Rebirth As a Fatuous and Self-indulgent Ruler

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

Only then did Long Xiaoyuan clearly see the weariness on Shi Qingzhou’s face.

Long Xiaoyuan was taken aback, his heart aching. He quickly pulled Shi Qingzhou into his arms.

“Qingzhou? What happened? Tell me.”

Shi Qingzhou took a deep breath, but he didn’t say anything. There was impatient anger in his eyes, as if he was suppressing something. Long Xiaoyuan was more surprised at sight of this. What could anger Shi Qingzhou to this extreme?

Long Xiaoyuan thought about it carefully. There were only two people capable of doing that.

One was himself, the other was Shi Qingshan.

Hadn’t Qingzhou just come back from visiting Shi Qingshan?

After figuring it out, Long Xiaoyuan pulled Shi Qingzhou into his arms and kissed him gently.

“Qingzhou, is there something wrong with your father?”

As expected, Shi Qingzhou stiffened.

Long Xiaoyuan instantly understood.

“So, there is something wrong with your father. Tell me. What’s wrong?”

Looking at Long Xiaoyuan’s concerned eyes, Shi Qingzhou slowly told him about Shi Qingshan in a tense voice.

Shi Qingzhou pursed his lips tightly. “I don’t understand what my father is thinking!”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled at Shi Qingzhou’s depression.

Shi Qingzhou squinted when he saw Long Xiaoyuan smile. “What are you laughing at? Is this funny?”

“You…” Long Xiaoyuan flicked Shi Qingzhou’s forehead.

“I’m laughing at you. You are so smart, but you are being foolish.”

Shi Qingzhou frowned. “What do you mean?”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Don’t you understand why your father says he doesn’t want the baby?”

“No, I don’t understand.” Shi Qingzhou said in depression.

Long Xiaoyuan sighed. “Your father is doing it for you.”

Shi Qingzhou was taken aback. “For me? How is this possible?”

“Why not?” Long Xiaoyuan rolled his eyes. “The outsider sees the most of the game. Your father makes this decision because he doesn’t want to put you in a difficult position with me. Look, you are the Empress, and your father is a great general. Both of you are well respected and dignified, but there will be no descendants in the Shi family. Besides, you don’t have any cousins. In other words, even if the Shi family is a dignified and favored family, its glory does not last. However, with a child and an heir, it is totally different. The Shi family will continue to exist. In that case, as time goes on, the Shi family would become a powerful family in the Imperial City. It would undermine the rule of the emperor. Your father is afraid of me, worrying that you would have a hard time. He hopes that you would live a happy life with me.”

Long Xiaoyuan’s words shocked Shi Qingzhou, whose heart was trembling.

After a while, Shi Qingzhou wiped his face. “You’re right. The outsider sees the most of the game. My father doesn’t hesitate to hurt himself to protect me. It is ridiculous of me not to understand his good intention. I’m not a good son.”

“Qingzhou, don’t say that.” Long Xiaoyuan was displeased. “I’m not telling you this to make you feel guilty.” Shi Qingzhou smiled. “I know.”

Long Xiaoyuan pinched Shi Qingzhou’s lower lip. “I tell you this to put those funny ideas out of your head.”

Shi Qingzhou took a deep breath. “I’ll go to see Father tomorrow and make it straight with him.”

“Don’t be a fool. It’s of no use.” Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Your father will only think that you are trying to console him.”

Shi Qingzhou paused and frowned. “Then what shall I do?”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “It’s easy. I’ll go and tell him. He will definitely believe me.”

Shi Qingzhou paused and frowned. “But…”

Long Xiaoyuan held Shi Qingzhou’s hand. “Come on. I have to straighten this out. Don’t argue with me. Besides, I want to see your father.”

Long Xiaoyuan’s serious expression silenced Shi Qingzhou.

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Did you rush back all the way? Have you taken a bath?”

Shi Qingzhou shook his head, his voice a little hoarse. “No.”

Long Xiaoyuan immediately took Shi Qingzhou’s hand. “Let’s go take a bath.”

Shi Qingzhou looked at Long Xiaoyuan and raised his eyebrows. “You haven’t bathed yet?”

“Yes.” Long Xiaoyuan grinned. “I took a bath already, but I want to serve you.”

He stressed the word ‘serve”, which made Shi Qingzhou speechless.

In the end, Long Xiaoyuan managed to take Shi Qingzhou to the bath.

