If Xiao Shao Transmigrated to the Previous Life

Xiao Shao had gone to Fuyou Temple to pray, and his nightmares had slightly subsided.

Early this morning, he woke up as usual, groggily wanting to embrace the little Tanhua beside him, but heard someone beside him dragging out their tone: "Your Majesty, it is time to rise."

Xiao Shao turned his head and met an old, wrinkled face. It was Li Dequan.

Xiao Shao: "?"

He threw off the quilt: "Where is Qi Yan?"

Did he leave him behind and go to the morning court by himself?

Li Dequan was taken aback: "You mean the Director from the previous reign? He should be at Fuyou Temple now."

Xiao Shao paused in his movements: "Fuyou Temple?"

Li Dequan: "Yes, ever since you ascended the throne, he requested to go to Fuyou Temple and has never come out."

Xiao Shao: "What year is it today?"

"This?" Li Dequan was startled, then smiled: "Are you sleep-addled? It is currently the sixth year of Zhaoyuan."

The sixth year of Zhaoyuan?!

How could it be the sixth year of Zhaoyuan?!

Xiao Shao got out of bed and hurriedly pulled on his clothes: "Cancel the morning court today. Get a carriage, I am going to Fuyou Temple."

It had snowed heavily last night, and a thick layer had piled up on the ground. It was bitterly cold. Xiao Shao hurriedly stepped into the temple, pushed open the side door, walked around the courtyard wall full of plum blossoms, and stopped at the entrance of the courtyard.

He saw his little Tanhua... no, the Lord.

Director Qi was curled up in the quilt, his breathing faint. Seeing Xiao Shao, he lifted his eyelids, then quickly dropped them again.

He was completely indifferent.

For a dying person, whether it was torture or venting anger, nothing mattered anymore.

Xiao Shao stepped into the room. There was no charcoal fire lit inside, and it was terribly cold. He sat down by the bed. As his fingertips touched the quilt on the bed, his hand paused.

With such a thin quilt, what was the difference between covering himself and not?

Qi Yan laughed softly. The sound was muffled in his throat, turning into an uncontrollable cough. He curled up the corners of his lips, his narrow eyes looking at Xiao Shao: "Did Your Majesty come here to see how this servant dies?"

Xiao Shao's lips moved: "No."

He pursed his lips, took off his cloak, and wrapped the man completely in it. Then, sweeping an arm under his knees, he picked him up.

Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, then laughed again: "Where does Your Majesty intend to throw me?"

In the snow, in the lake, in the charcoal fire, or somewhere else?

But Xiao Shao held him steadily and brought him onto the carriage. The carriage was warm and cozy. He was safely placed on the cushion. Xiao Shao took a hand warmer, lifted a corner of the quilt, and stuffed it inside.

As the heat source pressed against his freezing body, Qi Yan paused, then reached out to hug it.

He was going to die anyway, so he might as well live a little more comfortably before his death.

He didn't understand what Xiao Shao wanted to do, but it wouldn't be anything good. Qi Yan closed his eyes, lacking even the energy to think.

But then, he was carried into the palace hall.

This was Emperor Xiao Shao's sleeping quarters. The charcoal fire in the hall never ceased, making it as warm as a spring day. Hot water bottles had already been placed in the quilt, warming it thoroughly. Xiao Shao peeled him out of the cloak, tucked him into the bed, and carefully smoothed down several layers of quilts around him.

Next, the most respected and senior doctor from the Imperial Hospital sat by the bed and checked his pulse.

After the examination, the doctor and the emperor stepped into the outer room and began to converse in low voices. Qi Yan couldn't be bothered to listen. It was nothing more than saying his oil lamp was drying up, he was at death's door, and there was no need for treatment. But Xiao Shao kept his voice very low, as if afraid of disturbing him, and spoke with the doctor in detail for a long time before sending him out.

Afterward, a medicinal decoction was brought in. The emperor held a spoon to his lips and coaxed, "Take a sip."

Qi Yan closed his eyes and remained silent. At this point, living one more day meant suffering one more day of torment; he only sought a quick death.

He waited for the emperor's patience to run out, to pry his lips open and pour the medicine in, or use some other method. But the spoon patiently hovered at his lips for a long time. Then, a soft sigh came from the emperor.

