Extra 2

In the bedchamber of the Qianqing Palace, Qi Xiao had the servants help Bairen change into loose inner robes. Bairen simply removed his golden crown as well, casually tying his hair into a ponytail, which made him look even younger. Qi Xiao was pleased by this sight and forgot about his earlier displeasure at Bairen returning to the palace against his wishes under the scorching sun.

He asked, "How did you find your visit to the manor today? Is the Imperial Affairs Department serving diligently? Is the reconstruction of the manor to your liking?"

"It's very good. It's only been a month since the reconstruction started, but when I went, I could no longer find any traces of the great fire from before. They were planning the gardens when I was there, saying they intend to divert a stream into it..." Bairen bit his lower lip and said softly, "Judging from the scale of their work, it seems to be a major project. I suppose it was... ordered by Your Majesty? Actually, there's no need..."

"The place where your mother will live in the future naturally cannot be neglected. Besides, the King's manor isn't just for Queen Mother alone. In the future when you adopt children, won't they all be living there as well?" Qi Xiao smiled, "Lingnan King, you promised me that in the future, the children, especially the boys, will be raised by my side in the capital until at least fifteen before returning to Lingnan."

Bairen chuckled, "How could I dare forget what I promised you? Rest assured, I will definitely have them bask in Your Majesty's grace from a young age, so that in the future, they will be of one heart with Your Majesty."

Qi Xiao smiled without saying anything. Raising Bairen's children in the imperial city wasn't just for them to be of one heart with him. Most importantly, Qi Xiao wanted to personally verify their character. By raising them to fifteen, he would more or less be able to see if they were good or bad.

Qi Xiao didn't need them to have great abilities, only to know gratitude, understand propriety, and sincerely love and respect Bairen. If there were ungrateful wretches like Qi Jing... Qi Xiao smiled faintly. He would secretly get rid of them before they turned fifteen to prevent future troubles.

Of course, there was no need to tell Bairen about this.

"Also..." Bairen was a bit embarrassed as he said softly, "This morning, Steward Jiang took me to take a look at Heqing Palace. I feel it's a bit too luxurious, and there are quite a few things that exceed regulations. If the censors were to again..."

"Again what?" Qi Xiao interrupted Bairen with a cold laugh, "Again impeach me for unclear loyalty and impiety to the ancestors? Very well, let them impeach as they please. I was just thinking the Imperial Ancestral Temple is too desolate and was waiting for a few more loyal ministers to go guard it."

When Qi Xiao first ascended the throne, a few censors failed to grasp the situation, thinking that Qi Jing wasn't dead yet, the imperial princes were still well, and everything could still turn around. They actually petitioned to honor Qi Jing as a Retired Emperor and have the Retired Emperor also attend court to "supervise the new emperor and assist in governance".

Qi Xiao's face darkened at the time, but those few censors didn't notice and kept prattling on incessantly. Their words were already hinting that Qi Xiao was disloyal and unfilial. One old minister was especially troublesome. He took off his court hat right there and wailed to the ancestors. Qi Xiao was so furious that he laughed instead.

According to the rules set by the old ancestors, censors couldn't be punished for giving advice. Qi Xiao couldn't beat or scold them, but he did something even more extreme - he directly sent those few men to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Since they missed the times when the ancestors were around, they could go find the ancestors.

Bairen was at a loss for words and forced a laugh, "I was just worried. Don't be angry."

"I'm not angry at you." Qi Xiao sat up and pulled Bairen to his side, saying softly, "I just ascended the throne. If I don't establish my authority now, they will think I'm weak and easy to bully, and will be even more troublesome in the future."

Bairen chuckled, "Your Majesty is really overthinking. Honestly, no one has ever thought you were easy to bully." Even before ascending the throne, he had already taken control of the court, killing the empress and princes in succession. He later put the previous emperor under house arrest and quietly got rid of many people. Aside from those with muddled minds, no one dared to provoke Qi Xiao now.

Qi Xiao laughed lightly and lowered his head to gently bite Bairen's lips, "Teasing me? Is your body still hot...?"

