Qixue’s fingertip continued to slide down Ji Yuheng’s chest, all the way to his waist and abdomen. Even through the fabric of his clothes, he could faintly feel how full and firm the muscles of this body were, brimming with the vigorous vitality of youth.
When he touched Ji Yuheng’s abs, Ji Yuheng drew in a soft breath, his abdomen tensing and contracting inward, as if he were very afraid of Qixue’s touch.
The more he didn’t want to be touched, the more Qixue insisted on doing so. He pinched Ji Yuheng’s abs once more before stopping.
Qixue imagined Ji Yuheng kneeling on the ground soon, being whipped by him until the skin in those areas bled and festered. His mood improved greatly at the thought, and with curved brows and smiling eyes, he asked Ji Yuheng, “Is that alright, Young Master Shizi?”
His smile was faint, his gaze soft as spring water, and his tone sweet and gentle. It didn’t sound like a threat at all, but rather like flirting, causing Ji Yuheng to hold his breath instantly as his ears turned bright red.
Ji Yuheng’s heart was left hanging in suspense, unable to guess Qixue’s intentions. He first took the southern pearl from his mouth and gently placed it on the tray held up by the palace maid, asking them to wash it clean.
“I shall obey Your Ladyship’s decree,” he said softly.
Qixue’s smile was sweet. He wanted to stand below and watch Ji Yuheng pick up the pearls, but he suddenly heard Helan Ji call out to him. “Yuan Yuan, come back to my side.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At Helan Ji’s call, Qixue immediately returned to the throne. Helan Ji took his hand and asked in a low voice, “Do you and Young Master Ji know each other from before?”
“We’ve met once, but we’re not old acquaintances,” Qixue huffed. “I hate him.”
Helan Ji: “Why do you hate him?”
“He…”
Qixue was momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t very well tell the original plot from the novel, and aside from that, what was there about Ji Yuheng that was hateable?
He racked his brains but couldn’t think of any flaws in Ji Yuheng. The guy was too good at putting on a facade—his public image was nearly perfect, making it hard to find fault with him.
If Qixue still remembered that night with Ji Yuheng, he definitely would have accused Ji Yuheng of taking liberties with him to Helan Ji. But he had been too deeply poisoned at the time, completely losing his reason, and forgot everything upon waking. He had no impression of that night at all.
Unable to articulate why he hated Ji Yuheng, Helan Ji fell silent for a moment and gripped his hand tighter. “Your earlier behavior made me think you quite liked Young Master Ji.”
“How could that be!”
Qixue showed a look of grief and indignation, as if he had suffered a great injustice. He coquettishly complained to Helan Ji, “How could I possibly like him? I hate his guts! Your Majesty, please don’t say such things. It’s too disgusting.”
His disgust was genuine and couldn’t be faked. Helan Ji sensed his emotions and knew he spoke the truth, finally setting his mind at ease. “I understand. It was my misunderstanding of you, Yuan Yuan.”
“Exactly. I’ll forgive Your Majesty this time, but don’t misunderstand me like that again, or I’ll really get angry.”
Qixue coquettishly grumbled a few times before suddenly realizing something. A sly smile bloomed in his brows and eyes. “Your Majesty… you’re not jealous again, are you?”
Helan Ji said, “Since you dislike Young Master Ji, don’t get too close to him.” He paused. “I’m even more jealous than you imagine.”
“Aiya, I know. I won’t let Your Majesty misunderstand again.”
Qixue sweetly gripped Helan Ji’s hand in return, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it. “Your Majesty is such a jealous jar, but I just like you this way.”
To cheer Helan Ji up, Qixue immediately put Ji Yuheng out of his mind and didn’t notice Ji Yuheng’s expression at all.
As they spoke softly, Ji Yuheng couldn’t hear their exact words, but he could see Qixue affectionately kiss the Emperor’s hand, then lean in to kiss the Emperor’s cheek. The Emperor doted on him and was intimate with him in return. They looked so perfectly matched and loving.
His heart twisted and turned a thousand times, ultimately sinking.
Ji Yuheng showed a bitter smile. He could already see that the person Qixue truly loved was Helan Ji. He didn’t like him at all—he had only been deliberately teasing him.
Ji Yuheng lowered his eyes, hiding all his emotions. He asked an inner servant for a bamboo flute.
