21 Embracing the Unexpected

Qin Duoye’s lips moved; he gazed at the brows and eyes of the person before him, wanting to ask something, but the harrowing image of the woman from his memories surfaced, and in the end, he could not bring himself to speak.

Counting the years, that woman was likely Qin Xuanxiao’s mother or a female elder from his maternal lineage. Regardless, for Qin Duoye, it was a painful, haunting memory he could not bear to revisit.

Qin Duoye did not dare to ask. He feared causing the young emperor distress. Nor did he feel worthy of asking; his own descendants had been so inept that they slaughtered commoners in the streets and so licentious that they plundered noble families. Although he had been powerless to stop it, as an ancestor of the Qin family, he bore the karmic debt owed to Qin Xuanxiao. It was his fault.

While he stood stunned, Qin Xuanxiao used the flame from his candle holder to light the lamps surrounding the bed. Gradually, the warm, soft candlelight bathed the inner sanctum in a faint glow, softening the bedding into a gentle embrace. Qin Duoye’s body slowly warmed; the cold sweat faded, and the temperature in his fingertips returned to normal.

Qin Xuanxiao leaned in, reached out to touch his fingertips, and let out a sigh of relief. "Why is my official so timid? It was merely a nightmare; how could it frighten you into such a stupor?" Qin Xuanxiao smiled, the candlelight smoothing the lines of his features.

Qin Duoye looked at him blankly for a long while before letting out a sigh. He reached out and ruffled Qin Xuanxiao’s hair roughly, then pulled him into an embrace, much like one would hug a child.

*Good child, you have suffered.*

Knowing the loneliness and desolation of the imperial path, Qin Duoye made a firm resolution. Since Heaven had allowed him to open his eyes again in the Great Wei, where the golden age had long since vanished, he would stand by the current emperor and rebuild that era of prosperity.

What Qin Duoye did not know was that in his arms, Qin Xuanxiao’s phoenix eyes were wide with shock. His body stiffened, and he nearly held his breath, savoring the warmth pressing against him. Having soaked in a medicinal bath yesterday, the man’s hair was now smooth, carrying the faint scent of herbs that lingered at the tip of his nose.

*He threw himself into my arms.*

The warm candlelight and the swaying bed curtains created flickering shadows, casting a mood in which certain hidden desires began to sprout from the depths of his heart. Qin Xuanxiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. The veins on the back of his hand, hanging at his side, pulsed as he forcibly restrained the urge to press the man beneath him onto the bed.

He took a deep breath, admonishing himself: this man’s health was frail, he hadn't fully recovered, and he couldn't withstand rough handling. He couldn't act rashly again and drive such an interesting person away.

After mourning the absurdity of his descendants for only a few seconds, Qin Duoye pulled himself together. He released Qin Xuanxiao, placed his hands on the other’s shoulders, and gazed at the young emperor with bright, shining eyes. The candlelight reflected in Qin Duoye’s dark, clear pupils, making them appear particularly piercing.

Qin Xuanxiao processed the look he was receiving and suddenly felt a bit of retreat. That look—it was hard to describe, but it felt like a farmer eyeing a free beast of burden.

Qin Duoye was a man of action. If he wanted the Great Wei to flourish, he had to start with the Emperor.

"What time is it now?" He was suddenly no longer sleepy and tugged at Qin Xuanxiao’s sleeve.

"...About the fourth watch? The sky is just beginning to pale. I shall go down and check the clepsydra."

Qin Xuanxiao donned his outer robe, picked up a candle stand, and rounded the screen, returning a moment later. Seeing Qin Duoye leaning against the bed frame, he said softly, "It is the third quarter of the Yin hour. Would you like to sleep a while longer? What would you like to eat? I will have Gou Hongyang instruct the Imperial Kitchen, and you can have your morning meal when you wake."

"No more sleep! Your Majesty," Qin Duoye said, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he rose from the bed. "Your Majesty should also rise to attend to state affairs. I looked at the memorials from last night; it seems a portion still requires your vermilion ink annotations, and others require the immediate summoning of officials for policy discussion."