Xiao Shao said, "Just take a sip, it's good for your body."

It was actually a tone of negotiation.

Qi Yan lifted his eyelids to look at him, only to see Xiao Shao bring the bowl to his own lips and take a sip himself.

Qi Yan's brow twitched. All medicines are three parts poison, and moreover, given his current condition, he was being prescribed potent drugs. How could Xiao Shao drink it? But before he could ask, Xiao Shao leaned down and approached his lips.

A kiss.

Qi Yan's pupils dilated. Having lived this life until now, no one had ever kissed him before. Furthermore, the cherishing intent in Xiao Shao's kiss was too heavy, as if he were something precious. Thus, his resistance faded, and his lips and teeth parted.

The liquid medicine was passed over just like that.

The medicine was bitter and astringent. Qi Yan swallowed it hastily, then held onto the edge of the bed and started coughing. Xiao Shao patted his back to soothe his breath, and then brought something else to his lips.

...Tongxing Hall's osmanthus cake.

This was Qi Yan's favorite pastry when he was young. At that time, his family was poor and couldn't afford it. Later, as the ways of the world shifted like fleeting clouds, he became the Lord and could buy all the pastries in the world, yet he had never tasted it again.

But now, the pastry was once again offered to his lips.

Xiao Shao had broken it into pieces; he held only a small piece in his hand: "Is it bitter? Use this to suppress it."

Qi Yan lowered his eyes and took the pastry into his mouth.

The fragrance of osmanthus filled his lips; it was very sweet.

After he swallowed that bite, Xiao Shao pushed the medicine bowl over again: "Will you drink it yourself, or shall I feed you?"

If anyone else said 'feed,' it would probably mean prying open his throat and pouring it in. But Xiao Shao's 'feed' referred to the previous kiss.

Qi Yan hesitated for a moment, then took hold of the spoon.

Having it poured down would have been fine, but a kiss... was too strange.

An unfamiliar, numbing softness spread through his body, as if his bones had been extracted.

He obediently drank all the medicine and was fed another piece of osmanthus cake. Xiao Shao pulled the quilt up properly: "The Imperial Kitchen is simmering porridge. What flavor would you like?"

Qi Yan only felt it was bizarre. In front of the Son of Heaven, was it his place to decide what porridge to eat?

He remained silent, but Xiao Shao didn't mind: "You probably like sweet porridge. Let's have a bowl of osmanthus and lotus seed."

Qi Yan's brow furrowed tighter. He did like osmanthus and lotus seed, but ever since he became the Director, he never showed his joy or anger, and had hidden all his preferences. How did Xiao Shao know?

Before long, the lotus seed porridge was brought in. The lotus seeds were stewed until soft and mushy, sweet and delicious. Xiao Shao picked up the spoon again: "Taste it?"

His eyes held a smile, as if to say that if Qi Yan didn't eat it, he would feed him again.

Qi Yan had no choice but to raise his hand and eat the porridge.

He just assumed Xiao Shao had some plan that required his cooperation, so he waited calmly. But the bed was soft, incense was burning in the room, and wrapped in warmth, he drowsily fell asleep.

This sleep lasted until nightfall.

He woke up in a daze just as Xiao Shao was extinguishing the lamps. The emperor untied his sash, leaving only his inner garments, and walked toward him.

Qi Yan's breath hitched.

Indeed, if there was anything presentable he still had left, it was this face.

Thus, he curled up in the quilt, holding his breath and waiting. But Xiao Shao only climbed onto the bed next to him, lay down pressing against him, and then slightly adjusted his posture, pulling him into an embrace.

Restrained and cherishing.

Qi Yan found it laughable. At this point, what did he have left that was worth a emperor's careful cherishing? But Xiao Shao's attitude could not be faked. Noticing that Qi Yan had opened his eyes, the emperor asked softly, "Did I wake you?"

It was as if he was apologizing for waking him up.

Qi Yan shook his head.

Xiao Shao: "That's good."

He adjusted his hold on him again and patted the back of Qi Yan's head: "Go to sleep. The doctor said you need to sleep more, preferably sleeping straight through to the spring, and only get out of bed when it's warm."

The embrace was warm and safe. Qi Yan hesitated for a moment, but still said, "This is the dragon bed."

If he slept here until spring, what would that make him?

