If one were to say that Yan Bei had no thoughts whatsoever while lying on the beams, that wouldn’t be entirely true.
He had been up there for quite a while, and when he saw the little emperor narrowing his eyes, he couldn’t help but feel strange.
In the past, whenever he thought of the little emperor, he only regarded him as an overly lively prince with a childish mind, hardly someone fit to achieve greatness.
But now, upon closer inspection, he realized that he had never noticed before—this new emperor was… unexpectedly beautiful.
Yan Bei’s body stiffened slightly. He shifted his position behind the beam and, taking advantage of the little emperor’s half-asleep state, swiftly slipped out through the window.
Thus, in the end, Wei Xicheng never got to witness General Yan Bei’s “improper conduct before the throne.”
Realizing that he was now alone in the vast imperial bedroom, Wei Xicheng couldn’t help but rub his temples. What the hell just happened?
Before he could figure out what was going on in his dear husband’s mind, another issue came knocking at his door.
At morning court, all the officials stood with their heads lowered, fearing that the little emperor might suddenly come to his senses and snatch up their pampered daughters to join the palace.
Perhaps because they all knew his reign wouldn’t last long, none of them had ever taken the initiative to bring up the matter of filling the imperial harem, lest they ruin their daughters’ bright futures.
But today, a civil official suddenly stepped forward and submitted a proposal to select concubines in advance, causing the entire court to secretly grit their teeth in frustration.
The original host of this body had been raised in the palace since childhood and had never even had his own residence built, let alone participated in the grand selection events held for the princes.
Seated on the dragon throne, Wei Xicheng narrowed his eyes and carefully examined the official’s robe.
This man was likely just a minor pawn—whoever was truly behind this must be none other than his dear uncle.
His throne was unstable, and he had no heirs. His royal brothers still had a chance to fight for it. If he were to father an heir, it would give his dear uncle and the Empress Dowager another excuse to intervene.
He sighed. It was truly difficult to break free from the fate of being a mere chess piece.
The grand hall grew noisy as an intense debate broke out over whether it was appropriate to select concubines so soon after the late emperor’s passing.
Some argued that even though the previous emperor had just passed, the palace should not remain so empty. Selecting a few concubines in a low-key manner would at least bring some liveliness to the harem, and as emperor, he should prioritize the greater good.
Those with eligible daughters, however, were mostly opposed. How could the first selection be handled so carelessly and hastily?
Watching the officials argue below, Wei Xicheng felt a headache coming on.
Earlier that morning, before he had even fully woken up, he had already received word from the Empress Dowager. Her stance was, of course, that concubines should be chosen sooner rather than later, and an heir should be born as soon as possible—to put her mind at ease.
Thinking about the hidden implications in her words, Wei Xicheng couldn’t help but sneer.
He let out a soft chuckle, and the hall instantly fell silent. Sweeping his gaze over the ministers, he said,
“The late emperor has just passed. I have no mind for such matters right now. My dear ministers, perhaps you should concern yourselves more with the border situation.”
“Your Majesty, the border has been pacified. General Yan Bei will be arriving in the capital within the next few days.”
The prime minister stepped forward with a chuckle, but as soon as Yan Bei’s name was mentioned, many in the hall tensed.
“Do you understand the meaning of staying vigilant in times of peace, Prime Minister?”
Wei Xicheng cast him a sidelong glance, looking thoroughly impatient.
The prime minister’s beard trembled with rage. He wanted to say something but ultimately swallowed his words.
With a cold snort, Wei Xicheng rose to his feet. “If there’s nothing else, court is dismissed. I have other matters to attend to. Farewell!”
“This—this is completely improper!”
Watching the young emperor act so willfully, speaking so rudely to his ministers with none of the humility of a wise ruler, the prime minister nearly coughed up blood in anger.
Meanwhile, the dear uncle of the emperor, watching him storm off, had a dark glint in his eyes.
This child is developing thoughts of his own and becoming less obedient.
If Wei Xicheng knew what was going through his uncle’s mind, he would surely scoff. Not just me—even the original owner of this body was never one to be obedient and well-behaved.
Surprisingly, neither the Empress Dowager nor the emperor’s uncle said much about his defiance this time.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the day of General Yan Bei’s triumphant return arrived.
Because the late emperor had only recently passed, the originally grand welcome ceremony was significantly scaled down.
