Chapter 131: Qi Cheng’s Words Were Really Unkind
Translator: Storm in a Teacup
Qi Cheng’s gaze softened for a moment when he heard Ke Ruan connect himself with Lin Qingye. However, he suddenly remembered their conversation in the cell that night, then his face became colder than when he came in.
‘Who do you think you are, Ke Ruan? Are you qualified to mention Brother Qingye?’
“Hurry up,” Qi Cheng was already impatient.
What would come, would come. He rubbed his sister’s hair and smiled, “Nuonuo, wait for me. I’ll be right back and bring you something delicious, okay?”
As soon as she heard something delicious, Ke Nuo’s mind was filled with all kinds of food. “Bro, I want to eat peach blossom cakes, rose cakes, lotus duck…”
“Well! I’ll bring all of them to you, okay?”
“Yeah!” Ke Nuo’s eyes were shining that she was really looking forward to it.
Ke Ruan felt that even if Si Yuhan hated him very much, he shouldn’t be so stingy with a meal, right?
Qi Cheng sneered, ‘Do you really think you’re still the emperor? Aren’t you dreaming?”
“Follow me.”
Looking at the familiar palace and bricks, Ke Ruan felt as if he had been separated from the world. It was a very normal scenery a month ago, but now it seemed so rare.
“Hurry up. What’s the interest of seeing it? It’s not yours anymore. Perish the thought of it.”
Ke Ruan, “…”
‘Does General Lin know this person’s words are so mean?’
Ke Ruan followed Qi Cheng outside the imperial study. “Stay here and wait, I’ll go in and report.”
Ke Ruan nodded unnaturally. His palms were covered with sweat. It was a lie to say that he wasn’t nervous or afraid, but… it was also a lie to say that he didn’t miss him.
He just stayed outside the imperial study, and the sun was gradually setting. The red clouds illuminated each brick and tile of the imperial palace, making them particularly beautiful. He sighed. At this time, the book described that the palace was burned down with a fire. Now, it seemed that everything was still the same as before and there was no damage at all.
Ke Ruan was lost in a daydream when Qi Cheng came out.
“Come in with me.”
Ke Ruan thought that he could see Si Yuhan when he entered, but he never thought that Qi Cheng would take him to a corner with a huge screen beside him. He could vaguely see the figure behind the emperor’s desk and several people were kneeling below the steps.
Ke Ruan was a little confused. ‘What is going on now?’
“Your Majesty, now that the country is prosperous and the people are at peace, and peace reigns over the land. Your Majesty should choose an empress.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the imperial harem cannot be without a master for a day.”
“Your Majesty should fill up the harem as soon as possible and give birth to offspring soon so that our country could carry on Your Majesty’s family line.”
……
Ke Ruan understood that this group of people were trying to persuade Si Yuhan to select the empress and concubines.
He sighed. Si Yuhan was almost seventeen now, and time passed really fast. That child had grown up so quickly, who reached the age of marriage.
A that time, Ke Ruan was seventeen or eighteen years old and didn’t know anything.
“Well,” a low voice rang out and Ke Ruan’s mind trembled. ‘What a strong aura from the hero.’
“It was Ke Ruan’s ceremony of determining the empress when we attacked the Red Flame Country, right?”
“Uh…Yes,” they didn’t know why His Majesty suddenly mentioned Ke Ruan who was in the former dynasty, but answered seriously.
“Very good. Why do you have to arrange it? Let his harem be mine. However, I have another choice for the empress.”
“Your Majesty, please do not.”
This was ridiculous.
Ke Ruan was also confused when listening to him behind the screen. ‘What did I hear?’ The hero wanted his concubines just in name. Although he hadn’t had time to touch them, they were still his women. Wasn’t it inappropriate to just put them in his harem?
Chapter 132: Si Yuhan in Seven Years
Translator: Storm in a Teacup
“Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. They should all follow the remnants of the previous dynasty.”
“Exactly. Your Majesty, absolutely not.”
……
No one noticed the fierceness in Si Yuhan’s eyes. His lips were pressed tightly. Great. These people. How dare they ask him to kill Ke Ruan when he never ever thought about that for a moment!
“So, you are doubting me?” He said it quietly but in a scary way. Those people acted like there was thunderstorm, and they trembled in cold sweat. How could they forget that the emperor in front of them were so ruthless and decisive that no one could live after doubting his decision for a minute?
“We dare not.” Those ministers quickly knelt down on the ground, trembling.
Si Yuhan lowered his eyebrows and looked at the folding screen as if he tried to see the man behind it clearly.
