Rebirth As a Fatuous and Self-indulgent Ruler

Shi Qingzhou saw Long Xiaoyuan’s relief.

“What’s wrong?”

Long Xiaoyuan paused and said honestly, “Qingzhou, I’ve actually thought about it, especially when I was caught. I thought if I could still come back here and see you.”

Shi Qingzhou paused and said softly, “Well, what about now?”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Now, I’m back here.”

Shi Qingzhou also smiled. “Yes, you are back here.”

Long Xiaoyuan said, “Qingzhou, I think now it’s great to be alive. I can breathe fresh air, hug someone I love, and lie on such a comfortable bed. Tomorrow, I can hear our son call me Father in a soft childish voice. Qingzhou, don’t you think it’s good to be alive?”

Shi Qingzhou nodded. “Indeed, it’s not bad.”

“Let’s go see your mother tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded. “I’ll go, and you stay here. You just came back, so you should handle political matters. The problem with the Eastern Darkness has to be solved.”

Long Xiaoyuan groaned. “Does that mean I’ll be very busy again?”

Shi Qingzhou looked at him and smiled. “Are you scared?”

“Yeah, I’m really scared,” Long Xiaoyuan sighed.

Shi Qingzhou smiled and said, “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”

“You don’t need to.” Long Xiaoyuan shook his head. “You’ve been out for so long, and your mother must’ve missed you. Stay with her at home longer. Come back after dinner.”

Shi Qingzhou raised his eyebrows. “Are you so generous? I’m surprised.”

Long Xiaoyuan’s face darkened. “I’ve always been generous.”

“Then why didn’t you want me to go out in the past?”

Long Xiaoyuan said helplessly, “I was worried about your safety. Now that our enemies are dead, I won’t be worried anymore.”

“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded. “I accept your explanation.”

The two of them chatted and fell asleep.

They were exhausted after the journey, and they needed a good rest.

The two of them didn’t do anything, hugging each other to sleep.

The next morning, when Long Xiaoyuan got up, Shi Qingzhou was still asleep. Long Xiaoyuan didn’t disturb him and got up quietly.

Shi Qingzhou woke up in a daze when Long Xiaoyuan got up, but he was sleepy, so he went back to sleep.

When he woke up again, it was almost time for Long Xiaoyuan to come back from the morning court.

Shi Qingzhou got up. After he washed up, Long Xiaoyuan came back.

Shi Qingzhou went to greet him.

“How was the morning court?”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Regarding my return, some people were happy, some were worried, and some people trembled with fear.” Shi Qingzhou laughed. “You have a vivid description.”

“Of course. Let’s have breakfast. You can go back home after breakfast.”

“Yes, I know.” Shi Qingzhou nodded.

Liu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan did not follow them back to the imperial palace. Instead, they stayed in the Imperial City.

The house that Long Xiaoyuan gave them was well equipped.

The house had been tended to, waiting for the two masters to return.

Therefore, Liu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan went to stay there.

Although Madam Shi had Liu Suifeng’s medicine with her, Shi Qingzhou was not completely at ease, so he planned to take Liu Suifeng with him to check on his mother carefully.

Shi Qingzhou knew where Ouyang Chuan and Liu Suifeng were staying, so he went over directly.

The two of them were having breakfast when he arrived.

After Shi Qingzhou told them what he had come for, Liu Suifeng said he would go with Shi Qingzhou after breakfast.

Ouyang Chuan said, “I’m not going. I’ll do some shopping.”

Liu Suifeng said, “Alright. Take care of yourself.”

Ouyang Chuan rolled his eyes. “Do you think I’m a child?”

Liu Suifeng said with grievance. “Of course you are not a child anymore. I’m worried about you.”

Ouyang Chuan ignored him.

Shi Qingzhou said, “I’ll wait for you outside.”

Ouyang Chuan said to Liu Suifeng hurriedly, “Why don’t you leave?”

Liu Suifeng sighed. “I feel I’m a nuisance.”

Ouyang Chuan grinned. “It’s good that you know.” Liu Suifeng was speechless.

He simply didn’t want to say anything.

However, Liu Suifeng quickly left and followed Shi Qingzhou to the general’s mansion.

At this time, Shadow Guardian delivered a message to Long Xiaoyuan.

It was from the Eastern Darkness.

