Chapter 8 | Jealousy

"How do you feel today?" Qi Xutian leaned back on the chair and read the memorials by casually flipping through the urgent items sent by the courtiers, his hand moved like flowing water as he replied swiftly. Noticing his smooth and relaxed posture, Qi Mingyue couldn't help but wonder whether he was looking at "urgent items" that Liu Yi sent him, or a lady in the palace who lost her golden hairpin wanted to ask him another trivial thing.

"It's been more than two months and the wound has healed." Qi Mingyue continued to write carefully while holding the brush.

Qi Xutian tossed the brush aside and asked Liu Yi to come in and take out the approved memorials. "What are you writing?"

"Military strategies." Cang He's characters were somewhat similar to what he was familiar with, but they were also different. They were similar to the traditional Chinese characters he knew of but a little simpler. It wasn't difficult to understand, but the writing aspect left him with a headache.

"Oh? What's the use of copying military strategies?" Qi Xutian walked down from the throne in the Imperial Study Room, bowed his head and asked with a soft smile in Qi Mingyue's ear, "Does MingEr want to fight at such a young age? I can't bear it."

His warm breath fanned on his ear and made Qi Mingyue pause writing, his hold on the brush tightened. He raised his head and said the person next to him, "To practice writing."

As long as his father did not pester him, he would be able to write better. Frowning at the writing on the paper, he asked helplessly, "Father Emperor seems to be very free. Have you finished reading all the memorials?"

Qi Xutian stood up and waved his hand in dismissal, "Why should those small things be read one by one? If all those were done by me, what's the use of those people?"

After that, he asked Liu Yi to move out the remaining pile, "Let them find a way for themselves, then I'll see how they understand and find satisfactory solutions. There is no place for useless people in court."

"Yes." Liu Yi retreated from the room, knowing that some people were going to be unlucky.

In the quiet Imperial Study Room, the light aroma of sandalwood wafted from the censer. Qi Xutian approached Qi Mingyue with the incense fume, bent over and pulled the hair away from his forehead, and examined the wound carefully, "Well, it's really faint. There shouldn't be any traces in a few days. Bai Fu's effect is really good."

"Father Emperor..." Qi Mingyue reluctantly put down the brush, "If you are too idle, it's better to go to the harem. Those consorts and male concubines would be very happy to see you."

"It's okay to go there for pastime when bored. Since MingEr is here with me, how can I feel bored?" Qi Xutian took him in his arms and sat down. He kissed his injured forehead, and asked, "Are you used to living in Xuantian Palace now? "

"If Father didn't hold me so tightly while sleeping, I would be more used to it." Since he began living in the Xuantian Palace, Qi Xutian asked him to sleep together. Hong Qiu and Ying Ran also followed him and held full-time responsibility for his daily chores.

Qi Xutian lowered his head to meet his forehead. At this time, the distance between them was so close that they could feel each other's breath. When these two people, one big and the other small, looked at the emotion in each other’s eyes, they felt shocked.

Qi Xutian’s felt complicated and spoke, "Sometimes I feel really worried that MingEr would disappear when I wake up. You have always wanted to leave the palace, isn't that right? And leave me?"

Qi Mingyue's eyes widened, then slowly closed them. He didn't know why this man could see through his thoughts that he hadn't even started planning yet, "Father Emperor... " For the first time, he felt it was difficult to call these two words, "were my thoughts so obvious? "

"Just a feeling," Qi Xutian chuckled, "MingEr always makes it feel like you always belong to yourself, even when in my arms. If you want, you can leave at any time and never look back."

"Yes, the reason why I am still here is because Father treats me very well. I also need your rights and status to ensure my own safety. It just so happens that Father is also interested in me. That's why, if both Father and I can take whatever we need from each other, what's wrong with that?" Opening his eyes again, Qi Mingyue had a warm smile on his face as he asked calmly.

He thought that Father Emperor would be angry or disappointed, unexpectedly, Qi Xutian laughed out loud and looked joyful.  Qi Mingyue was puzzled, but Qi Xutian embraced him, hugged his young face to his chest, and laughed uncontrollably. He sighed, "MingEr is really my son, so cute. What should I do with you? Really... I want to eat you sooner..." His voice was brimming with joy, interest as well as uncontrollable excitement.

The more he revealed the difference between his appearance and thoughts, the more fascinated Qi Xutian was by this child. He always pretended to be kind and gentle, but he was, in truth, distant and always thinking about his own interests. He was exactly like his name Mingyue - as clear as water but also as cold as the moon. Now, he found the name to be accurate.