After he bathed Shi Qingzhou, Long Xiaoyuan took Shi Qingzhou to the big bed.

Long Xiaoyuan knew that Shi Qingzhou was tired from the journey, and he understood his bad mood.

Although Shi Qingzhou was feeling better, he was tired.

Therefore, Long Xiaoyuan did not disturb Shi Qingzhou. Instead, he let him go to sleep.

In fact, he was tired as well.

Long Xiaoyuan and Shi Qingzhou slept well through the night.

The next day, Long Xiaoyuan and Shi Qingzhou left early in the morning.

It would take more than half a day to travel from Ronghua City to the border.

And they had to speed up in order to make it.

Therefore, Long Xiaoyuan and Shi Qingzhou were not slow in their journey, and they only took a few Shadow Guardians with them. They didn’t even tell Liu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan.

However, Long Xiaoyuan did not give any orders to hide it from Liu Suifeng.

If he asked about their whereabouts, Shadow Guardians would tell him.

After they reached the border, Long Xiaoyuan and Shi Qingzhou went straight to Shi Qingshan.

After Shi Qingshan led them to his tent, he knelt down to salute.

Long Xiaoyuan quickly pulled him up.

“We’re family. Father, you are embarrassing me.”

Although Long Xiaoyuan had addressed Shi Qingshan this way a few times, but Shi Qingshan felt ill at ease every time. He didn’t dare to respond. Long Xiaoyuan said, “Qingzhou, it’s not easy for me to see Father. I want to talk with him about something. Please go out first.”

Shi Qingzhou nodded.

Shi Qingshan was a little uneasy, not knowing what Long Xiaoyuan was going to say to him.

However, Long Xiaoyuan felt a home.

Long Xiaoyuan casually took a seat and then patted the place next to him. “General Shi, sit down.”

Although Shi Qingshan was uneasy, he went over and sat up straight.

Long Xiaoyuan looked at him and smiled.

“General Shi, I’m going to tell you something.”

“Your Majesty, please speak.”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “I have made a will in the Imperial City.”

Shi Qingshan turned pale at the mention of making a will, almost got to his feet in shock.

Long Xiaoyuan held Shi Qingshan’s arm. “General Shi, don’t get upset. I like to tell you about the content of the will.”

Shi Qingshan paused slightly.

Long Xiaoyuan smiled and told Shi Qingshan his will.

Shi Qingshan turned white. “Your Majesty, you can’t do this!”

“Can’t I?” Long Xiaoyuan raised his eyebrows. “Why not? You are Qingzhou’s father, the father of my beloved, the grandfather of my son. With these identities, why do you think we can’t do this?”

Shi Qingshan wanted to say something, but Long Xiaoyuan continued.

“Father, I also want to tell you that I will only have Qingzhou for the rest of my life. I won’t allow Qingzhou to have any child with any women, but I don’t want the Shi family to end like this. Qingzhou and Mother are looking forward to the arrival of this child, so I won’t allow you to give up this child in any case!”

Shi Qingshan opened his mouth in surprise.

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Father, you should believe in my feelings for Qingzhou. Even though the imperial family does not seem to have any true feelings, this was not an absolute truth. Father, I’ve promised you, so please trust me once. What do you think?”

Shi Qingshan blushed, not knowing what to say.

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Father, I take your silence as a yes. Don’t worry, Father. The Shi family’s glory is definitely not temporary. As long as the Shi family doesn’t make any big mistakes, I promise you that the Shi family will always exist.”

Shi Qingshan was on the verge of tears.

The Shi family had been loyal for several generations. Finally, they got what they had been waiting for.

‘God blesses our family!’

His lips trembling, Shi Qingshan knelt down. “Your Majesty, thank you very much for your kindness.”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled and helped Shi Qingshan up. “So Father, can you keep the child now?”

Shi Qingshan said awkward, “I was being stupid.”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “Now, I’ll tell you what has happened now. I need your cooperation in some matters.”

“Okay,” Shi Qingshan said seriously, “Your Majesty, please speak.”

Long Xiaoyuan nodded. “I come here for two people. One is Wu Ronghan, and the other is Lord, who is at war with of Northern Barbarians.”

Long Xiaoyuan told him about the two men in details.

He also mentioned his preliminary plan.

Shi Qingshan nodded repeatedly. “That’s good, but…”

It took them half an hour to finish their discussion.

Long Xiaoyuan thought for a moment and lowered his voice. “Father, do you think the Shadow Guardians outside can hear me if I talk?”

