TRM Chapter 4

In his dream, Zhou Jingyuan found himself back four years ago, when he was just 14.

His mother’s illness had worsened. Her once radiant appearance had become withered, and the inner palace had lit charcoal fires early in the morning. Thick curtains hung in layers, not daring to let a single bit of cold wind inside.

He knelt at her bedside, carefully holding her hand. Her wrist was pale and thin, seeming as though it would snap with the slightest force.

At that time, he still called the emperor “father” and repeatedly begged for the imperial doctors to be summoned, but the emperor stubbornly refused, believing that only the immortals and Taoist priests in the palace could save the empress’s life.

Elixirs, talisman papers, and peachwood charms for warding off evil—these were scattered all over the empress’s chamber.

But they were all useless.

His mother still passed away under the hands of those deceitful Taoists.

That was the first time Zhou Jingyuan disregarded the emperor’s orders completely, acting on his own initiative and executing those involved in the empress’s treatment by sending them to the Eastern Palace and having them put to death.

He didn’t feel any sense of revenge being fulfilled, because he knew the true culprit was the one sitting on the throne.

Because of killing those highly regarded immortal national advisors, the emperor was furious. However, considering the recent loss of the empress and the fact that Zhou Jingyuan was his only legitimate son, the emperor only confined him to the Eastern Palace for three months as punishment.

But Zhou Jingyuan was ungrateful and volunteered to go to the frontier.

This seemingly elegant and noble crown prince had grown up amidst the clash of weapons, the smoke of battle, and the harshness of war, returning to the capital only last year.

After being away from the palace for four years, his resentment toward the emperor had not faded with time, rather, it had deepened.

The emperor had blindly trusted in Taoist magic, favoring the Taoist priests, which had drained the national treasury and left the common people in suffering.

As a ruler, a father, and a husband, the emperor was nothing but a failure.

Zhou Jingyuan was just waiting until his wings were strong enough to ascend the throne, and then he would show his good father just how much those immortals and their magic could truly save him.

As for the “superstitious” beings in the celestial garden, of course, not a single one would be spared!

He thought of those round, bright eyes again…

…Perhaps he could spare the life of that not-so-smart little trickster.

Something sweet, spicy, and slightly warm slid into his mouth. Zhou Jingyuan frowned and opened his eyes, seeing the pale-colored bed curtains in the Astrology Tower’s bedroom.

He recalled the afternoon rain, which had poured for over an hour before finally stopping. They had both been in the wind for quite some time before returning and bathing.

But now, wearing simple inner garments, Qiao Guanxing was holding a bowl, sitting by his bed and spoon-feeding him.

Zhou Jingyuan sat up and looked at him, slightly lifting his chin toward the bowl in Qiao Guanxing’s hand. “What is this?”

“It’s ginger tea to ward off the cold.”

Qiao Guanxing proudly presented the dark brown sugar ginger tea in a small white jade bowl, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes, clearly pleased with his thoughtful service.

The crown prince stared at it silently for a moment. After a while, he revealed a shallow, ambiguous smile.

“You people, aren’t you all supposed to just give talisman water to treat illnesses?”

“Talisman water?”

Qiao Guanxing blinked, confused, then scooped another spoonful of the tea and gently blew on it. “When you’re sick, you need to take medicine.”

The sweet ginger tea slid down Zhou Jingyuan’s throat. He took the bowl, drinking it all.

Hm? His superior seemed quite satisfied with his service!

Qiao Guanxing felt delighted and took the empty bowl. “Your Highness, would you like some more?”

Zhou Jingyuan shook his head, rubbing his fingertips over the residual warmth on the bowl’s walls. He spoke to Qiao Guanxing, “I’m in a good mood today. I’ll reward you.”

“Tell me, what reward would you like?”

Looking at the boy beside him with eyes widened in excitement, Zhou Jingyuan couldn’t help but wonder. This little trickster must really admire him. The reward he wanted would surely be related to him, right?

