17 Trust

When Qin Xuanxiao entered the inner chamber, he saw Qin Duo frowning as he sat on the couch. Beneath the couch was an animal-shaped brazier, burning high-quality silver frost charcoal.

Qin Duo moved somewhat awkwardly, wiping the ends of his hair with clean silk in one hand while leaning his still-damp hair against the brazier to dry.

Hearing Qin Xuanxiao’s footsteps, Qin Duo looked up and noticed that Qin Xuanxiao’s loose hair barely reached his waist. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy before lowering his gaze to his own long hair, which only brought him irritation, clicking his tongue in frustration.

Why did Wen Qinghe keep his hair so long when he had nothing better to do?

Qin Duo’s hair had also been short in his previous life. In the northern border where the air was dry, after bathing, a quick wrap with a scarf on horseback would dry his hair almost immediately.

The capital’s climate was mild and humid, but as emperor, Qin Duo naturally had others to dry his hair after bathing.

When busy with state affairs, he would simply choose an auspicious day to cut his long hair to a length that could be tied up, saving the trouble of drying it.

Unlike now, after painstakingly drying for a long time, his hair was still damp.

“Do you have scissors?” Qin Duo sighed silently, feeling melancholy as he grabbed his wet hair and leaned back on the couch, asking.

“For what?” Qin Xuanxiao approached.

Qin Duo shook his hair and said, “To cut it off. It’s too troublesome.”

Qin Xuanxiao raised an eyebrow and handed him a pair of scissors. “Don’t you nobles always say, ‘Hair represents propriety, righteousness, and character’?”

“Propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame should come from the heart. What can hair length really show?” Qin Duo took the scissors without hesitation, raised his hand, and swiftly cut his hair in half without blinking.

The ink-black strands fell heavily and straight to the floor, still damp.

“Does it show whether a person is truly pampered or not?” Qin Duo shook his head, feeling lighter, then added softly.

It struck Qin Xuanxiao deeply, his gaze unexpectedly locked in those dark, ink-like eyes. Qin Duo wasn’t looking at him but was contentedly gazing at his now much shorter hair.

His fringe fell just enough to shadow his brows. His expression no longer bore the timid submissiveness forced out of him in the grand hall. Instead, there was a calm confidence and ease between his brows.

Dragon-like bearing and phoenix-like grace.

These words suddenly sprang to Qin Xuanxiao’s mind and could not be erased.

The memories of the Infinite Palace faded, but those dark eyes became clear again, as if their true first meeting was that day in the Han Zhang Hall.

Qin Xuanxiao moved closer and sat beside him, using silk to wipe his damp hair.

The inner chamber fell silent as both waited quietly for the hair to dry. Only the faint crackling of the silver frost charcoal burning in the brazier filled the space.

Soon, the hair was completely dry.

Qin Duo dressed piece by piece and was about to leave.

“Wen Qing,” Qin Xuanxiao suddenly spoke.

“What is it?” Qin Duo turned back.

The young emperor still sat on the couch, his hair loose, his inner robe draped loosely, revealing his chest.

Yet his expression was unusually solemn and earnest. Qin Duo stepped closer, looking at him. “What is it, Your Majesty?”

Suddenly, Qin Xuanxiao reached out and firmly grasped Qin Duo’s wrist. Qin Duo followed the motion and stood firmly before him.

What was wrong with this child?

Qin Duo met Qin Xuanxiao’s phoenix-like eyes, noticing a profound, turbulent emotion brewing within.

He calmed himself, waiting for the young man’s next move.

After a long moment, Qin Xuanxiao spoke slowly, his voice heavy: “Wen Qing, I can give you my trust.”

Qin Duo quietly softened his gaze, meeting the young emperor’s eyes. Within those phoenix eyes seemed to surge an intense struggle, ultimately making a decision he had never made before.

“I will trust you. Although I know your behavior is often unusual, I will trust you.”

The repeated words carried greater weight than before, as if persuading Qin Duo—or perhaps himself.

---

Qin Duo allowed his wrist to be gripped tightly. Under those phoenix eyes, he nodded lightly.

“Since you say you serve me, never betray me.”

Qin Xuanxiao’s voice softened, but the veins on the back of his hand revealed his unrest.

Qin Duo saw everything clearly, lowered his eyes, sighed silently, then looked up again and took another step closer to Qin Xuanxiao.

The emperor looked young, barely of age to wear the crown. Qin Duo’s heart softened as he regarded the youthful face.

He took the throne before turning twenty, a lonely, cold place where one must walk alone.

Qin Duo himself had been thrust into this role at seventeen, forever caught in plots and counterplots, sword shadows and conspiracies, never again knowing restful sleep.

After struggling free from the net of eunuch domination, countless eyes of the realm fell upon him.

Eyes filled with hope, helplessness, and yearning... He exhausted himself, restless day and night.

Everyone said the emperor was the supreme ruler, surrounded by the best the world could offer, coveted by all. But no one knew the bitterness behind it.

Qin Duo knew this well, so he felt a pang of sympathy for his young successor.

