting the Ming Hall” while strolling past the artificial hills within the manor.

 

Before he realized it, he stood outside a familiar courtyard.

 

—Xie Bufeng temporarily resided here.

 

This was the most secluded corner of the entire estate.

 

Apart from the artificial hills and a small grove, there was nothing else around.

 

Xie Bufeng hadn’t locked the courtyard door, there was a slight gap.

 

A silver light flashed from inside the hall.

 

Through the half-open door, Wen Qingci saw that Xie Bufeng was already up, just like himself.

 

The young man was practicing swordsmanship alone in the courtyard.

 

In his hand was an unadorned, rust-streaked black sword.

 

Despite its lack of decoration, the sword seemed to come alive in Xie Bufeng’s hands, exuding a fierce aura.

 

His sword techniques were straightforward and powerful, purely focused on offense and defense.

 

Each move was aimed at taking a life.

 

Wen Qingci’s heavy mood lightened slightly as he watched Xie Bufeng’s swordplay.

 

Xie Bufeng is a genius.

 

He had trained this heavy sword to such a level using only martial manuals…

 

No wonder he broke free from the emperor’s deadly trap, climbed out of the pile of corpses, and fought his way back to Yongdu.

 

The courtyard where Xie Bufeng lived was barely maintained, with loose gravel on the ground.

 

Seeing something at his feet, Wen Qingci bent down and picked up a stone absentmindedly.

 

In the next moment, he hurled it toward Xie Bufeng’s position.

 

Wen Qingci didn’t have much internal strength, but precision mattered more with hidden weapons, it was about using the small to defeat the large.

 

During the palace incident, the guards who had come for him couldn’t evade Wen Qingci’s hidden weapons.

 

However, this time, before the stone could reach Xie Bufeng, it was deflected by the sword energy emanating from the young man’s blade, falling heavily to the ground.

 

“Your Highness’s skills are truly remarkable,” Wen Qingci couldn’t help but praise the young man.

 

At his words, Xie Bufeng slowly lowered the heavy sword in his hand.

 

The icy, murderous look in Xie Bufeng’s eyes suddenly softened.

 

After Wen Qingci’s praise, Xie Bufeng lowered his gaze.

 

It took a moment before he softly uttered a “thank you.”

 

The usually straightforward young man hesitated on how to respond to Wen Qingci’s words.

 

Wen Qingci noticed that Xie Bufeng was dressed in black attire, suitable for sword practice.

 

His hair tie had come loose, and his slightly curled black hair cascaded down his back.

 

Xie Bufeng’s forehead glistened with sweat, and a few strands of hair clung to his face, accentuating his sharp features, making him appear even more dangerous.

 

He seemed to have transformed from a wild beast into a man.

 

Wen Qingci was momentarily shaken by the coldness in Xie Bufeng’s amber eyes.

 

Pausing, Wen Qingci smiled and approached Xie Bufeng.

 

“Where’s your hair tie, Your Highness?”

 

His melodious voice flowed like a stream through Xie Bufeng’s heart.

 

The young man absentmindedly touched his hair, only then realizing that the silk ribbon had slipped off at some point.

 

Was he being impolite in his current state?

 

As this unfamiliar thought crossed Xie Bufeng’s mind, he heard a soft sound.

 

Wen Qingci slowly removed the string of pale blue medicinal jade beads from his wrist.

 

Xie Bufeng’s small courtyard was not large, and the steps leading inside were right behind him.

 

Unconsciously, Xie Bufeng had grown taller than Wen Qingci by almost half a head.

 

Wen Qingci climbed two steps to barely reach Xie Bufeng’s head.

 

The young man didn’t understand what Wen Qingci was doing, and he instinctively turned to look at him.

 

“Your Highness, stay still.”

 

Wen Qingci’s hand gently landed on Xie Bufeng’s shoulder, stopping the young man’s movement.

 

Then, with patience, he carefully gathered Xie Bufeng’s long hair.

 

Xie Bufeng had thick, naturally wavy hair that wasn’t easy to manage.

 

But Wen Qingci’s movements were exceptionally patient.

 

Even though nothing had happened yet, and Wen Qingci still harbored thoughts of altering the plot, he couldn’t help feeling guilty when he recalled the original description.

 

Accompanying that guilt was a sense of nervousness.

 

Realizing that Wen Qingci was about to tie his hair, Xie Bufeng became cautious.

 

This quiet version of himself, so different from the rebellious and sharp young man he’d first met, tugged at Wen Qingci’s heartstrings.

 

Perhaps it was due to guilt.

 

The way Wen Qingci looked at Xie Bufeng made him seem pitiable.

 

Like a well-behaved wolfhound that was still destined to be abandoned…

 

Wen Qingci: “…”

 

Wait, what is he even thinking?

 

How can he compare the future big boss to an animal?

 

Wen Qingci quickly pushed aside his jumbled thoughts.

 

With care, he used the slender, pale blue medicinal jade beads to secure Xie Bufeng’s hair.

 

His loose sleeves brushed against Xie Bufeng’s cheek as they slid down from his wrist.

 

The faint scent of herbs enveloped the young man.

 

Xie Bufeng instinctively tried to hold his breath but couldn’t resist greedily inhaling.

 

In a daze, he reached out and grasped Wen Qingci’s wrist.

 

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

 

Wen Qingci’s heart skipped a beat.

 

Xie Bufeng held onto Wen Qingci’s hand, slowly turning around.

 

He ascended a step, leaving only a short distance between them.

 

Their heights suddenly aligned.

 

Wen Qingci felt a strange illusion… His nose was just a hair’s breadth away from touching Xie Bufeng’s.

 

Their breaths mingled unintentionally, and Wen Qingci instinctively turned his head to avoid the young man’s gaze.

 

But at this moment, Xie Bufeng looked directly into his eyes and almost haltingly asked, “What should I do if… if I fall in love with another man?”

 

Xie Bufeng’s expression remained calm, but his heart was nearly bursting from his chest.

 

He had just uttered the most audacious words of his seventeen years.

 

His voice, at this moment, sounded unusually hoarse.

 

And it carried an unprecedented danger.

 

T_T Is that a Confession???OMGGG………please don’t come after me for this cliffhanger