“The world is not stable yet. Besides, the ministers who assisted Ke Ruan before sending a lot of beautiful girls into the palace.” Si Yuhan swept over the people kneeling on the ground. If they were smart enough to read between his lines and got him, he would let them live. But if not, well, it was not his fault then. After all, he had given them a chance.
“Your Majesty. You are so wise. In this way, you can win the hearts of people. This is such a clever move.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. What you do can also make those ministers from the previous dynasty obey, which is very beneficial for you to rule the world.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
……
Now nearly all of them changed their minds. There were only a few of them who were still objecting Ke Ruan’s decision.
Si Yuhan sneered. If they couldn’t see clearly what was going on here, it was meaningless to keep them here.
Ke Ruan couldn’t understand what Si Yuhan was trying to do here. First, Si Yuhan publicly asked for his wife and all of his imperial concubines, in front of him! Then, this. He didn’t think that it was a mere coincidence that he heard them talking for such a long time.
Why did he do this? Didn’t he know that the world would laugh at him? They would say that he was being stupid. When those concubines gave birth to children, who would believe that they were his? It was just insane.
“You can go in now,” Qi Cheng suddenly said.
Ke Ruan then found that those officials in the imperial study had already left. He took a deep breath and walked out.
He had prepared for this moment for so long, but the minute he saw Si Yuhan, he was still stunned. Seven years had passed by and the child had become a young man.
Si Yuhan, who was now the emperor, wore a royal robe. With a tall nose, thin lips, sword-like eyebrows, black hair, he had a handsome side face and perfect facial contour.
His looks, his quality… he was meant to be the leading character. Ke Ruan looked at Si Yuhan and felt a little emotional because his boy had grown up.
“Kneel down!”
Before Ke Ruan knew what was going on, Qi Cheng pressed him on his shoulder and Ke Ruan fell on the cold floor with his knees making a clear sound.
“Shit!” He didn’t do that on purpose, but it really hurt! His face went pale and he cursed quietly.
Qi Cheng was stunned and quickly let go of Ke Ruan. He was subconsciously going to kneel down to apologize for his guilt before Si Yuhan waved his hand and asked him to leave first.
After Qi Cheng left, there were only Ke Ruan and Si Yuhan there in the spacious imperial study. Ke Ruan looked up at Si Yuhan while Si Yuhan just kept staring at the scripts on his case like Ke Ruan was not there at all.
Ke Ruan lost count of time. He started to feel numb in his knees. It was not until then that Si Yuhan started to look at him.
Chapter 133: Revenge?
Translator: Storm in a Teacup
He rubbed his knees quietly, glanced at Si Yuhan and then lowered his head again, thinking, ‘He is the Emperor at the moment, having the supreme power of deciding one’s life and death. I could not afford to offend him.’
However, Ke Ruan’s tiny movements had been clearly spotted by Ke Ruan. The latter showed a smile but quickly stopped smiling and his gaze turned even colder.
“Ke Ruan, long time no see.” Si Yuhan walked and stopped in front of him, looking down at him from a height.
Ke Ruan raised his head and could only see Si Yuhan’s delicate chin, wondering, ‘How am I supposed to reply the simple greeting?’
“Yes, it’s been a long time since we met each other last time.”
“Yeah, I’ve been missing you very much for the past few years. I’ve missed you a lot.”
“It’s not very long. In fact, we just met each other in a distance about half a month ago. You must have forgotten it.”
He felt that the male lead’s answer must be dissatisfactory to him, no matter how he replied.
Ke Ruan swallowed his saliva, had a hollow laugh and finally decided not to answer Si Yuhan’s question.
“What’s up? We haven’t met each other for seven years. How come you are unwillingly to say a word to me?” Si Yuhan squatted down and especially emphsized “me” in his talk.
Only then did Ke Ruan realize that Si Yuhan, when squatting, was sharing equal height with him kneeling on the ground. Ke Ruan couldn’t help but think at the first time, ‘How could this kid have such a rapid growth over the past seven years? I can tell that he is probably five point four feet in height, and might be well beyond that.’
“I’m too excited to speak.” Ke Ruan stared at him with smiling eyes, as what he had done seven years ago. Even though Si Yuhan finally led to the fall of Ke Ruan’s state, Ke Ruan never showed any resentment when his eyes were still crystal clear that one could directly see through.
Si Yuhan frowned, thinking, ‘Is it because he is really such a heartless person or something else?’
“I haven’t seen you for a few years. You are still like what you used to be.” Si Yuhan snorted coldly and got up.