Only he understood what burdens must be borne to hold this position at such a young age.

“Good child, you have endured much.”

He gently raised his hand and placed it atop the young emperor’s head, stroking from front to back.

The moment his head was touched, Qin Xuanxiao’s eyes widened sharply, pupils trembling as he stared in shock at Qin Duo, forgetting even to resist.

“You! Insolent...” he stammered, barely coherent.

Qin Duo bent down to meet his gaze and ruffled the soft hair again.

Still a child, after all.

The emperor’s trust was precious—this was a hard-won decision.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will never betray you.”

After all, you are one of the Qin family’s children. Since I have traversed a hundred years into the future, I will surely take good care of my descendants.

In my previous life, I toiled endlessly for the hope that the Great Wei’s reign would endure for millennia.

If the throne is cold, then I will accompany you, making your path smoother, warmer, and happier.

To govern diligently and become a wise ruler for the people.

Suddenly, Qin Duo felt a tightening at his waist as he was pulled forward. He hastily braced himself against the couch beside Qin Xuanxiao.

The two were so close that they could hear each other’s breath and heartbeat.

“Your Majesty?”

Qin Duo spoke softly.

Suddenly, the head he had just tousled leaned forward sharply, and before Qin Duo could react, his shoulder was bitten.

Damn! Biting again! Madman!

Qin Duo’s tenderness vanished in anger.

Such a big child, but so annoying!

No, wait, why did he just insult himself too? Ahhh!

He struggled, using skill to free his wrist, then caught Qin Xuanxiao’s hand from behind and pushed him forcefully onto the couch.

Angry, he gritted his teeth and scolded, “Qin Xuanxiao, are you a dog?!”

Qin Xuanxiao only laughed heartily, not offended, letting Qin Duo pin him down.

---

“Still laughing!” Qin Duo fumed, pulling open his collar and pointing at the bite marks on his shoulder as he accused him, raising his fist in warning, “One, two, three bites, and the marks haven’t even faded! Bite again and I’ll beat you.”

Qin Xuanxiao’s gaze followed the fingers tracing the three varying bite marks before settling back into those dark eyes. Then he spoke suddenly:

“My dear minister, don’t lie to me.”

Qin Duo paused, lowered his fist, helped him up, and met his serious gaze. “I will not betray you, Your Majesty.”

Because, after all, I am also a Qin.

—

Night fell.

The lamps in Han Zhang Hall burned silently.

Han Zhang Hall was where Qin Xuanxiao habitually managed state affairs.

It was close to the Diligent Governance Hall where Emperor Chenglie once handled matters, but he preferred to avoid facing the place where Emperor Chenglie had passed away day and night.

“Come, help me grind ink.”

Qin Duo had not paid much attention until the hall remained quiet and he looked up to see Qin Xuanxiao staring at him, then realized, “Me?”

“Yes.”

“Hm? Isn’t this usually Gong Hongyang’s task?”

“He’s busy.” Qin Xuanxiao twitched his fingers. Gong Hongyang stood aside and, seeing this, immediately left the hall.

Qin Duo watched the small gesture, then said quietly, “...Your Majesty, I am not blind.”

“Come here and grind the ink. I won’t say it a third time.” Qin Xuanxiao’s tone grew firmer.

Well, this was the emperor’s need for control.

Qin Duo stepped over and stood beside the dragon desk, holding vermilion ink and grinding it carefully on the inkstone.

“Someone, bring Wen Qing a seat.”

Gong Hongyang returned, feeling guilty as Qin Duo stared at him. He placed a seat and quickly withdrew.

Qin Duo did not hesitate and sat down, grinding the ink steadily.

Qin Xuanxiao’s expression while reviewing memorials was the same as his usual displeased look toward everyone.

Furrowing his long brows, he stared at the documents, then sneered coldly, flipping through the pile before selecting five or six and glancing toward the hall. The papers scattered to the floor.

Qin Xuanxiao’s voice was dark and sinister: “Still unwilling to give up, huh? Guards, strip these so-called loyal ministers of their official robes and send them to the Court of Cautious Punishment.”

“Again, they urge you to promptly establish a consort and heir?” Qin Duo suddenly asked.

Qin Xuanxiao raised an eyebrow, turning to the somewhat bored-looking man. “Wen Qing, you understand me well.”

Qin Duo met his gaze calmly.

“You’re not going to advise me against this, are you?” Qin Xuanxiao became alert.

“No,” Qin Duo shook his head. If it were his former self, he might argue, but after leaving the palace and speaking with Liu Xuanhai, he realized that the matter of “establishing a consort and heir” was not truly about stabilizing the realm as the ministers claimed.

He knew that those who dared to blatantly submit petitions after the emperor’s clear anger were challenging imperial authority.

“Killing the chicken to warn the monkey is necessary,” Qin Duo added.

Qin Xuanxiao suddenly felt perfectly in tune with him.

He was about to say more when Gong Hongyang came to report, “Your Majesty, the Director of the Astronomical Bureau requests an audience.”