Bairen shook his head. Qi Xiao coaxed softly, "I must have Heqing Palace renovated to be magnificent, to let them see clearly what kind of person the Lingnan King is to me... There's no need to fear attracting attention. Haiyan Palace is also being renovated now. Have you been to see it?"

Haiyan Palace was formerly Chengqian Palace. Because it used to be Qi Jing's regular sleeping quarters, Qi Xiao despised it. After moving Qi Jing to Dexin Palace, he had the plaque of Chengqian Palace taken down and changed it to Haiyan Palace, giving it a major renovation. He also changed a palace near Chengqian Palace into Heqing Palace and bestowed it to Bairen.

Haiyan and Heqing - a peaceful world. Those who understood naturally knew what it meant.

Bairen nodded, "I went to see it. Everything is modeled after what's in the crown prince's residence. All the dreary ebony furniture from before has been moved out, and the layers upon layers of embroidered golden curtains have been taken down. I saw the newly made furniture, it's very exquisite and makes the rooms look bright."

Qi Xiao laughed softly, "When the renovations are done, we'll move over to live there. Right, has a letter come from Lingnan? Has Queen Mother agreed to come to the capital?"

Bairen smiled, "She had been declining repeatedly before, but this time when we sent a letter back, Mother seemed much more receptive. Although she still has many reservations since the three year mourning period isn't over and there's no precedent... But Mother truly misses me, Roujia, and the children. Nanny Yan understands Mother's feelings and has been persuading her day and night. Mother has finally been convinced. The reply this time has settled it - she says she'll come to the capital once the autumn chill sets in."

Qi Xiao nodded, "Good. This way she'll suffer less from the summer heat on the journey. The Lingnan Prince's manor will also be built by the time she arrives."

Bairen glanced around. Seeing the palace servants and maids all standing to the side not daring to raise their eyes, he felt reassured. He leaned in and kissed Qi Xiao's lips, whispering, "Thank you for being so considerate of me."

Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow and snorted, "Don't just say nice things to placate me."

Bairen couldn't help but laugh. There were seven or eight ice basins of various sizes placed around the bedchamber, making it very cool. He wasn't afraid of the heat when fooling around.

Bairen simply nestled closer into Qi Xiao's arms and rubbed against him, saying softly, "Also, Roujia asked me to kowtow to you on her behalf to thank you for your grace. But she still doesn't dare to accept that manor. I thought about it and also feel it's better to forget it."

Qi Xiao lowered his head to look at Bairen, "Did He Zichen say something?"

"No." Bairen quickly shook his head and smiled, "Of course he didn't say anything. In fact, Roujia didn't even mention it to him. As soon as I told her, she declined without hesitation. Her concern was that even if I gave them a manor, let alone you, He Zichen would likely not be pleased. I know you don't want Roujia to suffer, but she's not suffering at all."

Bairen pursed his lips and said softly, "If Roujia could really endure life in a deep manor, I wouldn't have agreed to this marriage in the first place. Old Madam He treats her very well, and He Zichen and his wife get along harmoniously. Roujia is already content and no longer has any extravagant hopes. Besides... the more things bestowed upon her, the more troublesome it may be."

Qi Xiao thought for a moment and nodded, "It's not that I'm afraid she'll suffer, but rather I see that you always think of her. I'm also afraid that Queen Mother will come to the capital in the future, see her small manor, and be dissatisfied. Since that's the case, you should come back and take more care of her when you return."

Bairen agreed. The two no longer discussed official matters and lay down to chat leisurely. They happened to mention Princess Dunsu's previous desire to marry into Prince Chun's manor. Bairen unintentionally said, "Is this what the Princess was talking about just now? In this scorching heat, I thought it was some important matter."

Qi Xiao hesitated for a moment but still told Bairen the truth. Fearing that Bairen would overthink, Qi Xiao said, "I already made myself clear enough just now. Aunt is a wise person and can understand my meaning."

After listening, Bairen said after a while, "If it weren't for me... Princess Dunsu's youngest daughter would actually be the best candidate for the position of Empress. What a pity..."