Qin Xuanxiao: "……?"

"Ah? Right now?" Qin Xuanxiao was bewildered. He looked out the window; it was still gray, the night having barely lifted, and the sun had yet to rise.

"Yes, right now. A day’s success depends on the morning; the future of the Great Wei rests entirely upon Your Majesty!" Qin Duoye encouraged with a smile.

Qin Xuanxiao: "……"

"Your Majesty? Although there is no morning court today, state affairs cannot be neglected."

"……"

"Your Majesty?" Qin Duoye tilted his head.

Qin Xuanxiao set the lamp down with a sharp *clack*. He walked over, pushed Qin Duoye back onto the bed, and lifted a knee between his legs, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "It is only the third quarter of the Yin hour. Are you in such a rush to reincarnate?"

It was truly terrifying—waking up from a nightmare in the middle of the night only to urge someone to get to work. It was even more terrifying than being forced to attend a small court session right after recovering from a grave illness.

Qin Xuanxiao was usually lax with his schedule; if he couldn't wake up, he simply didn't attend court. On days when he grew weary of the faces of his ministers, he would flick his sleeves and walk out regardless of how long the session had lasted. He never rose early, nor did he stay up late to annotate memorials; he would work for a while and rest when tired. Yet, when he did work, he was remarkably diligent and responsible.

He never imagined that one day he would feel like a child being lectured by a private tutor on the importance of diligence. In this world, where he could have ministers executed on a whim, how could there be someone so brazen before him?

"Your Majesty should strive for self-improvement," Qin Duoye said earnestly. "In the time of Emperor Cheng Lie, he would rise before the Yin hour to handle state affairs... *cough, cough.*"

Qin Xuanxiao suddenly pressed his index finger against Qin Duoye’s throat, silencing him. The vivid expression on his face vanished, and he said coldly, "Do not use Emperor Cheng Lie to lecture me."

Qin Duoye: "?"

He was forced to stop, tilting his head in confusion. During yesterday's court session, he had seen Qin Xuanxiao recite his own words from his past life without missing a syllable. He had assumed the boy was diligent and looked up to him as a role model, so he hadn't expected him to get angry so suddenly.

A child's heart is hard to guess.

Very well, perhaps he was being too impatient. Seeing the ruins of the Great Wei in his memories had made him anxious to rebuild a glorious age.

...He could not rush; he would have to proceed slowly.

Qin Duoye softened his tone and asked gently, "Then shall we sleep a little longer and rise at the Mao hour?"

Qin Xuanxiao released him, stood up, tied his loose hair, and smoothed his robe.

"Your Majesty?" Qin Duoye stood up as well, only to be pressed back onto the bed by Qin Xuanxiao’s hand on his shoulder. His bound hair fell forward, brushing against Qin Duoye’s cheek. He looked up at the young emperor, unable to read his expression.

"I will do as you say and attend to state affairs," Qin Xuanxiao said, his voice laced with a hint of gritted teeth.

Qin Duoye’s eyes widened slightly, and he started to rise, "I will go with you."

"No need," Qin Xuanxiao pushed him back down and said, "You are to go back to sleep and nourish your body."

Qin Duoye froze for a moment, looking at the man before him. Qin Xuanxiao met his gaze, his phoenix eyes darkening slightly. He ground his teeth, then suddenly leaned down. Before Qin Duoye could react, Qin Xuanxiao pushed aside his collar, reached behind his neck, pulled him slightly upward, and lightly bit the side of his neck.

"Sss..."

Before Qin Duoye could throw a punch or elbow him, Qin Xuanxiao swiftly stood up.

"I am going to handle state affairs. You rest well."

With that, he quickly exited the inner sanctum. Before leaving, he went to the Boshan incense burner at the door and lit some *Jiangzhen* incense to calm the mind.

Qin Duoye lay flat on the bed, slowly reaching up to touch the side of his neck. The "dog emperor" had restrained his strength; the spot where he had been bitten did not hurt, but it now carried a faint, damp sensation. Just a moment ago, there had been the warm, soft touch, followed by the light nip of teeth, and then a tingling, itchy sensation that traveled directly to his brain.

