My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 73

Chapter 73: Affection

When he walked into the Panlong Hall and saw Emperor Pingjing again, Song Changxu felt a sense of realization What he had seen and heard in Yongzhou Prefecture was all weighing on his heart. Facing Emperor Pingjing, he had the urge to speak.

Song Changxu: “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

Shen Liang also bowed.

Seeing the two of them looking dusty, Emperor Pingjing said, “Laifu, give them a seat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Song Changxu and Shen Liang thanked Emperor Pingjing. Shen Liang had already given the account book to Song Changxu. This time, for the disaster relief in Yongzhou, Song Changxu was the main official, and he was the deputy. He understood the order of importance.

Song Changxu presented the account book.

“Your Majesty, the ineffective disaster relief I saw in Yongzhou was not Sir Liang’s fault. It was the prefect of Yongzhou who was blinded by greed and used Sir Liang as a scapegoat, using the matter of the mountain fortress to embezzle the disaster relief silver and grain. The account book was not found by Sir Shen and me, but was hidden by Sir Liang.”

What Song Changxu said did not boast of his own political achievements.

“When Sir Liang saw us, he was as thin as a skeleton, on his deathbed. From the common people’s mouths, it was not that Sir Liang had done nothing, but that he was unable to because the silver and grain had been robbed.”

Emperor Pingjing was furious just by looking at a few pages of the account book. Hearing Song Changxu’s words, his anger grew even more.

“The prefect of Yongzhou has such audacity, to dare to be so perfunctory with me. A good Yongzhou Prefecture has become a den of filth. He really thinks he’s the local emperor of Yongzhou, with no respect in his eyes, no common people. He even dares to touch the disaster relief silver and the imperial envoy! Is he going to touch me next?!”

Emperor Pingjing was very angry.

Laifu and the palace attendants knelt down. Song Changxu and Shen Liang also said, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

Emperor Pingjing: “You two ministers can go back first. The rewards will be sent to your residences later.”

After the two of them had left, Emperor Pingjing thought for a moment. “Summon Xiao Ding to see me.”

In less than half a shichen, Xiao Ding appeared in front of Emperor Pingjing and knelt down. “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

“I have a matter for you. Go to Yongzhou Prefecture to investigate whether the corruption is true. If it is, execute him on the spot and exterminate his nine clans,” Emperor Pingjing’s voice was full of bloodlust.

Xiao Ding was terrified. Exterminate his nine clans…

He composed himself. “I understand.”

“Alright, you don’t have to be on duty today. Go back and rest. You’ll set off for Yongzhou Prefecture tomorrow morning,” Emperor Pingjing’s deep voice was cold.

He had no tolerance for such corrupt officials.

Xiao Ding bowed again and left the Panlong Hall. He went to hand over his work and returned to the Xiao residence, his mind unsettled.

Seeing him come back, Madam Xiao’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Why are you back, husband?”

Xiao Ding was evasive. “His Majesty has assigned me an errand. I’m leaving tomorrow. He told me to come back and pack first.”

“Then I’ll pack for you first, husband,” Madam Xiao said with a gentle smile.

Xiao Ding nodded.

His mind had not yet calmed down. His Majesty was so ruthless towards Prefect Zhang. Then in the future, towards their Xiao family…

Since the Xiao family did not have the ability to change the situation of the world, they should have been loyal to the monarch long ago. Even if he was young, he was still the emperor who ruled the world.

Now, His Majesty’s control over the court was not yet in place, and the officials of his faction had not yet been cultivated, but it would be soon.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Bang were in the capital. His second brother, Xiao An, was stationed at the border. The names of the three brothers were taken from “settle the country and bring peace to the state.” His father and aunt must not make any more mistakes. Otherwise, what awaited the Xiao family would be a disaster.

Implication of the nine clans. Besides his aunt and Yurong who had married into the imperial family, who else could escape?

The oppression and frustration of the past, with nowhere to vent, had been suppressed in his heart for years. Once released, it would rebound. Such a person also held supreme power. Who else could stop him?

