Extra 4

"Your Highness... I really can't anymore..."

Bairen's eyes were red and his voice was choked with sobs as he kept crawling towards the bed. Qi Xiao grabbed Bairen's waist with one hand and chuckled, "What are you calling me?"

It had been nearly half a year since Qi Xiao's ascension to the throne, but Bairen still couldn't change his habit. He could remember it normally, but in moments of passion, he would still call Qi Xiao "Your Highness" like before. Once, a court official overheard it and impeached Bairen*, but of course, with Qi Xiao around, the matter was dropped.

*T/N: Since Qi Xiao is now the Emperor, he should be greeted with 'Your Majesty' instead.

Bairen didn't even realize he had called Qi Xiao the wrong title again and just kept trying to get away, begging, "I really can't... My waist is so sore..."

Qi Xiao leaned down and kissed Bairen's ear, laughing in a deep voice, "You just called me the wrong title again... Forget it, call me husband once and I'll spare you today."

Tears welled up in Bairen's eyes. He couldn't understand what Qi Xiao was saying at all and just shook his head. Qi Xiao coaxed him patiently, "Good baby... Call me husband and I'll take you to bathe..."

Bairen's mind was in a haze. He looked back at Qi Xiao in confusion. Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed Bairen's lips, gently coaxing, "Just call me once..."

It had been two hours since they finished dinner, and Bairen really couldn't take it anymore. Left with no choice, he softly called out. Qi Xiao's eyes were filled with satisfaction as he pushed further, "Call me again... Say 'good husband, spare me...'"

Bairen's face instantly flushed red. But he was really afraid of Qi Xiao, so he could only bury his face in Qi Xiao's embrace and beg in a hoarse voice as instructed, "Good husband... Spare, spare me..."

Qi Xiao closed his eyes, finally ending the intimacy of the night...

"What got into you today?" After bathing, Bairen's voice was still hoarse. He lay on the bed with fresh bedding and said weakly, "I still have to go see Sir Dong tomorrow..."

"Nothing, I just wanted to tease you." Qi Xiao put on his robe and got into bed, still holding Bairen in his arms. "How was Queen Mother's journey?"

As Qi Xiao spoke, he gently massaged Bairen's lower back. Bairen's waist was already sore, and Qi Xiao's massage made it hurt even more at first. But after the initial pain passed, it felt very comfortable.

Bairen nodded with his eyes half-closed, "It was good... Your Majesty was thoughtful and bestowed two southern chefs. Lunch was made by them and suited Queen Mother's tastes well."

Qi Xiao made a sound of acknowledgment and asked casually, "Dong Boru also came to the capital. Who's watching over the south?"

Bairen frowned slightly, "I didn't want Sir Dong to come at first, but he was worried about Queen Mother traveling to the capital alone, afraid that something might go wrong on the way. He also wanted to discuss this year's autumn harvest matters in the fief with me, so he entrusted the political affairs to my younger uncle and a few elders. Fortunately, they are all dependable. One or two months... should be fine."

Qi Xiao seemed pensive. After a while, he said, "Bairen... I intend to send a few provincial officials to the south. What do you think?"

Bairen was stunned. If Qi Jing had this idea when he was in power, Bairen would have definitely tried every way to refuse. The southern region was different from other fiefs. The officials sent from the capital could only be stationed in the cities and counties north of the southern border, and they might not even enter the southern capital once a season. Now...

Qi Xiao smiled gently, "If you're unwilling, then forget it. I was just saying."

"No..." Bairen quickly shook his head, "You think I would still be wary of you? I'm just puzzled why you suddenly thought of this. Did you hear some rumors? Are there people in the south harboring ill intentions?"

Qi Xiao shook his head and kissed Bairen's forehead, "No, it's just to prevent problems before they arise. You trust Dong Boru, but the south can't just be handed over to someone of a different surname. It's a short time now, but in the long run, with you and Queen Mother not returning... something is bound to happen eventually."

"Even if Dong Boru can be loyal until old age, what about others? You trust them, but I don't trust a single one." Qi Xiao's hand became gentler. "You've only been on the throne for a year, and your foundation is not very stable. Not returning often is already a hidden danger. With no one watching over things..."

Bairen had considered these matters before. His idea was to hand over the power to Dong Boru and slowly send the sons of the southern power holders here to accompany the future little crown prince, letting these officials' descendants form a bond with the crown prince from a young age. It was also to put each other at ease. Bairen was kind-hearted after all and preferred such a gentle method. But Qi Xiao had different thoughts.

"If they really want to rebel, it's useless even if their whole family is with you, let alone just their sons." Qi Xiao had suffered in this regard, so he never believed that relatives could really restrain these bold and ruthless people. "There must be people to keep them in check to be at ease."

Bairen pursed his lips and said softly, "What does Your Majesty have in mind?"

Qi Xiao looked down at Bairen and said, "You pick the candidates yourself. They can't interfere in the affairs of the fief, only report the situation of the fief to the capital. Their memorials and those of Dong Boru and the others are sent to the capital separately without interfering with each other. This way, they can restrain each other. To avoid collusion, change the people every two or three years, then you can truly put your mind at ease."

"There are still many details to be discussed, but that's the general idea. What do you think?" Qi Xiao smiled. "Of course, to avoid suspicion, these people will be directly assigned to the King's residence once you select them. How they are deployed is all up to you. The capital will not interfere from beginning to end."

Bairen shook his head and laughed, "No need for that. You think I don't trust you?"