Xiao Shao: "It's warm here. I'm afraid you'll freeze anywhere else."

Qi Yan: "I have already spent several springs and autumns at Fuyou Temple."

The implication was that he wouldn't freeze to death.

Xiao Shao then sighed: "This bed is soft, you'll sleep more comfortably."

Having just brought the person back, he should have taken things slowly, but having regained what was lost, Xiao Shao didn't want to wait anymore.

Qi Yan only found it strange, but ultimately unable to resist the heavy waves of exhaustion, he fell asleep in the emperor's arms.

He slept more hours in a day than he was awake. He was always falling back asleep just as he woke up. Therefore, the small kitchen simmered medicinal decoctions and porridge all day long, so that whenever he woke up, he could have something hot. Various pastries and preserved fruits were never lacking, especially osmanthus cake. It seemed Xiao Shao had completely grasped his tastes and prepared them specially.

At first, Qi Yan turned a blind eye to it, but later when he woke up, he would eat a couple of pieces.

At this point, with his future uncertain, satisfying his appetite a little so as not to become a starved ghost was also a good thing.

Qi Yan initially thought this was a emperor's trick. He didn't know what kind of play Xiao Shao was acting out, but it surely wouldn't last long. However, day after day, it remained the same. He actually lay peacefully in bed all the way until spring.

The emperor touched his cheek, squeezed his wrist, and looked him up and down before breathing a long sigh of relief: "You've finally put on some flesh."

It was still that cherishing attitude.

Qi Yan didn't understand.

But what he understood even less came later. After spring arrived, Xiao Shao let him get out of bed, though he couldn't stand for long yet. The emperor simply picked him up and carried him to the Imperial Study.

The study was filled with case files.

Qi Yan couldn't be bothered to look, but as his gaze swept across, it froze.

They were the files from the Silver Case of that year.

Xiao Shao said: "I sent people to Hedong to investigate, and they found out some things. The files are here, take a look. By summer at the latest, the verdict can be overturned."

Qi Yan looked at him. For the first time, ripples appeared in his eyes that were normally as placid as an ancient well. He sat down and flipped through the files, reading them from beginning to end, remaining silent for a long time.

He sat there straight until nightfall.

Xiao Shao: "The nights are cold. Overturning the case must take a back seat to your health. Go to sleep first."

Saying so, he moved to pick Qi Yan up again.

Qi Yan reached out to stop him. He gazed at Xiao Shao, his eyes hiding indescribable emotions. Then he lowered his eyes and asked, "Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?"

Xiao Shao: "The Qi family suffered misfortune without cause; I will give you justice."

Qi Yan slowly closed his eyes.

After a moment, he suddenly said: "Your Majesty, do you know how the late Emperor died?"

The late Emperor Xiao Yi had died of illness in this life.

Before Xiao Shao even had time to raise his troops in rebellion, he had already died in the Imperial City.

Xiao Shao casually replied: "Mhm, how did he die?"

It was as if he was just playing along with Qi Yan, not caring about the cause of death at all.

Qi Yan: "I put something in his tea. Over the months and years, he simply died."

Saying this, he raised his eyes to look at Xiao Shao's reaction.

A minister assassinating the sovereign was a grave crime. For any emperor, the most intolerable thing was an unloyal and unfilial minister. For him to understate it like this and lay the truth bare before Xiao Shao's eyes, was simply asking for death.

He was waiting for Xiao Shao to fly into a rage.

"Mhm." But Xiao Shao's expression was calm. He merely tidied up the memorials on the desk properly before saying, "Okay, I understand."

This matter wasn't considered a secret, and Qi Yan hadn't hidden it either. Xiao Shao had already investigated and found out long ago. The fact that he previously found Qi Yan displeasing to the eye had somewhat to do with this.

Qi Yan was stunned, and repeated: "I said, I killed Xiao Yi."

Xiao Shao still had little reaction: "Okay, okay, I understand, you killed Xiao Yi."

He looked helplessly at Qi Yan: "I understand, little Director, mhm, you killed him. Now can you come to sleep with me?"

"...?"

The emperor sighed: "The doctor ordered that it's best to sleep for eight or nine shichen a day, and it's almost past time now."

Xiao Shao picked him up again: "Don't think so much, go to sleep."

And just like that, another night of peaceful sleep was attained.