To the various factions, Yan Bei was like a coveted delicacy—everyone wanted a piece of him, yet they also feared that beneath the tempting surface lay an impenetrable fortress. They worried that if they tried to take a bite, they’d only end up breaking their own teeth.
Ignoring the general’s stance on the matter was simply not an option.
Even though the welcoming ceremony had been simplified, it was still the most significant event in recent days. From early morning, the city walls and streets were packed with spectators eager to witness the grand occasion. Many noble young masters and faction representatives had also secured good vantage points, intent on welcoming General Yan Bei.
Unlike the bustling streets, Wei Xicheng was pacing anxiously inside his quiet sleeping quarters.
“Xiao Taozi!”
“Here!”
Xiao Taozi came running over, arms full of robes.
“Hurry and help me change! Do you know what time it is?”
Wei Xicheng had wanted to take off the moment morning court ended, but he had been held up by the Empress Dowager’s faction.
Those old geezers had each been more long-winded than the last, lecturing him that ‘General Yan Bei’s return is not like before, Your Majesty must not be too discourteous.’
They were terrified that he might offend Yan Bei and lose his throne as a result.
Wei Xicheng was growing impatient. Even with the best self-restraint, his expression had started to show traces of annoyance.
Not that it mattered—whether it was the original owner of this body or himself, neither had ever been the type to sit quietly and endure such nonsense.
However, the more his displeasure showed, the more those ministers intensified their nagging, determined to mold him into a different person. Meanwhile, the other factions simply folded their arms and watched the show, unconcerned about being targeted by the Empress Dowager’s side.
At the moment Yan Bei stepped back into the capital, this silent war had already begun.
Who would emerge victorious in this battle for the throne? Only time would tell.
Finally managing to escape from court, Wei Xicheng changed out of his dragon robe in a hurry. Today, he was going to personally welcome Yan Bei at the city walls.
Yan Bei had clearly received word in advance. Even though he had already arrived outside the city, and the gates had been opened, he remained outside, quietly waiting.
Without an imperial welcome, he could not enter.
Seated atop his horse, clad in shining silver armor, Yan Bei’s tall and powerful figure, along with his striking features, drew countless admiring gazes.
A young general who commanded a powerful army held decisive influence over the current political landscape. Was the new emperor, whose rule was still unsteady, really trying to show dominance over him like this?
Everyone had their own thoughts. Some rival factions even secretly smirked, eager to watch the spectacle unfold.
When this news reached the emperor’s uncle, he was livid.
“The emperor went to the city walls? Why was I not informed?!”
Useless fools! Always ruining things instead of getting them done!
“General, should we…”
Yan Bei’s deputy hesitated, stepping forward.
Before he could finish, Yan Bei raised a hand, cutting him off.
“Wait.”
Under the blazing sun, Wei Xicheng finally arrived at the city walls.
The moment he laid eyes on the towering figure leading the soldiers, he couldn’t suppress the smile that spread across his face.
Finally, I get to see him.
Yan Bei raised his hand, and the soldiers behind him knelt in unison. However, noticing that the emperor was not dressed in his dragon robes, Yan Bei refrained from formally addressing him as the Son of Heaven.
The grand display startled Wei Xicheng. His mind turned quickly, and he soon understood—someone must have decided he was easy to manipulate and had deliberately set him up.
Originally, he had intended to arrive discreetly, bringing only a few personal guards. He had simply wanted to time his arrival with Yan Bei’s entry. But now, it was clear that Yan Bei had received advance notice and had been waiting for him.
The issue was that his welcome now seemed far too modest—no ceremonial music, no fine wine, not even the traditional imperial procession. The smile on Wei Xicheng’s face faltered.
If I find out who’s behind this, they’re dead meat for making my husband think less of me.
Though Wei Xicheng had not been overly cautious since arriving in this world, and no one dared make a direct move against him yet, he had clearly underestimated the political games at play.
Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, he quickly made his way down the city walls and approached Yan Bei.
Now, however, the emperor was standing on the ground while the general remained on horseback—an outright breach of decorum.
Yan Bei moved to dismount, but Wei Xicheng pressed a hand against his, stopping him.
“A blade drawn before the throne—only my General Yan Bei may do so.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Wei Xicheng saw a flicker of change in Yan Bei’s gaze.
A moment later, the general dismounted and knelt before him.
“Your Majesty, thanks to your blessing, I have returned victorious.”