It didn't hurt, but it was quite bizarre.

Qin Duoye lowered his hand and stared at the top of the bed. The curtains were embroidered with winter-sweet cloud patterns, which shimmered with a luster in the flickering candlelight.

*Oh well.* If this was what it took to convince Qin Xuanxiao to govern diligently, then let him bite. It wouldn't cost him a piece of flesh. If the child wanted to vent like this, it didn't matter. Let him bite if he wanted to.

As Qin Duoye gazed at the winter-sweet patterns, his thoughts wandered. He recalled his past life, after driving the northern nomads back into the depths of the grasslands, when he had said that the Great Wei would see a rebirth.

It was the winter of the fifth year of Anping. Qin Duoye couldn't quite remember, but that day, heavy snow was falling, yet the winter-sweet bloomed, defying the frost.

He had been riding his warhorse, returning in triumph, and pointing to the flowers blooming in the snow, he had said with great spirit, "The winter-sweet defies the winter without withering, just as the Great Wei, after enduring the harshest cold, remains vibrant and rushes toward the bright spring."

He had been in such high spirits that day, his triumphant aura unable to be contained, praising the winter-sweet lavishly. Thinking back, he realized he would have praised even a blade of grass back then. He had said the winter-sweet signified integrity, resilience, and unyielding spirit—that it could be embroidered on the armor of the Changye Army or on their red tassels as the soul of the northern border.

Just like the Changye Army, which had endured years of northern frost and snow, becoming a sharp force tempered in the biting winter, breaking through the enemy lines and acting as the sharpest spear of the Great Wei, leading the nation out of the siege of winter’s frost to bloom proudly, just like the winter-sweet.

He never expected that upon waking up a hundred years later, winter-sweet would be everywhere—in the palace and on the emperor’s guards.

With the familiar winter-sweet patterns before him and the scent of *Jiangzhen* incense filling the air, everything felt familiar. Qin Duoye gradually drifted back to sleep.

This time, he did not fall into any terrible memories. He slept soundly until the daylight had fully broken, and only then did he open his eyes. He rose, dressed, and rounded the screen. Gou Hongyang was leaning by the door, waiting, and hurried over when he saw him wake.

"His Majesty is currently meeting with officials to discuss state affairs. He specifically instructed this servant: if Master Wen woke, I should invite you to have your morning meal first, then take your medicine. His Majesty also said that if you wish to listen to the proceedings after your meal, you may go directly to the Zhenghe Hall."

Qin Duoye nodded. He walked slowly to the table and picked up his spoon. After his meal and medicine, he found a small dish with honeyed dates on the tray. He put one into his mouth—a familiar sweetness.

After eating, he did not go immediately to the Zhenghe Hall. After all, if the young emperor were halfway through a discussion with his officials, his sudden arrival might interrupt a critical train of thought. It was better not to disturb him.

Qin Duoye changed into a training outfit and tied his hair, which had been cut short yesterday, high with a ribbon. He went to the courtyard behind the hall, intending to start exercising.

This body was truly too weak; he couldn't have his grand ambition cut short by his own physical collapse. He prepared to practice the martial exercises he had performed on the northern border in his past life.

*Set the stance, raise the hands, throw the punch!*

Qin Duoye threw a punch, and his vision went black. He hurriedly stepped aside, leaning against a rockery, and bent over to slowly steady his breathing.

*Damn it!* What a pathetic body—to be this winded after just two punches.

*No, wait.* Qin Duoye tapped his head.

He had forgotten that this set of martial exercises had been designed to improve the stamina of his soldiers; he had set the standards high, and without a base of physical fitness, it was indeed impossible to perform.

Qin Duoye decisively abandoned that set of exercises and began the most basic training, starting with the *Baduanjin*.

Within moments, a dense layer of sweat covered his forehead. Feeling the heat steaming within him, he slowly exhaled. It was having some effect. Turning his head, he saw Qin Xuanxiao behind him, arms crossed, leaning against the railing of the corridor, watching him with great interest.