Chapter 27

After Xie Fuyi agreed, Ye Baixiao released his restraint on him.

Xie Fuyi gained his freedom, but Zhang Xinyue was still waiting outside. He adjusted his tone and said, “Consort, I’m not feeling well today. You can leave the chicken soup here and return first. I’ll visit you another day.” After a pause, he added, “I’ll come to see you tomorrow.”

Zhang Xinyue heard his voice, slightly hoarse but still normal. She breathed a sigh of relief, and upon hearing that he would visit her, she happily agreed and handed the chicken soup to the attendant before leaving.

Inside the room, Ye Baixiao stirred the chicken soup brought by another woman, feeling uncomfortable. “This chicken soup looks unappetizing, and the chicken is old and dry. It’s not worthy of Your Majesty.” He said lightly as he prepared to pour it away.

“Wait.” Xie Fuyi had already dressed up. He coldly stopped Ye Baixiao, took the chicken soup, sat down at the table, and drank it all in one go. “Wasting food is disgraceful.”

Watching the young emperor finish the bowl of chicken soup, Ye Baixiao clenched his fists. He felt annoyed by what Xie Fuyi had said to the woman earlier, squinting his eyes, he said, “Your Majesty isn’t worried she might find out something? How about I help you solve the problem by… getting rid of her?”

“You dare!” Xie Fuyi was shocked… How could this protagonist-turned-attacker be even more vicious than this tyrant? Did he want to kill a girl so easily?

But his nervous and protective demeanor made Ye Baixiao feel uncomfortable, and his eyes darkened.

“Ye Baixiao, if you lay a hand on her, I’ll break all ties with you.” Xie Fuyi warned as he put down the bowl.

Ye Baixiao’s fingers tightened instantly. After a moment, he smiled lightly. “Alright, I’ll listen to Your Majesty. But tomorrow, Your Majesty must also keep your promise.”

Xie Fuyi: …If the other party stayed just to help him become the regent legitimately, then after tomorrow’s court session, he should have no more concerns, right?

Xie Fuyi felt it would be prudent to provoke him a bit more during the court session tomorrow.

…

The next morning, Xie Fuyi rose early.

The breakfast that was supposed to be served at court was now placed in front of him. There wasn’t much, just a bowl of white fungus lotus seed porridge and a stack of crystal dumplings. The porridge was soft and fragrant, and the dumplings, with their thin skin, were soaked in fragrant oil.

Xie Fuyi wasn’t wasteful when it came to food. He picked up his chopsticks and tasted it, pausing momentarily.

Ye Baixiao, with a slight smile at the corner of his lips, said lightly, “Your Majesty, how is the taste of today’s breakfast?”

Xie Fuyi didn’t speak, just ate the meal earnestly.

It wasn’t until Xie Fuyi elegantly finished the last bite that he put down his chopsticks and said, “Average.”

Ye Baixiao paused in his movements, gritting his teeth. “Then why did you finish it?”

“We can’t waste food.” Ye Baixiao glanced at him lightly. Why did this taste seem so familiar?

Ye Baixiao felt a lump in his throat. So, his early morning meal was just average? Did the other party finish it just to avoid wasting food?

…

After finishing breakfast, Xie Fuyi finally stepped out of his sleeping quarters.

Ye Baixiao had already prepared the imperial carriage. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Xie Fuyi, his lips curled into a smile, but there was a warning in his eyes. “Your Majesty has only been recuperating for two days, and your illness has just started to improve. It’s not advisable to stay outside for too long.”

His words were clearly a threat, warning him not to act rashly during the morning court session, and then he could return.

The young emperor remained expressionless, but the cold hatred in his eyes almost overflowed as he thought of how Ye Baixiao had coerced him yesterday. He scanned the surroundings; all the people around him had been replaced by Ye Baixiao’s men, and none of his usual attendants were present.

The young emperor could only hide his hatred and lower his eyes as he boarded the imperial carriage.

…

In the court, the officials were somewhat surprised. They hadn’t expected Xie Fuyi to appear in court so soon after just two days. The commotion caused by the entry of the army into the city made them think that the imperial city was about to undergo a change.

“Your Majesty, is the royal body still unharmed? Do you still need to reconsider the matter of appointing the regent to handle the court affairs…” an elderly official spoke up first.

Xie Fuyi glanced at Ye Baixiao, who stood tall at the forefront of the crowd. “General Ye has been concerned about me during these two days of illness,” he sneered, lifting his lips. “But Lord Chen is right. Now that I’m already well, there’s no need…”

“Your Majesty,” Ye Baixiao interrupted him, squinting slightly, his smile ambiguous. “Your Majesty’s illness has not yet healed. You need rest and should not force yourself.”

Ye Baixiao had already anticipated that once Xie Fuyi appeared in court, he probably wouldn’t be under his control anymore. But now that the entire capital was under his control, even if Xie Fuyi tore through this layer of paper, what could he do?

Xie Fuyi seemed to find it amusing, the slight curve of his lips carrying a hint of mockery. “It seems that the regent is not only good at military affairs but also quite skilled in medicine. If you say I’m healed, then I’m healed. If you say I need rest, then I’ll rest!”

The young emperor had always been unpredictable. He angrily grabbed an inkstone from the table and smashed it towards the floor. Ye Baixiao could easily have dodged it, but he remained motionless, letting the inkstone hit his forehead, drawing blood.

The officials were startled; This little emperor, where did he seem like he was being coerced by the regent? Wasn’t he still daring enough to smash the other’s head? They exchanged glances.