Uhh…
‘Is this really a compliment?’
‘As expected, what I do cannot result in any of his emotional changes. How could this be?’
‘However, I do hope to find out by myself, how long he could maintain such a calm look.’ Ke Ruan thought.
“Stand up.”
Ke Ruan had a sigh of relief, stood up and patted his robe when saying, “Thanks.”
‘Thanks?’
Si Yuhan took a deep breath. He really wanted to open Ke Ruan’s brain to check out what he was thinking.
‘Damn it!’ Si Yuhan scolded in mind.
“Come over here.” Si Yuhan felt a stifled chest and he couldn’t release his anger. When he occassionally learnt Ke Ruan’s relationship with Lin Qingye on that day, he had been very angry until now and believed that Ke Ruan must have some types of fearful or horrified look when they met. But to his disappointment, Ke Ruan was quite calm. So Si Yuhan became more furious at the moment.
“Okay.”
Upon seeing his coward look, Si Yuhan shook his body and his breath became heavier.
Si Yuhan took out a piece of paper and put it on the imperial desk. Ke Ruan leaned over and read it carefully. Then, Ke Ruan’s eyes widened in surprise but soon, he had a sigh of relief and frowned. Ke Ruan kept some distance with Si Yuhan and said helplessly, “Han, are you going to retaliate against me in this way?”
Ke Ruan knew Si Yuhan’s hatred towards him. But he never expected that Si Yuhan would be insulting him in this way. But after thinking for a while, Ke Ruan realized that such revenge was harmful to both sides, especially for Si Yuhan who had just ascended the throne.
“Han, there are many ways for you to retaliate against me. You don’t have to put yourself in such an extreme situation. I…”
Before Ke Ruan could finish his talk, Si Yuhan tightly throttled him.
Chapter 134: His Identity Seemed to Be Disclosed
Translator: Storm in a Teacup
Si Yuhan tightened his strength and slowly approached him. His dark eyes were filled with viciousness, and he gritted his teeth and said, “Ke Ruan, I warn you that you’d better know who you are now. What? Do you think that you’re still the superior prince and I will obey what you’ve said?”
Ke Ruan didn’t expect that Si Yuhan would suddenly change his face and he was scared.
“I… I… I didn’t… It’s just for your own good.”
Si Yuhan used ingenuity that could make Ke Ruan suffer, but he wouldn’t kill Ke Ruan. When Si Yuhan heard what he had said with much difficulty, his face was cold just now but now the coldness spread over his whole body.The strength was getting stronger and stronger and it seemed that Si Yuhan wouldn’t let go.
Ke Ruan said so again. What a great reason. With an excuse that Ke Ruan was doing it for his own good, he had dumped Si Yuhan twice without hesitations. Damn it, now Ke Ruan was telling him the same reason. Just for his own good? Ke Ruan was really opinionated. Had he ever asked Si Yuhan how he was thinking in mind? How could Ke Ruan be so selfish?
Ke Ruan’s face began to turn sullen. Si Yuhan gritted his teeth and threw him to the ground angrily.
“Cough, cough…” Ke Ruan curled up on the ground and coughed non-stop. He could feel that Si Yuhan really wanted to kill him. It was the first time that he was feeling so frightened and wronged.
Ke Ruan was so scared. Ke Ruan knew how cruel the male lead was all from the book, and his feeling wasn’t so deep, but now that the knife was placed at his neck, which made him really frightened.
As for grievance, there was more grievance than fear. Ever since he had transmigrated through the book, he had been treating Si Yuhan so well that he was afraid that Si Yuhan would get hurt. He was treating Si Yuhan wholeheartedly. For Si Yuhan, Ke Ruan had got involved in lots of crucial moment. But now, Si Yuhan was seizing him by his throat without any hesitation, which made Ke Ruan so angry.
“Cough, cough…” Ke Ruan felt like coughing his lungs out. Son-of-b*tch! He was so pissed off.
Ke Ruan coughed so severely that there was a trace of helplessness showing on Si Yuhan’s face but it disappeared soon.
“Apart from signing this agreement, you have no other choice.” Si Yuhan waved his robe and sat on the throne, staring at him.
“We are both men. It will humiliate both you and me. Little Han, this is very important to you. Don’t be so headstrong, okay?” Ke Ruan felt like his throat had been burned and he said with a husky voice after clearing his throat.
Si Yuhan actually wanted Ke Ruan to be his Empress. It was such a joke that even he couldn’t accept it, not to mention the whole world.
“Whether you sign or not, think about it clearly. Ke Nuo and Lin Qingye’s lives are up to you.”