"Grow up quickly, what will MingEr become in the future? I really can't wait to see it." He whispered and gently pecked the corner of his mouth. He saw his rare stunned expression and chuckled again, "MingEr, please don't let your Father down..."

Just then, Liu Yi's voice came from outside the door, "Your Majesty, His Eldest Highness has come for an audience."

"Let him in." Hearing Qi Xutian's pleased and smiling voice, Liu Yi pushed the door open and beckoned Qi Musheng to enter.

"...Is Father Emperor today... very happy?" Qi Musheng stood timidly and asked Liu Yi, who opened the door for him, in a whisper.

"His Majesty seems to be in a good mood."

As soon as Liu Yi's words fell, Qi Musheng was obviously relieved. Every time he asked him for an audience, his Father's attitude would change from good to bad. Sometimes, Father would inquire about his well-being with a smile and show concern about his studies. And other times, he would just glance at him and order him to leave.

His Concubine Mother said to make Father happy. He also wanted his Father to pay more attention to himself, therefore, he was always very careful and afraid that he might say or do something wrong. Later, he heard that as long as Father was in a good mood, he would be more patient and friendly. 

When he reached the door, he heard laughter coming from inside. Perhaps the minister inside said something good to make Father Emperor happy. Today, Father Emperor would also smile at him. 

Adjusting his robe, he stepped in carefully.

Qi Musheng heard the door slowly and heavily close behind him and walked in a few steps. Inside, the drifting incense fume seemed almost tangible. Even after opening the door, it still lingered in the air and did not disperse. The laughter that had previously filled the room had vanished and it was quiet. It was so quiet that he felt his nervousness grow. He turned to face the seat in the middle of the room carefully, "This child greets Father Emperor." After properly paying his respects, he stood there with his head lowered.

"Well." The nonchalant word came from the other side. He saw a refined wooden desk to the left of his Father Emperor's throne. At this time, Father was sitting on the chair behind this desk, leaning forward, his arm was resting on the armrests and supporting his forehead. There was a smile on his face that he had never seen before as he teased the child in his arms, "MingEr is not obedient. I just tasted a bit, why are you angry?" Then there was another chuckle.

"I'm not angry." If Father's 'taste' didn't include putting his tongue in, his face would have looked better, "It turns out that Father can't keep his promises." He had sworn he wouldn't do anything more.

"When did I not keep my promise? MingEr didn't say anything about what would be too much." Qi Xutian looked at his slightly swollen lips and smiled cunningly.

When Qi Musheng saw his Younger Imperial Brother Qi Mingyue being held in his Father's arms, and watched him and his Father Emperor chatting and laughing, there was suddenly was an unexplainable feeling in his heart. Was it him who made Father so happy?

Why can't he, Qi Musheng, be like that? Didn't his Concubine Mother say that Father Emperor would pass him the position of Crown Prince sooner or later? He was the eldest son. Father Emperor should like him but he was too timid to be as close to Father as his younger brother was. 

So he enlarged his courage and walked forward a few steps, brought a smile on his face, and said carefully, "What good thing of  Younger Imperial Brother's did Father Emperor eat for you to be so unhappy?"

Qi Mingyue found his "Younger Imperial Brother" interesting and said, "Yes. Father Emperor is insatiable, greedy and deceitful. What do you think I should do, Imperial Brother?"

Qi Musheng didn't know he would answer this way and immediately panicked, "How can I... how can Imperial Brother... say that about Father Emperor?"

Qi Xutian seemed to think that he was a little distracting and continued to caress the long hair of the person in his arms without even lifting his eyes, "Alright, now leave. Don't come for an audience for a while."

"...Yes." Qi Musheng lowered his head, replied in a low voice, then retreated from the room full of fragrance. Qi Musheng didn't know how exactly he felt until the door slammed shut behind him, only then did he recover and felt astonished.

Second Imperial Brother was unscrupulous and spoke such taboo words, but Father Emperor didn't blame him at all. It seemed that Father Emperor really favoured him. He sat in Father Emperor's arms and his handsome face was similar to that of Father. When they sat and laughed together, it made him feel like he could only stand on the sidelines and not approach them even a little.

He turned to look back - the solemn and silent Imperial Study room, his Father Emperor whom he always called with respect and fear - suddenly became even more distant.

Why did Father Emperor only love his younger brother so much? Weren't both of them suspected to be the alien star?

Why was he in the arms of his Father Emperor? Why was he so loved by the people in the palace?

Why was he? Instead of him, Qi Musheng?

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