"You trust me, but Dong Boru and the others don't." Qi Xiao pinched Bairen's cheek and laughed. "If I really send my trusted aides over, they will definitely think I'm scheming to weaken the fiefs. It's like stealing a bell with the thief wearing it. I don't want them cursing me behind my back."

Bairen also understood the reasoning. After some thought, he felt even more grateful to Qi Xiao for being so considerate of him. Bairen smiled, snuggled into Qi Xiao's embrace, and said softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your thoughtfulness."

"You're stoking my fire again..." Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed his lips. "If you didn't really have something to do tomorrow..."

"Oh right, I forgot to mention earlier." With the important matters discussed, Bairen began to settle scores. "What were you doing earlier, tormenting me so much? Now... it hurts down there..."

Qi Xiao continued to gently massage Bairen's waist, but his voice turned cold: "It's nothing. I just heard some rumors today that the person surnamed Cen in Lingnan is still harboring treacherous thoughts and has his eyes set on you, my lord."

Bairen was stunned for a moment and asked in surprise, "You... you sent someone to eavesdrop in my residence?"

Qi Xiao righteously rebuked, "What do you mean eavesdrop? This entire world is mine. Can't I listen to whatever I want?!"

Bairen was at a loss for words. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, "Could it be... what my Queen Mother said?"

Qi Xiao let out a cold snort. Bairen laughed and said, "There are so many matters waiting for Your Majesty to handle, so many memorials waiting for Your Majesty to review and approve. Yet you had the leisure to listen to the gossip of women..."

Qi Xiao laughed coldly. If things were going well, he wouldn't have the free time to listen to what the Queen Mother and Roujia were saying. It's just that his relationship with Bairen had never been openly acknowledged by the Queen Mother of Lingnan. Qi Xiao was very suspicious and always feared that the Queen Mother's previous acquiescence was only to deceive him, and that she still harbored intentions of arranging a marriage for Bairen during this visit to the capital.

Who could the Queen Mother confide in if she had something on her mind? Roujia was naturally the best choice. Therefore, Qi Xiao specifically instructed the spy in the Lingnan King's residence to listen carefully and remember well when Roujia returned to her family home, and to repeat it to him word for word upon return.

Sure enough, just as Qi Xiao had expected, on the first day the Queen Mother arrived in the capital, she pulled her own daughter aside and asked quite a bit about him and Bairen. Fortunately, the Queen Mother had come to terms with it herself.

Qi Xiao was quite satisfied and was about to dismiss the spy, but unfortunately, Qi Xiao's authority was too great. The spy firmly remembered Qi Xiao's previous instructions and didn't dare to omit a single word. He also repeated to Qi Xiao what the Queen Mother had said to Roujia about Cen Chaoge. Upon hearing this, Qi Xiao immediately became furious.

Even now, when he occasionally thought of Cen Chaoge, Qi Xiao's hands still itched. He only regretted that he had been too lenient back then and left such a scourge alive.

During the half year Bairen was in Lingnan, Cen Chaoge frequently brought up old matters, wanting to rekindle his former relationship with Bairen. Qi Xiao had endured it, but that thing actually had the ambition and daring of a leopard.

Even now, he still dared to think about Bairen!

Qi Xiao couldn't help but sigh to himself that he was truly a benevolent ruler for tolerating Cen Chaoge's existence until now!

Bairen gave a dry laugh and said in a low voice, "Perhaps they misheard... How could my Queen Mother say such things?"

Qi Xiao sneered, "Do you want me to summon the spy now and have her repeat it to you in person?"

Bairen swallowed and said, "Planting a spy in someone's home, and... like this..."

"Like what?" Qi Xiao's sword-like eyebrows slanted. "Could it be that you still have thoughts about that Cen fellow? If it weren't for the fact that you, little one, always remember Minister Wen's great kindness, I would have long ago..."

Bairen hastily placated, "Yes, yes, it's all my fault, all my fault... Sigh, I won't be able to go back even once a year in the future. Your Majesty, you really don't need to worry so much."

Qi Xiao naturally understood the reasoning, but he still couldn't help feeling upset. Cen Chaoge was different from others. After all, he had some past affection with Bairen... Hearing Bairen say "go back once a year" just now made Qi Xiao even more agitated: "As long as you do as I say, even if you don't go back once in ten years, I will ensure that the south remains peaceful."

Bairen was stunned for a moment and exclaimed, "Your Majesty went to such great lengths... just to keep me from returning to the south?!"

Qi Xiao raised his eyebrows and said indifferently, "Is that not allowed? Your mother is living comfortably in the king's residence, and the south is going smoothly. What reason do you have to go back?"

Bairen felt both amused and grateful in his heart. He knew Qi Xiao's temperament best. For him to make such a concession was truly not easy. Bairen leaned forward and whispered with a smile, "Alright... I'll leave the matter of appointing the southern frontier officials entirely up to you, okay?"

Qi Xiao's face was still cold. Bairen had no choice. It was his own fault after all. He could only lean forward again, his face flushed, and whispered, "How about... we do it again? I miss you..."

"King of Lingnan..." Qi Xiao gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and fiercely kissed his lips, scolding, "Go to sleep! If you really can't get up tomorrow, I'll meet with Dong Boru alone to discuss the matter of appointing officials. Don't you dare feel embarrassed again..."

Bairen's heart was warm and sweet. He quickly curled up in Qi Xiao's embrace. After talking for a while longer, they fell asleep...

Author's Note: A jealous, nagging, mysterious Emperor.