After reading it carefully, Long Xiaoyuan let out a long sigh of relief, and he smiled.

Zhou Suye failed.

It was a tragedy for him, but he actually succeeded in killing Emperor Zhou.

However, Emperor Zhou didn’t die right away, and he killed Zhou Suye with his sword.

Zhou Suye died on the spot, and Emperor Zhou passed the throne to Fang Shuoyang.

Actually, Zhou Suye intended to kill Fang Shuoyang with his sword. At that time, Fang Shuoyang could not defend himself. For some reason, Emperor Zhou rushed up and stepped in front of Fang Shuoyang.

Emperor Zhou was seriously injured, but he successfully killed Zhou Suye, who was shocked.

As for Fang Shuoyang, Emperor Zhou somehow saved him, so he was the final winner.

Fang Shuoyang should feel complicated now.

Fang Shuoyang might not know why Emperor Zhou did that, but Long Xiaoyuan knew the reason from an emperor’s point of view.

Emperor Zhou was old after all, but most importantly, he was sad too.

The Eastern Darkness couldn’t go far in his hands.

However, Fang Shuoyang was obviously qualified.

Therefore, for the future of the empire, if someone had to die, he would rather be that person.

Just like Long Xiaoyuan. His son was only two years old, and he was willing to take risks and die with his enemy, leaving a peaceful country  to his son.

He could do this, so could Emperor Zhou.

Besides, Fang Shuoyang was an adult, much better than a two-year-old child.

This may not have anything to do with love or compensation. This was the emperor’s strategy.

Of course, it was also the emperor’s sorrow.

Emperor adored Zhou Suye the most, but he couldn’t show his affection, which made his favorite son misunderstand.

Moreover, the son he secretly loved the most wanted him to die!

Wasn’t this the sorrow of being an emperor?

Especially Emperor Zhou.

He used his other sons to pave the way for his beloved son. But in the end, he ended up like this…

Sighing softly, Long Xiaoyuan put away the note.

No matter what, this result was the best.

At least, the people he cared about were all alive…

At night, Shi Qingzhou came back.

Long Xiaoyuan had already had dinner and was enjoying the cool in the yard.

He lay on the lounge chair leisurely.

When Shi Qingzhou came back, he saw Long Xiaoyuan.

Shi Qingzhou approached Long Xiaoyuan. “Have you had dinner?”

Long Xiaoyuan waved at Shi Qingzhou.

Shi Qingzhou extended his hand.

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. He pulled Shi Qingzhou into his arms and let him sit on his lap.

Shi Qingzhou looked at him. “What’s up?”

Long Xiaoyuan said softly, “There’s news from the Eastern Darkness.”

Shi Qingzhou paused and hurriedly asked. “How is it?”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “When Zhou Suye tried to kill Fang Shuoyang, Emperor Zhou protected Fang Shuoyang and got seriously injured. However, Emperor Zhou managed to kill Zhou Suye, his most beloved son, and with his serious injury, he passed the throne to Fang Shuoyang.”

Shi Qingzhou thought about the news.

Long Xiaoyuan hugged Shi Qingzhou’s waist.

“Qingzhou, Emperor Zhou had been stupid for a lifetime, and he got smart in the end. He had so many sons, but almost none of them ended up good. He had the weird idea to use his other sons to enthrone his favorite son without caring about their deaths. Therefore, he ended up like this. But, this result is the best. Do you think so?”

Shi Qingzhou looked at Long Xiaoyuan and nodded slowly. “You’re right. This result is the best…”

Long Xiaoyuan kissed Shi Qingzhou’s ear.

“Back then, we were willing to take risks for our son, leaving the country to him and ready to die with the enemies. I think that’s what emperors will do.”

Shi Qingzhou also said, “Emperor Zhou made his own choice to kill Zhou Suye, whom he had adored for so many years. Since his favorite son wanted to kill him, he preferred to kill his son himself. Zhou Suye deserved it, but I didn’t expect him to move so early.”

“He might be forced to do it,” Long Xiaoyuan said. “He had lost the battle at the border. When he returned, people with eyes naturally knew who was more suitable to be the emperor. Even Emperor Zhou couldn’t deny it.”

“That’s true…”

“Qingzhou, let’s go back.”

“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded.

Long Xiaoyuan held Shi Qingzhou’s hand and wrapped it in his palm. “Let’s go…”

“Okay…”