Xiao Ding was worried.

.

On the other side, after Song Changxu and Shen Liang had separated, he returned home. The fire in the kitchen was still burning, making sugar. The person was not in the kitchen, but he could smell the sweet smell in the air.

Song Changxu’s mind and body relaxed. He went back to the bedroom. A figure was lying on it, sleeping soundly. Song Changxu went over, touched Xu Zhizhou’s long hair, and pushed a strand of his bangs back. He took off his outer robe, shrunk into Xu Zhizhou’s neck, and fell asleep smelling his fragrance.

After Song Changxu had left, Xu Zhizhou still thought of him. But the Bobo Chicken and the sugar making were both very busy. He could only think of him at night. During the day, he was busy.

Today, he had felt a little sleepy while making sugar and had taken a short nap. In his sleep, he felt as if he were bound by vines and could not move. When Xu Zhizhou woke up, he looked down and saw a furry head rubbing against his neck, his hands wrapped around his waist.

No wonder he felt that he couldn’t move. It was because someone was holding him.

He looked down and saw a section of Song Changxu’s smooth chin. His long hair fell on his neck, which was a little itchy. Xu Zhizhou reached out a hand and pinched Song Changxu’s face. The person did not react.

So angry. He’s sleeping so soundly.

A warm breath brushed against him, impossible to ignore. Xu Zhizhou closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

When he woke up again, Song Changxu was already sitting on a chair, drinking tea.

“You’re awake?”

Xu Zhizhou: “I should have woken up long ago, but I couldn’t break free and fell asleep again. When did you come back, husband?”

“I came back by express horse this morning. As soon as I got home, I saw you sleeping in. I couldn’t help but sleep with you.”

Xu Zhizhou put his hands on his hips. “What do you mean, you slept with me? You were the one who fell asleep. And you’re blaming me. You’re so unreasonable.”

He got out of bed, chattering. “You didn’t even say you were coming back. You went to Yongzhou Prefecture for disaster relief and there was no news. I see, your hands are broken, so you can’t write letters. You’re busy all day. You’ve probably forgotten that you still have a husband in the capital. You’re so busy you don’t know what’s what.”

Xu Zhizhou did not fold the quilt. “You go and fold it. A grown man who comes back and does nothing, just drinks your tea and sleeps your sleep.”

The gloom in Song Changxu’s heart dissipated in Xu Zhizhou’s words. He obediently got up and went to fold the quilt.

Xu Zhizhou snorted coldly. “In my next life, I’ll be a man too. I’ll be an official, and you’ll stay at home and do the housework. I’ll also be a romantic for once, and see the great rivers and mountains. I’ll come back when I’m tired.”

Song Changxu defended himself, “I was not romantic in Yongzhou Prefecture. I never touched anyone else at the banquets.”

“Don’t interrupt. What’s there to be proud of? Isn’t that what you should be doing?” Xu Zhizhou glared at him angrily.

“Did you wash up when you came back? You just hugged me. I despise you. If you weren’t so good-looking, I would have turned my back to you and not given you a good look. You haven’t sent any news for several months. You didn’t write to me.”

Song Changxu sniffed himself. “I did wash. I still have a fragrance now.”

The quilt was folded like a block of tofu, square and neat on the bed.

Xu Zhizhou came over and sniffed. He muttered with dissatisfaction, “Why did you use my new bath pearls? They’re very expensive. You should just use soapberries in the future…”

Just as he was about to retreat, Song Changxu pressed him into his arms, held his face, and kissed him.

He kissed him until his legs went weak and his face was flushed. He said, “Why do you talk so much? You haven’t stopped since you woke up. Besides, I’m your husband. What’s wrong with using a little of your bath pearls? Can’t I use them?”

Xu Zhizhou’s gaze was hazy. A moment later, it became fierce. He grabbed Song Changxu and then was stunned.

“Song Changxu!” Xu Zhizhou said in a super loud voice.

Song Changxu held him. “What?”

Xu Zhizhou pinched his chest muscles, and then his abs.