A clear, melodious flute sound echoed through the hall. Qixue was whispering sweet nothings in Helan Ji’s ear when he heard the flute and was startled. He didn’t understand why Ji Yuheng wasn’t picking up the pearls and was blowing a flute instead.
But gradually, Qixue became entranced. He really liked this tune—it was like a serene lake under moonlight, reminding him of his homeland. He even found himself looking at Ji Yuheng more favorably and wanted to snuggle up to him, quietly listening until the end.
Not only Qixue was drawn in—a group of small animals curiously approached the hall, sneaking inside. There were little birds, squirrels, hedgehogs, and kittens. Qixue even spotted a few gray rabbits hopping over the high threshold to Ji Yuheng’s side.
It was a tune that summoned small animals.
Ji Yuheng stopped playing and smiled at the little animals. “Thank you all for coming. I have a small request: please help me pick up the treasure pearls on the ground.”
As if they understood, the small animals chittered and immediately scattered to gather the southern pearls strewn across the floor.
Forget the animals—even Qixue was affected by the tune and wanted to help Ji Yuheng with his trouble. But he forcibly restrained his instincts, sitting motionless at the head while inwardly cursing Ji Yuheng’s despicable shamelessness.
One gray rabbit seemed to have trouble moving and was slower than its kin. It laboriously picked up a southern pearl and came before Qixue, wanting to approach but too timid, looking up at him shyly.
“Don’t be afraid. Come here.”
Qixue hadn’t seen one of his own kind in a long time and felt a surge of affection. He stepped down from the throne, gently scooped up the gray rabbit, and returned to his seat, placing it on his lap.
The gray rabbit spat out the pearl and affectionately nuzzled Qixue’s finger. Qixue stroked it and discovered it was a pregnant doe—that explained why it moved slower than the others.
Qixue gently stroked the gray rabbit’s fluffy fur, infusing it with a bit of demon power to ease its pregnancy discomfort.
Helan Ji’s gaze fell on the gray rabbit. “Does Yuan Yuan like it?”
Qixue paused in his stroking and couldn’t help laughing softly. “Is Your Majesty even jealous of a little rabbit?”
“You are a little rabbit too,” Helan Ji said. “You’re kin.”
“I’m different from it.”
Qixue explained, “I’m a demon, while it’s just an ordinary little rabbit without spiritual intelligence. We can’t intermarry. Besides, I’m over a hundred years old. It’s only one or two, practically a child, and pregnant at that. How could I have any ideas about it?”
After hearing his explanation, Helan Ji fell silent for a long time.
Qixue called out puzzledly, “Your Majesty?”
“So you’re that old already,” Helan Ji said. “In your eyes, am I a child too?”
Qixue actually did think of Helan Ji as still a child, but seeing Helan Ji’s low mood, he decisively lied. “How could that be? I see Your Majesty as my husband.”
Helan Ji looked at him. “You’re lying.”
“What’s this about lying or not…”
Qixue guiltily averted his gaze. “Then what about Your Majesty? Are you going to treat me like an old man?”
“No,” Helan Ji said. “In my heart, you’re much younger than me. I see myself as your older brother.”
“That’s right. Age doesn’t matter. I’ve always called you ‘Brother A’Man’ and really do think of you as my brother often.”
This time, Qixue wasn’t lying. Helan Ji doted on him so much, with such a brotherly demeanor, that Qixue often forgot their age difference and shamelessly enjoyed his pampering.
Helan Ji: “Then be my ‘little sister’ for life.”
“Sure.” Qixue stroked the rabbit with one hand and traced circles on the back of Helan Ji’s hand with the other. “Tonight, Brother should properly dote on his little sister too…”
As they spoke, the small animals had quickly gathered all the southern pearls and placed them into a new treasure casket.
The ministers and imperial clansmen in Jianzhang Hall were few in number, all showing expressions of astonishment as they admired Ji Yuheng’s skill in commanding living creatures.
It wasn’t that only Ji Yuheng could control demons and spirits—many cultivators could do the same. What was remarkable was that Ji Yuheng was just an ordinary person who could summon them, proving he must be a pure and upright gentleman of jade-like virtue to earn their favor and willing service.
Nearly two hundred southern pearls were soon retrieved one by one, including those that had fallen into cracks.
Seeing this, Qixue was both angry and helpless. Ji Yuheng definitely couldn’t have picked up those few himself—that was meant to stump him, yet Ji Yuheng had effortlessly resolved the crisis.