Shi Qingshan immediately understood his meaning and quickly said. “No.”

Long Xiaoyuan nodded. “Okay. I want to tell you about Ouyang Chuan. Father, you don’t have to persuade me. Just do as I say.”

Shi Qingshan paused slightly and said slowly, “Your Majesty, please speak.”

Long Xiaoyuan looked down. “Ouyang Chuan has been enchanted by Lord. If we want to free him, we have to let Ouyang Chuan complete the mission given by Lord. Although we can do some tricks about it, it has to look real. I intend to take a risk. Father, if I unfortunately get killed by Ouyang Chuan, stop Qingzhou from killing Ouyang Chuan. If Ouyang Chuan only hurt me and I survive, you have to stop Qingzhou. You can’t let him kill angrily.”

Shi Qingshan turned pale. “This is too risky.”

Long Xiaoyuan raised his head. “Yes, Father, it’s too risky, but this is the only way. Ouyang Chuan and Liu Suifeng have done too much for Qingzhou and me. Liu Suifeng even saved the whole city several times. Besides, they are my friends. How can I let anything happen to them? I can’t allow my beloved one to hurt my friend on my account. I make this choice myself. I can share life and death with Qingzhou, but I can’t let him hurt our most important friend.”

Shi Qingshan took a deep breath. “Is there no other way?”

Long Xiaoyuan shook his head. “I also hope that there would be another solution, but for now, there is none.”

Shi Qingshan pursed his lips tightly. “Your Majesty…”

“Father, I’ve said this is my decision. Please support me. In addition, please be a good general and Regent. Of course, none of us want that day to come.”

“Your Majesty, you will definitely pull through safe and sound.” Shi Qingshan slowly knelt down. “I’ll do as you say.”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled. “General Shi, please get up.”

After half an hour, Long Xiaoyuan finally came out of Shi Qingshan’s tent.

Shi Qingzhou had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Long Xiaoyuan coming out, he hurriedly went up to greet him. “How is it?”

Long Xiaoyuan immediately smiled. “I convinced him of course.”

Shi Qingzhou let out a sigh of relief, but he rolled his eyes at Long Xiaoyuan. “Yeah, I don’t have to worry about anything if you deal with it.”

“That’s true.” Long Xiaoyuan laughed,” Qingzhou, do you want to go in? You can talk to your father. We are leaving soon.”

Shi Qingzhou thought about it, but finally he shook his head. “No.”

Long Xiaoyuan was confused, “Why?”

“Shi Qingzhou said, “Because there is no need. I understand what’s on my father’s mind now.”

“Okay.” Long Xiaoyuan shrugged. “Shall we go now? It’s not good to stay long here. I don’t want to cause any trouble to your father.”

“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded. “Let’s go back to the Yamen of Ronghua City as soon as possible.”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled and held Shi Qingzhou’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Shi Qingzhou nodded. “Okay.”

The two of them hurried back, but they took the carriage on the way back. In the carriage, Long Xiaoyuan and Shi Qingzhou enjoyed tea.

Although the road was a little bumpy, it didn’t affect Long Xiaoyuan’s mood.

Shi Qingzhou stayed with him.

Long Xiaoyuan sipped tea and ate desserts. Sometimes he even fed Shi Qingzhou. Time flew.

They were expecting assassins. Although they didn’t take many Shadow Guardians with them, Long Xiaoyuan was not worried.

No assassins appear all the way from the border to the Yamen.

No one appeared!

Long Xiaoyuan was regretful about this.

After the two of them got back to the Yamen and sat down on the chairs in their room, Liu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan came over.

However, Ouyang Chuan was in a low spirit. Even Long Xiaoyuan could notice his pale face.

Shi Qingzhou also glanced at Ouyang Chuan.

Long Xiaoyuan said in surprise, “Ouyang Chuan, what’s wrong? Doesn’t Liu Suifeng let you sleep at night? He has gone too far.

I told you that you can’t pamper him. You should ignore him and keep him off your bed.”

A short silence fell upon the room.

A moment later, Shi Qingzhou cleared his throat. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Long Xiaoyuan said confidently, “How can this be nonsense? I see that Ouyang Chuan doesn’t rest well, and he looks terrible. It is clear that he doesn’t sleep well at night. There is only one reason. Who else could it be apart from Liu Suifeng?”

Everyone was speechless. Shi Qingzhou did not know what to say.

Liu Suifeng didn’t know if he should defend himself.