Even kneeling, Yan Bei’s presence far outmatched the emperor’s. As he lifted his gaze, he noticed a jade pendant hanging from the emperor’s sash.
Wei Xicheng quickly helped him up. “There’s no need for such formality between us, General. Why don’t we share a horse?”
Yan Bei hesitated, but something within him compelled him to agree.
“…As you command.”
“Then let’s go.”
Saying this, Wei Xicheng pushed off the stirrup with force and smoothly mounted the horse. Strangely enough, despite its notoriously wild temperament, Yan Bei’s horse did not go wild and throw him off but instead lowered its head obediently.
This action made the vice general swallow back the words he had been about to say. He knew very well how much General Yan Bei cherished this horse. Sneaking a glance at Yan Bei, he saw a fleeting, unreadable expression in the general’s eyes.
Fine, he’d better just keep his mouth shut.
The young emperor, dressed in luxurious robes, lightly held the reins as he sat atop the horse. The moment Yan Bei mounted behind him, his hands instinctively tightened around the reins. He hadn’t thought much of it when he was standing on the ground, but now that he was seated behind the young emperor, he suddenly realized how improper this posture was.
His arms encircled the young emperor completely, passing under the boy’s armpits, effectively trapping Wei Xicheng in his embrace.
Yan Bei released one arm, choosing to hold the reins with just one hand.
Wei Xicheng pretended not to notice Yan Bei’s subtle movements and turned back to look at the man without any reservations. His stunningly beautiful face was lifted in a bright smile.
“Shall we go, General Yan?”
Yan Bei tensed, extremely unaccustomed to being so physically close to the infamous little tyrant of the imperial court.
“Yes.” He deliberately lifted his chin slightly before turning his head to address the soldiers behind him in a commanding voice.
“Soldiers, heed my orders!”
“Yes!” The response from the troops was loud and passionate, igniting the excitement of the onlooking citizens.
“You have all worked hard. In honor of our return, we will hold a grand banquet for three days—drink until we drop!” Yan Bei’s voice, reinforced with internal energy, carried clearly all the way to the end of the ranks.
Wei Xicheng casually leaned back, feeling the slight vibration of the man’s chest as he spoke.
Yan Bei’s body grew even more rigid. He turned his head slightly and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, sit properly.”
“Mmm.” Wei Xicheng responded absentmindedly but continued resting against Yan Bei’s chest plate. The slight hardness of the armor reminded him that something was off about the Yan Bei of this world.
A barely audible sigh escaped from Yan Bei’s lips. He reached out with his other hand and firmly grasped the reins. It was a necessary move—to prevent the young emperor from falling off the horse, of course.
Wei Xicheng raised an eyebrow and spoke, his gaze fixed ahead. His expression had already begun to darken, and even his voice carried a hint of coldness.
“Riding with me is so difficult for General Yan?”
“Not at all.” Yan Bei lowered his voice, but his words still caught the attention of the vice general trailing behind them.
The return of General Yan Bei was an event of immense public interest. Adding to the intrigue was the fact that the emperor’s identity had yet to be openly acknowledged. The streets were bustling with excited murmurs as the crowd speculated about the pair atop the grand warhorse.
“The one in armor must be the general!”
“Who’s that young man in front of him?”
“Why are they riding the same horse? Not enough horses?”
“Nonsense! As if General Yan wouldn’t have his own mount! Clearly, they have a close relationship.”
“But who is he? He looks quite handsome.”
“Could it be… Haha!”
“No way! This is a formal occasion! Would the general really let someone ride with him just like that?”
“You don’t get it. Men, you know, sometimes they get caught up in the heat of the moment. Heh heh heh.”
Wei Xicheng, lacking any additional abilities from his transmigration, couldn’t hear what was being said, only the general hum of the crowd. Yan Bei, on the other hand, with his exceptional physical abilities and martial skills, caught every word of the conversations around them—and his expression grew darker by the second.
He glanced down at the young emperor in front of him, seeing only a head of dark hair. The boy was turning this way and that, eagerly taking in the sights of the street, completely unbothered by the stares and whispers.
For some reason, a wave of inexplicable pity surged within Yan Bei. After all, the new emperor was still just a child who had yet to fully understand the ways of the world.
—
Author’s note:
A still-childish Wei Xicheng waves at Yan Bei: “Yuyu, come here, I’ll show you a big treasure!”
Yan Bei: ”…It’s a small treasure.”