“You went for disaster relief. How did you become like this?” Xu Zhizhou’s face was flushed. He couldn’t help but pinch again.

“…”

Song Changxu almost choked to death. “What are you talking about? Let go. This is improper.”

“No,” Xu Zhizhou said, leaning against Song Changxu with a sense of entitlement. This time, he was righteous. “I’m your husband.”

Song Changxu cleared his throat.

“Tell me, tell me about the disaster relief. How did you become like this?”

Song Changxu ignored the strange feeling and said, “I helped the common people move stones, lay foundations, and also do some odd jobs. I was not idle in Yongzhou Prefecture. I didn’t write to you. It was my fault. The situation in Yongzhou Prefecture was not good, and I was worried.”

Xu Zhizhou: “Alright, I forgive you. Don’t use my bath pearls in the future.”

Song Changxu was angered to death by Xu Zhizhou’s last sentence. “You’re so stingy with me. You’re all stingy with me?”

“What’s the point of a grown man using bath pearls? You can just use some soapberries. I’m not being stingy with you. I even gave you silver before you left. If you use my bath pearls, what’s the difference between you and me smelling the same?”

Xu Zhizhou had many reasons. Song Changxu thought to himself, Whatever you say. At worst, I’ll still use them. As the head of the family, I can’t even make this small decision.

Xu Zhizhou found a brush and ink and wrote a few characters. He gave a piece of paper to Song Changxu. “A reward for my husband.”

Song Changxu hesitantly opened the paper. On it were written the two characters “good official.”

“The handwriting is so ugly. I see you’ve been reading storybooks at home all the time and have forgotten to practice your calligraphy. You said you wanted to learn, to recognize all the characters. How could you have learned? Your mind is all on the storybooks,” Song Changxu started to nag.

“Now that I’m back, I’ll have to make you practice your calligraphy after I’m off duty. In the future, you still want to be a boss. Look at your chicken-scratch handwriting. Won’t people laugh at you when you sign a contract? Then I’ll also be laughed at. The husband of a top scorer writes like this.”

Xu Zhizhou was embarrassed and annoyed by Song Changxu’s nagging.

He took a brush and quickly wrote a few characters on a piece of paper, then threw it at Song Changxu. “I see you can’t take the two words ‘good official’. These two words are just right for you.”

Song Changxu hastily took the paper. “?”

On it were the two large, chicken-scratch characters “dog official.”

Xu Zhizhou crossed his arms and said with contempt, “Dog official!”

Song Changxu: “???”

Song Changxu’s head was buzzing with anger, his chest heaving. He almost wanted to vomit blood when he saw the two characters on the paper.

“You’re being unreasonable. I’m not the official you’re talking about!”

Xu Zhizhou went to pinch Song Changxu’s face. “Who’s being reasonable with you?”

Song Changxu was not to be outdone. He went to pull on Xu Zhizhou’s face. “You’re quite ugly like this.”

The one thing Xu Zhizhou was most confident about was his face. Now Song Changxu was saying that he was ugly.

“You think you’re so good-looking? You’re ugly too,” Xu Zhizhou said, squeezing Song Changxu’s face into a big pancake.

Song Changxu’s eyes were clear. “Am I a good official, a good husband?”

Xu Zhizhou: “You’re an ugly husband.”

Song Changxu let go. “I’m afraid of hurting your face.”

Xu Zhizhou snorted coldly.

Song Changxu smiled and went to kiss him.

“I’m ugly, and my handwriting is like chicken scratch. How can I be favored by the top scorer?” Xu Zhizhou said, his words sharp and sarcastic.

Song Changxu said vaguely, “The top scorer just likes the ugly ones, the ones with chicken-scratch handwriting.”

Xu Zhizhou was furious.

“My husband is very beautiful. His eyebrows are like distant mountains in the spring smoke, his eyes like autumn waves reflecting the moon’s strings. The top scorer likes him very much, loves him very much, and pities him very much.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Xu: Scholars are so good with their words. [Pats head]

Little Song: My husband is very beautiful.