Huo Liang wants the empire? Fine, take it. He wants the beauty? Sure, take them too. 
But why does he have to bring so many people here?

I slowly lowered my head and reached out to tug at Huo Liang’s sleeve, trying to negotiate:

“My dear minister, do you really want to sit on this throne?”

Huo Liang, completely ignoring our past friendship, pushed me aside: 
“Your Majesty, isn’t the situation clear enough?”

I was so moved I nearly cried: 
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? Why bring so many people? You know I have social anxiety!”

I gave a signal to the eunuch, who immediately presented the Imperial Seal. 
Huo Liang glanced at the seal in his hand, frowning slightly. 
I looked at him, wearing the imperial robes and holding the seal, feeling a wave of relief: 
“I’m finally free!”

Then, I stylishly took off my imperial robe and pushed aside the sword sheath blocking me. 
“Alright, I’m outta here!”

The next second, I took off running.

But after only a few steps, someone grabbed my belt from behind. 
“Careful! That’s the last piece of clothing I have on!”

A cold voice came from behind: 
“Did Your Majesty not hear what I just said?”

What?

He stood tall and straight: 
“Your Majesty, I want you.”

Want me?

I stomped my foot in frustration: 
“Huo Liang, what are you thinking? We’re childhood friends, brothers!”

“Your Majesty, there is no room for negotiation anymore.”

“Then just kill me! I’m so tired of attending court every day. I’ve been ready to die for a long time. 
Now that you’ve taken the throne, I have nothing to worry about.”

Does he even understand the damage attending court does to someone with social anxiety?

No, he doesn’t.

“With Your Majesty saying that, I suddenly don’t want the throne anymore.”

Huo Liang waved his hand, and the soldiers surrounding the palace retreated. 
Then, he returned the Imperial Seal to me. 
“Long live the Emperor.”

What the heck? 
Did he just call off a coup?

I awkwardly smiled, set down the Imperial Seal, and turned to run again.

Suddenly, the ministers knelt in unison in front of me: 
“Please reconsider, Your Majesty.”

These old fools!

Huo Liang followed me at a leisurely pace: 
“Your Majesty, you can’t escape.”

“I only desire you now, Your Majesty. If you are unwilling, you will have to face court alone from now on.”

A throbbing pain hit my temples: 
“And what about you?”

Huo Liang lazily strolled to the center of the hall: 
“I’m not interested in the throne anymore, so I’ll leave.”

“Your Majesty must not let this man leave. 
He is cunning and surely has more plans in store. My brother, who fights at the frontier, will swiftly come to your aid when he hears of your danger.”

From the border? Good. He can collect my corpse. 
Such careful planning.

“For the sake of the empire and the people, Your Majesty, please reconsider.”

I gritted my teeth: 
“My dear minister, what do you want? Speak freely.”

A good emperor knows how to endure and adapt. 
I’ll deal with Huo Liang later.

“I don’t ask for much. I just wish for Your Majesty to sleep with me in the Hall of Mental Cultivation every night.”

I sighed with relief: 
“Well, that’s all? You scared me earlier with all that talk about marrying me. I agree.”

Minister Zhang, accompanied by other officials, knelt down: 
“Your Majesty, reconsider! The Regent has a passion for men! He is after your royal person!”

Huo Liang chuckled lightly: 
“The emperor’s words are not to be taken lightly. Since His Majesty has agreed, I will assist him to the best of my ability. If any minister objects, feel free to confront me directly.”

---

That night, Huo Liang and I shared a bed. 
I noticed something odd and turned to see Huo Liang’s toned muscles exposed.

Confused, I asked: 
“Why do you like to sleep without clothes, my dear minister?”

He turned and met my gaze, his eyes slowly trailing downward. 
Frightened, I immediately shielded my backside.

“What are you thinking, Your Majesty?”

“You said some strange things earlier today. Wouldn’t it be weird if I didn’t think about it?”

“You worry too much, Your Majesty. I simply wish for you to keep me company, just like when we were children.”

Huo Liang and I had grown up together, childhood friends. 
As a prince, I always had a few noble children to keep me company. Huo Liang, sent to the palace by his family, became my study companion and playmate. 
The Huo family was a military clan, and from a young age, Huo Liang had always aspired to become a great general like his father. 
Unlike me, the useless prince, Huo Liang was the favorite student of the Grand Tutor, destined for great things.

He accomplished many great feats and grew more influential in court. My brothers, who fought for power, all wanted to win him over. 
But Huo Liang remained indifferent, choosing only to be friends with me. 
Because of this, we were inseparable growing up.

Whenever I was mistreated in the palace, I would run to Huo Liang, sleeping beside him and talking until dawn. 
He would stand up to my bullying brothers and scold the lazy palace servants for me. 
His presence made me feel secure.

“After the fall of the Huo family, I haven’t had a single peaceful night’s sleep. Only with Your Majesty by my side can I rest.”

Speaking of the Huo family brought sorrow to Huo Liang’s face. 
If not for the late emperor’s distrust, the Huo family wouldn’t have been reduced to just Huo Liang.

“Had it not been for Your Majesty pleading for me before the emperor, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Huo Liang had a noticeable scar on his waist. 
When I was sixteen, I fell from a horse, but Huo Liang caught me, saving my life. 
We both crashed to the ground, but I was unharmed while his waist was injured by the stones beneath us.

Since then, every time it rains, his waist injury flares up with pain.

I gently touched the scar on his waist: 
“Is your injury feeling better?”

His back stiffened, and he pulled the blanket over the scar: 
“It’s much better.”

How strange. 
He was the one who wanted me to sleep beside him, yet now he’s blushing.

“Huo Liang, if I hadn’t agreed, would you really have killed those ministers?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you wouldn’t.”

Huo Liang’s hand gently brushed my hair: 
“If Your Majesty believes I wouldn’t, then I wouldn’t.”