Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 114 - 105: Fishing Companion

"Just now I was in so much pain that I became confused."

The Eldest Prince stealthily moved his hand back to the left.

He tried hard to look pained and leaned toward his father, whispering, "It was my willfulness, insisting that Lady Xi accompany me for night fishing. Father, I realize my mistake now."

To the Emperor, it is unacceptable to say things like, "If you’re going to punish someone, punish only me."

That would be considered seriously disrespectful to the Emperor.

Xie Zhixing took a long time before speaking: "You’re still so young, what decisions can you make! How did you persuade Concubine Xi? Tell me all about it."

The palace maids were all worried for the Eldest Prince.

Children don’t realize how weak their lies are. The Eldest Prince thought he was being very clever, about to get away with it. He thought for a moment, then lay flat on the snow, leaving a small human-shaped imprint on the white, fresh snow: "I told Lady Xi that if she didn’t come with me for night fishing, I would just lie on the ground and not get up!"

He hadn’t been lying there long before a startled Xie Zhixing lifted him up and brushed the snow off him.

Immediately, a palace maid wrapped the Eldest Prince in a warm coat and handed him a hot water bag.

"The ground is cold; you can’t take risks with your body under any circumstances."

The Eldest Prince obediently agreed and then anxiously added, "I was telling the truth, it was all my own willfulness. Father, please don’t blame Lady Xi."

Yun Jiao: ... Haha, my conscience hurts a bit

Xie Zhixing glanced at Yun Jiao.

If he wasn’t mindful of the Emperor’s dignity, he really wanted to roll his eyes all the way around.

"Since Jing’er has spoken this way, I certainly can’t blame her," Xie Zhixing patted him on the arm: "But it’s getting late, you should go back to Qixiang Palace to rest. Your mother consort won’t sleep without seeing you."

Knowing that he was being willful, the Eldest Prince nodded bashfully.

"Go fetch the Imperial Physician to Qixiang Palace to diagnose him before he sleeps."

The night was deep and the dew heavy, so Xie Zhixing had him ride back in a sedan chair.

The Eldest Prince looked back every few steps, reluctant to part with Lady Xi and slightly worried that his Lady Xi might be scolded by his father.

Once the frail and often sick son was far enough away to no longer hear, Xie Zhixing was about to speak when Yun Jiao, who had been pretending to be dead, burst out laughing: "Then I shall take my leave too."

"Goodbye, Your Majesty, goodbye."

"I haven’t given you leave to go."

"But Your Majesty just said it was getting late..."

"Jing’er has Princess Consort Jing waiting for him, and the palace maids and eunuchs of Xianfu Palace will be eager for you not to come back tonight, since you were summoned by me," Xie Zhixing smiled slightly: "Come over here."

Yun Jiao started to move, saying: "Your Majesty promised the Eldest Prince not to punish me."

A monarch’s word is his bond, Your Majesty!

One promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold, Your Majesty!

Xie Zhixing raised an eyebrow.

Yet Yun Jiao continued muttering: "I’m not afraid. I know, Your Majesty values promises and wouldn’t deceive a child! Surely, you’ll let me go back to sleep soon."

"What are you muttering about?"

Xie Zhixing saw there was still a small charcoal stove on her original seat, with red bean dumplings boiling on it—how indulgent!

"I promised the Eldest Prince not to punish you, and I won’t."

Receiving the Emperor’s promise, Yun Jiao came to life instantly, standing straight up: "I knew Your Majesty took promises seriously, so I was never afraid. Misunderstanding resolved!"

Xie Zhixing chuckled softly: "Such virtue."

He looked at Yun Jiao, her face, even without makeup, was a natural beauty, capable of poetic allure, but instead was full of a contented childlike essence. Having seen too much scheming, the vexations accumulated from previous dynastic affairs were instantly swept away.

Xie Zhixing couldn’t help but wonder: does one need the power to reverse time to live so freely?

Always able to restart, never afraid of regrets.

The Emperor too is but a mortal, forced to count every moment.

He looked up; tonight’s moonlight was indeed beautiful. The lantern illuminated the dense, fine snow, as if a cascade of light had raised countless specks of dust. The ambiance was there, only he hadn’t seen it earlier, his mind preoccupied with past court affairs. Looking back—the green bricks of the walkway ahead were coated with snow, each step left a footprint; the eunuchs in the harem would sweep the snow daily, and these sights wouldn’t be seen tomorrow.

Different states of mind see different landscapes.

"Concubine Xi..."

With great joy, Xie Zhixing looked down, seeing Yun Jiao sneakily peeking at him.

He couldn’t help but feel an itch in his molars.

Would she understand if he spoke to her about the ambiance? He thought perhaps she only understood eating and playing.

"Hey, Your Majesty, I’m here."

Knowing she was in the wrong, Yun Jiao shamelessly acted like a lackey.

Little did she know, this behavior made the Emperor want to pinch her head.

"You can fish during the day too; no need to come out in the middle of the night."

"I couldn’t catch anything during the day, so I thought I’d try my luck at night. When it’s dark, maybe the fish won’t see clearly and will take my bait."

Yun Jiao had no idea how fish actually see; her statements were purely imaginative.

"Don’t be angry, Your Majesty. I made preparations; I wouldn’t let the cold wind reach the Eldest Prince."

Surrounded by screens, with a charcoal stove set up, she even felt warm.

Xie Zhixing sighed: "I’m not angry."

Seeing the Emperor sigh, Ying Lu felt deep admiration.

Bringing the Eldest Prince out for merry night fishing, and the Emperor merely sighed—not angry at all. Concubine Xi indeed held a special place in his heart.

"Come, I’ll join you for some fishing."

To Yun Jiao’s astonishment, Xie Zhixing sat in her original seat.

"You said night fishing is good. So, have you caught any fish?"

"I was about to, but as soon as Your Majesty arrived, all the fish were scared away by Your Majesty’s imperial presence."

Yun Jiao had intended to say ’tyranny.’

Thinking of her nine clans first, she changed her words.

The fishing rod made a slight sound as he cast the line and glanced at her: "Is Concubine Xi blaming me for this?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

"’Wouldn’t dare’ means you actually do."

Yun Jiao indignantly replied: "It’s just that the fish are hard to catch. Your Majesty, don’t waste your time. Return early and you’ll still have time to sleep." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Just after she spoke, the Emperor caught a small fish.

Yun Jiao was incredulous: "There’s truly a fish in this world that is so materialistic and vain!"

"You can’t sit still while fishing; your hands keep moving, making the bait sway, so the fish only watch without biting."

Xie Zhixing had been observing her for a while and pinpointed her problem.

Seeing this, Yun Jiao felt rather unhappy.

Originally, neither she nor the Eldest Prince could catch any fish. They’d eat, drink, and chat under the guise of fishing—it was fun. Once this man arrived and started catching fish, it killed the mood: "Your Majesty, as you’re unaware, the joy of fishing lies in not catching any fish. If I truly wanted to catch them, it’d be easy as pie."

With that, she saved a checkpoint.

She cast the line, and if no fish bit within a minute, she’d reload.

Xie Zhixing patiently watched her antics.

Though she argued back, she followed the Emperor’s teachings, steadying the rod to fish.

By the seventh reload, a fish finally came and was successfully caught!

"Well done."

Seeing her repeated efforts, Xie Zhixing praised her.

"You see, I only didn’t catch them because I didn’t want to. If I genuinely want to, it’s very simple."

Xie Zhixing: ...

I wish I could turn back time and take back that compliment.