“Si Yuhan!” Ke Ruan said with a heavy tone and it was rare for him to look so strict and serious.
Si Yuhan stared at him with a smile on his face. Very good. He was angry.
“I know you hate me, but I…”
“Sign your name or not?” Si Yuhan repeated every single word.
“You…” Ke Ruan’s face turned red and white, and he said angrily, “Are you going to insist using this method to retaliate against me? If you really hate me, then why don’t you just strip my skin off, hang me on the wall and let me to be exposed to the burning sun and turn into ash?”
After finishing his words, Ke Ruan was stunned and Si Yuhan stared at him. He couldn’t tell what kind of expression Si Yuhan had on his face, and as if all of his emotions had found a way to unleash and his anger and hatred could no longer be hidden.
Very good. Seven years ago, no matter how he tried, Ke Ruan looked like he didn’t know anything. Now his identity was disclosed. A reborn Ke Ruan, right?
The game was getting more and more interesting.
Chapter 135: Addictive Aroma of Ambergris
Translator: Storm in a Teacup
Under such a gaze, Ke Ruan shudder with fear. How could he speak such a cruel punishment out? Did he can’t wait to make Si Yuhan let him die immediately? He was so stupid.
After calming himself down, Ke Ruan softened his voice. “Little Han, don’t make a fuss, okay? I know that it was my fault not to let you know before I leave back then, but I really…”
“Sign it now, I have been already patient enough to you, Ke Ruan.”
Ke Ruan took a deep breath, cursing in his heart. Damn, what a life!
“I’ll sign it. I’ll sign it.” He suppressed his anger and walked to the side of the desk. He picked up the brush and said, “The agreement says that I will be your… your… empress.”
It was so weird that a man was going to be another man’s empress. He didn’t expect that Si Yuhan would be like this after he got involved. What the hell.
“You will release my family, including Lin Qingye. Promise me.”
Si Yuhan smiled without saying a word.
Ke Ruan gritted his teeth. Where did the little bun go? How come he became like this?
He swore that this was the most difficult word to write down in his life.
Si Yuhan picked up the agreement and his eyes were gloomy.
After a while.
Si Yuhan said, “Come here.”
“Your Majesty.”
Ke Ruan took a closer look and found the man was the only eunuch named Xiaoluzi who had stayed by his side all year round. After Si Yuhan became the Emperor, he was promoted to be the general manager of Internal Affairs. What was that?
Xiaoluzi dared not look at Ke Ruan.
“Send my empress back to Ruanhan Palace. The ceremony will be held in three days. Xiaoluzi, now you need to follow your former master and serve him well.” Si Yuhan said with a playful smile.
No, Ruanhan Palace, what the hell was that?
“Xiao… Your Majesty, I can ask my sister to stay with me.” Ke Ruan looked at Si Yuhan cautiously.
How Ke Ruan looked now made Si Yuhan feel even more pissed off. He couldn’t help but sneer, “Let my empress live with his sister? Does it mean you and your sister want to serve the same husband?”
Ke Ruan widened his eyes and looked at Si Yuhan like he was looking at a stranger. He opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word.
Si Yuhan approached him step by step. Ke Ruan hurriedly retreated. He hugged Ke Ruan in his arms and held his jaw with the other hand. “If Empress has this intention, I can also consider it. However… If I remember correctly, your sister is only 12 years old this year. Are you willing to let her do that?”
“Si Yuhan!” Ke Ruan pushed Si Yuhan away with his eyes full of disappointment. “How come you become like this? Wait, this is not the Si Yuhan that I used to know.”
Ke Ruan’s heart beat violently. The person in front of him was like someone else, could it be…
He stared into Si Yuhan’s eyes, wondering whether Si Yuhan’s soul had been changed.
“How I have changed has nothing to do with you. Just wait for couples of days. In three days, you will be my empress. You have to be well prepared.” Si Yuhan let go of him, took a few steps back and sat back in front of the desk.
Ke Ruan gritted his teeth, “When you send my sister out, please give her some food. She likes peach blossom cake, rose crisp, and lotus ducks.”
He smelled the scent of Ke Ruan, which was not like the fragrance of a woman’s makeup powder or the stench from a man. It was just like the faint scent of ambergris he once smelled seven years ago. How could Ke Ruan have such a scent even he had been in the cell for so long. Si Yuhan lost in thought in a moment.
At that moment, he wanted to hug Ke Ruan like that, or even to hug him a little tighter. He wanted to hug Ke Ruan in this way his whole life. He felt it would be wonderful.