"What a pity?" Qi Xiao raised his eyebrows. "Could it be that the King wants to take a Princess Consort?"

Bairen laughed, "What are you saying... Oh right, Physician Liu came earlier and waited outside the hall with me. Since Eunuch Jiang said you were talking with Princess Dunsu, Physician Liu took his leave. Eunuch Jiang asked him what the matter was, but he didn't say, only mentioning that it was nothing serious and he would come again the same way after the Emperor finished his dinner."

Bairen carefully observed Qi Xiao's expression and said softly, "Is it something to do with Dexin Palace..."

"It's nothing." Qi Xiao didn't want Bairen to know about these things. He turned to the palace servants and said, "Didn't I tell you to prepare some soup for the Prince? Why hasn't it been served yet?"

The palace servants had already prepared it long ago, but seeing the two talking, they didn't dare to disturb them. Hearing this, they apologized profusely and quickly presented the prepared iced lotus seed soup. Bairen reached out to take it, but Qi Xiao took it first and tasted it himself before handing it to Bairen.

Bairen felt a sweetness in his heart. A few days ago, he had indulged in the cold and ate several plates of iced fruits. At the time, he felt refreshed, but afterwards, he suffered from a stomachache for an entire night.

Qi Xiao was both angry and distressed. After reprimanding him and the palace servants, he forbade Bairen from eating cold things again. Even when these heat-relieving items were sent up, Qi Xiao would taste them himself to ensure they were harmless before letting Bairen have them.

Bairen couldn't help but think of the earlier conversation. Since sending Qi Jing to Dexin Palace, Qi Xiao had never mentioned this person again. Qi Xiao himself had gone to visit a few times but never allowed anyone else to set foot there, not even Bairen.

When Bairen occasionally asked, Qi Xiao would always evade the question. Bairen could roughly guess the situation there in his heart, but since Qi Xiao didn't want him to know, he continued to play dumb.

"It's a pity that there were too many matters to attend to right after ascending the throne. Otherwise, I would have taken you to the temporary palace to escape the heat," Qi Xiao said, taking a handkerchief to wipe the fine beads of sweat from Bairen's forehead. "You're quite thin. How can you be so afraid of the heat..."

Bairen finished the lotus seed soup in a few gulps and smiled, "It's nothing. There's no need to go to such extravagant lengths. In the south, the heat is even more stifling than this. I'm already used to it."

Qi Xiao teased, "If you're really not afraid of the heat, you shouldn't be so reluctant every night. The past few days, when you weren't feeling well, it was understandable. But what about these past few days? You start whimpering about the heat before anything even happens. Now you're putting on this virtuous act. If you're really afraid of extravagance, you should show some sincerity."

Bairen couldn't help but laugh. Just as he was about to retort, Qi Xiao sealed his lips...

"Your Majesty..."

The palace servants outside heard that Bairen had finished the soup and thought about going in to ask if they should send in another bowl. Who knew that as soon as they lifted the jade bead curtain, they saw the Emperor embracing the King of Lingnan on the couch, his hand already reaching into the King's undergarments.

Bairen's inner robe was lifted high by Qi Xiao, and the palace servant's eyes first caught sight of the fair skin on Bairen's waist. They were so frightened that they broke out in a cold sweat and quickly kowtowed before retreating.

The palace servant who retreated from the bedchamber happened to meet Jiang Deqing, who had just returned from sending Princess Dunsu out of the palace. They quickly blocked the way and said, "Eunuch Jiang, if there's nothing urgent, there's no need to go in and serve for now. Inside, inside... the Emperor and the King are discussing official matters."

Jiang Deqing was stunned for a moment before understanding. He laughed and said, "It's still broad daylight... Forget it. Quickly go and prepare the bathing items, and also, prepare some snacks and yogurt that the King likes to eat. They should be fresh and hot. If they are needed in a while and you can't serve them in time, the King has a good temper and won't say anything, but if the Emperor is unhappy, it's no joke."

The palace servants agreed repeatedly and left.