Ye Baixiao wiped the blood from his forehead. His deep black eyes looked at Xie Fuyi, but his words were directed at the elderly official from earlier. “Lord Chen, you are of advanced age. It’s time to retire and enjoy your later years in your hometown.”

As he finished speaking, with just a glance, the soldiers guarding outside the hall immediately stepped forward and forcibly “ushered” the elderly official out.

The young emperor was stunned, then gritted his teeth in anger. “Ye Baixiao!”

Ye Baixiao smiled faintly and looked deeply at him. “Your Majesty, it’s time to issue the decree.”

The young emperor remained silent. The two faced each other, silence spreading.

The officials were sweating profusely, feeling the atmosphere in the hall turning cold. They dared not make a sound.

But with Ye Baixiao’s men everywhere, the situation was stronger than the people. In the end, Xie Fuyi could only purse his lips and coldly waved his hand, instructing the eunuch beside him to read out the decree.

After the eunuch finished reading, Xie Fuyi leaned forward slightly, coldly looking at Ye Baixiao. “Since you have been conferred, Regent, why don’t you show your gratitude by kneeling and thanking me?”

The people around were stunned. For a moment, they didn’t dare to breathe.

Ye Baixiao’s military achievements were outstanding, and he had been conferred the title of Grand General by the former emperor. He didn’t even need to pay his respects or kneel. But now, the young emperor actually wanted him to kneel in public.

They thought Ye Baixiao would be furious, but unexpectedly, he just paused, then straightened up, a slight smile on his lips. With a graceful movement, he knelt down straight and thanked, “I thank Your Majesty for your gracious favor.”

Only after the young emperor was satisfied, his lips curled up, leaning back, not asking him to rise, and played with the white jade ring on his hand.

Ye Baixiao knelt for a while, his back still straight, but his legs were a bit stiff. He bowed slightly and smiled, “Your Majesty, your health is not yet fully restored. It’s best to rest after court.”

Although he was smiling, his black eyes were deep and unreadable.

Xie Fuyi glanced at him indifferently, but his eyes noticed the pearl hairpin that was revealed when Ye Baixiao raised his hand.

Xie Fuyi’s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression changing uncertainly for a moment. After a pause, he gritted his teeth and said, “Regent, you’re right, let’s adjourn!”

The officials didn’t understand why the young emperor had been in a good mood just now but suddenly became angry. In the end, they could only shake their heads. After all, the new emperor had always been unpredictable.

Xie Fuyi hurriedly wanted to leave, but was stopped by a leisurely voice, “Your Majesty, please stay.”

The guards beside Xie Fuyi quickly intercepted him.

Xie Fuyi paused, his face turned iron-blue as he turned back to look at Ye Baixiao.

Ye Baixiao slowly stood up. The corners of his lips curled slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes. “There are some matters that I need to discuss with Your Majesty in private.”

As his words fell, the others immediately sensibly began to leave, one by one. Soon, there were only Xie Fuyi standing in front of the dragon throne, and Ye Baixiao standing below it.

Although Xie Fuyi was clearly standing in a high position, Ye Baixiao’s momentum was even stronger, almost overwhelming. As he approached step by step, Xie Fuyi found himself almost forced to retreat step by step until he sat down on the dragon throne.

Ye Baixiao ascended the platform step by step, displaying the hairpin in his hand in front of Xie Fuyi. He said lightly, “Did His Majesty suddenly listen because of this?”

Xie Fuyi’s gaze fell on the hairpin—it belonged to Zhang Xinyue.

He pressed his lips together, looking nervous and anxious. “Ye Baixiao, what do you want? We can handle our own affairs, don’t involve others!”

“I didn’t expect His Majesty to care so much about the people around him.” Ye Baixiao turned the hairpin in his hand, his tone slightly mocking. Finally, he flipped his wrist, dropping the hairpin to the ground where it shattered underfoot, his tone turning cold and solemn. “Or is it that you only care about this one?”

He didn’t know why he cared so much. After learning about Xie Fuyi’s unusual concern for this woman last night, he knew he could use her to force him to compromise. But when he actually compromised for her, he felt an unbearable weight in his heart, like hitting an iron wall.

“Don’t waste words! What have you done to her?” Xie Fuyi looked at him impatiently and urgently, both annoyed and anxious about him, about that woman.

Ye Baixiao felt stifled in his heart. His gaze shifted, finally settling with a deep and cold gleam. Leaning in close, he propped himself up above Xie Fuyi’s dragon throne, “I haven’t done anything yet, but who knows what will happen in the future… After all, His Majesty isn’t very obedient. What did you want to say just now in front of the courtiers?”

Every move of Xie Fuyi in the court was remembered by Ye Baixiao.

Ye Baixiao was too close, his low voice accompanying his fingers sliding over Xie Fuyi’s throat.

“Get off!” Xie Fuyi’s eyes reddened with anger. He was the emperor, yet he was being mocked like this on the dragon throne?

The young emperor glared at him, his beautiful black eyes almost shooting fire.

The slight irritation caused by being teased by the other party instantly turned into another kind of anger for Ye Baixiao, with his fingers continuing their movements.

“I should really let those ministers see His Majesty’s current state.”

Xie Fuyi had to admit, Ye Baixiao was quite the player!

Even when he played the protagonist of a deeply affectionate love story, it wasn’t as thrilling and satisfying as this!

It’s just a pity that this shouldn’t be a plot he, a cannon fodder, should endure…