Perhaps he would ask for some privilege to stay close to him?

Zhou Jingyuan thought, it could be a bit annoying, but he was a man of his word. If Qiao Guanxing truly wanted to stay by his side, he could reluctantly agree.

Qiao Guanxing, still caught in the surprise of “such a good thing,” was pondering what valuable reward to ask for.

But after a moment, he felt that nothing was as practical as real silver or gold. So, he gave a somewhat shy smile, modest yet with a hint of bashfulness, and said softly, “Your Highness, can I ask for anything?”

Zhou Jingyuan felt a bit flustered, his ears inexplicably warming. He awkwardly turned his face away. “You may. Say it.”

Zhou Jingyuan raised an eyebrow, watching Qiao Guanxing’s excited reaction. The boy was practically on the verge of tears, deeply moved by the fact that the prince had been generous enough to reward him because of something as simple as a bowl of ginger tea.

He had never worked for someone so magnanimous before. In the past, the bosses he’d met were all penny-pinching, withholding pay whenever they could, and didn’t give any holiday benefits. But now, Zhou Jingyuan had offered him a reward just for making tea.

He almost felt like he wanted to work for the prince for the rest of his life!

He placed the empty bowl down, eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Your Highness, I would like to request 100 taels of gold!”

“I permit—”

Zhou Jingyuan reflexively started to speak, but as soon as he processed Qiao Guanxing’s request, his words immediately faltered. His brows furrowed with disbelief.

“…What did you say you wanted?”

Qiao Guanxing blinked, his voice lowering slightly. “100 taels of gold, Your Highness… If that’s too much, 50 will do.”

Zhou Jingyuan closed his eyes for a moment, feeling his previously softened expression quickly harden again, his displeasure now palpable.

Qiao Guanxing, ever attuned to his superior’s moods, swallowed nervously. He quickly leaned forward, carefully calling out, “Your Highness, Your Highness?”

“Are you upset?”

He furrowed his brow in genuine confusion, pondering, “Should I make you another bowl of ginger tea? You like this, don’t you? I made it myself, and I can make it for you every day when the weather gets cold.”

Zhou Jingyuan ignored him, choosing not to respond.

Wasn’t everything fine just a moment ago? Why did he suddenly get upset?

The prince really was… unpredictable. It was clear that no matter where you worked, office dynamics were never easy to navigate.

Qiao Guanxing pondered this, and the only thing he could do now was try to placate his inexplicably irritated boss. So he dashed off to fetch another steaming bowl of ginger tea, then returned to sit beside Zhou Jingyuan, eagerly offering to tell him a story.

The room was dimly lit by candlelight, and the warmth of the ginger tea seeped through his body, calming him down. But Qiao Guanxing, in the process of trying to lull Zhou Jingyuan to sleep with his stories, found himself slowly drifting off.

His usually round eyes were closing, his long lashes casting shadows on his fair cheeks, though his mouth still muttered something that Zhou Jingyuan couldn’t quite make out.

Zhou Jingyuan glanced over at him, letting out a long sigh.

Forget it, looking at him now, this little trickster really did seem to be sincere in his efforts to care for him.

He gently patted Qiao Guanxing on the shoulder. “If you’re tired, go back to your room and sleep.”

Awakened by the pat, Qiao Guanxing rubbed his eyes, a little hesitant. “But Your Highness, are you still upset?”

He was still concerned about whether the prince was angry or not?

This thought made Zhou Jingyuan’s mood improve slightly, and his tone softened, rare warmth creeping into his voice. “I’m not upset.”

“Ah, that’s good! That’s good!”

Qiao Guanxing breathed a sigh of relief, looking genuinely reassured. He stood up to head back to his room, but just before closing the door behind him, he turned back, lowering his voice with a small but hopeful reminder.

“Your Highness, it’s good that you’re not upset… but, um, about the gold… please don’t forget, okay?”