Regent (6): 

Although the King of Jin, Gu Juntian, held no real power, he still enjoyed all the privileges of his position.

The royal clan would only obstruct him when he made certain requests, but they never dared to deprive him of comfort in daily life.

However, in this era, productivity was low and technology backward, so there was not much to enjoy.

A bowl made of gold, silver, or jade would still just hold millet porridge.

For example, now, when Gu Juntian bathed, it was in a stone-built bathhouse that required a great deal of labor to heat, yet the stone pool in the middle was small—too small for two people to bathe together—and the washing experience was far from ideal.

Beside the pool, on a low table, were rare fresh flowers for the season, as well as some melons and fruits.

Next to the low table was a straw mat and a wooden bucket, each bucket filled with hot water.

After sending the servants away, Gu Juntian turned to Zhou Qinghao. “Uncle, you wash first. I’ll help scrub your back.”

“Your Majesty, you should bathe first,” Zhou Qinghao replied.

In the army, on the rare occasions they bathed collectively, those of higher status always bathed first.

For Gu Juntian to have him bathe first, and even offer to scrub his back, was excessive.

“Uncle, you go first—I have something to discuss with you,” Gu Juntian insisted.

The original host of this body had bathed just yesterday, so bathing today did not matter; Zhou Qinghao, however, truly needed a hot bath to relieve fatigue.

Zhou Qinghao sighed inwardly.

For him to bathe first, with the king scrubbing his back, was great disrespect.

But to disobey the king’s command was also great disrespect.

Never mind—if Gu Juntian was willing to go this far, he must have something to ask of him; when the time came, Zhou would give his utmost to fulfill it.

In fact, bathing first was better, so that he would not embarrass himself while Gu Juntian was bathing and reveal anything amiss.

Zhou Qinghao undressed.

When his clothes came off, Gu Juntian saw crisscrossing scars, both old and new, covering his body.

Zhou Qinghao was not born dark-skinned.

His face had been tanned by years of campaigning, but his body, unexposed to the sun and wind, was fair, making the scars all the more striking.

Gu Juntian sighed. “Uncle, after you were wounded, you didn’t receive proper care.”

Zhou Qinghao said, “The care I received was already the best possible.”

Gu Juntian knew this, but his heart still ached.

How could Zhou Qinghao have suffered such serious injuries?

In that moment, Gu Juntian realized something deeply—he was done for.

He truly liked the man before him.

He wanted to achieve great things, but he wanted even more to protect this man’s safety for a lifetime.

He wanted to be with him for a long, long time.

His entire plan might need to be rewritten.

Thinking this, Gu Juntian began scrubbing Zhou Qinghao’s back.

People in this era used rice paste to clean the body, which also helped scrub away dirt.

Zhou Qinghao had quite a lot of grime on him.

In the midst of war, it was hard to keep clean; although he had washed before entering the capital, it had been cursory.

Now, Gu Juntian helped scrub him thoroughly.

Of course, he focused mainly on the back, not touching anywhere else.

This was their first meeting—no matter how much he liked Zhou Qinghao, and no matter if Zhou Qinghao had feelings for him, he would not disrespect him.

They could take time to cultivate their relationship and then come together naturally.

Originally, Gu Juntian had planned to tell Zhou Qinghao about the original host’s hardships over the past three years, make himself sound pitiful, then embrace him in tears, saying things like, “You’re the only one I can trust.”

Such words worked well on people of this era.

If he did this, Zhou Qinghao would help him eliminate some of the royal clan.

But now, because he liked Zhou Qinghao, he could not do that.

He did not want Zhou Qinghao to see him only as someone who needed protection.

Gu Juntian said, “Uncle, today I killed a eunuch.”

He told Zhou Qinghao what the eunuch had done that morning.

Zhou was startled and immediately explained—he had already sent word to the capital that he would only arrive in the afternoon.

“Uncle, I know,” Gu Juntian said. “That eunuch was sent by the royal clan to sow discord between us.”

Gu Juntian removed his outer robe, sat on the straw mat beside the pool, and scooped hot water from a wooden bucket to wash himself.

His beloved was right in front of him, unclothed, but instead of being distracted, the sight of Zhou Qinghao’s scars and the weight of the matter at hand left him with only compassion.

After recounting the morning’s events, Gu Juntian briefly spoke about the past few years, then said, “With you away, I’ve not heard a single good word about you in my presence.”

Zhou Qinghao had already expected this. “Your Majesty…”

“Uncle, I have an idea,” Gu Juntian began, laying out his plans.

His current plan differed somewhat from before, but had similarities.

He must take control of the government, which meant Zhou Qinghao must kill members of the royal clan.

But instead of sending Zhou to guard the border against the Rong, he could have someone else do it—Zhou Qinghao did not need that extra military credit. Better to have him stay in the capital and rest.

“This will likely give you a bad reputation,” Gu Juntian said.

Zhou Qinghao knew that carrying out such an order would certainly earn him infamy; with a royal clan massacre on his record, he would have an even heavier charge when the reckoning came.

But he did not object—in fact, he had intended to do this anyway.

He agreed at once, though his gaze involuntarily lingered on Gu Juntian.

The man he liked was right before him, and apart from today, he might never again have the chance to be so open with him.

A few more glances couldn’t hurt.

But after a few glances, the heat in Zhou Qinghao’s heart was impossible to suppress.

Gu Juntian’s actions today had exceeded his expectations.

Judging by his words and deeds, Gu Juntian was now deeply calculating.

Such a Gu Juntian, when he needed him, would take whatever he wanted from him—after all, he was even willing to scrub his back.

Now, with twenty thousand troops under his command near the capital, and with Gu Juntian needing him to deal with the royal clan, could he use this as leverage to make an excessive request?

Perhaps to share a night with Gu Juntian?

He would be willing to serve Gu Juntian like a male consort.

Though he was older and not handsome, perhaps Gu Juntian would still be willing?

But as soon as the thought arose, Zhou Qinghao forced it down.

He had already decided to help Gu Juntian take the reins of power—how could he use that to threaten him?

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the idea aside.

Gu Juntian continued, “Uncle, I have quite a few people to kill.”

Originally, Gu Juntian had planned to take things slowly—kill a small number first, then pacify the rest, and send Zhou Qinghao to the frontier to avoid the backlash.

Then, in a few years, he would begin reform.

That would be safer.

But now, he did not want Zhou Qinghao going to the frontier.

In that case, why not finish it in one stroke—kill more members of the royal clan and start reform immediately!

It would leave him short of capable people, but he could work harder himself.

He did not know who he had been before transmigrating, but he believed that even without a large team of advisers, he could still govern Jin well.

It wasn’t as though there was no talent at all—though there were few scholars from humble backgrounds in Jin, scraping together a few would suffice.

Moreover, he only planned to kill the leading men from the opposing families, not the women; if the women were willing to work for him, they could.

Jin had a total population of only five million—six million including the hidden population—and he refused to believe he couldn’t manage it.

He would risk it all.

Gu Juntian told Zhou Qinghao all the people he intended to kill.

Zhou immediately said, “Your Majesty, you must think carefully!”

Zhou had planned to kill only a small number, but Gu Juntian’s plan would flood the court with blood.

This was to cleanse the court with slaughter.

“Uncle, I want to carry out reform,” Gu Juntian said.

Zhou’s breath caught.

“Reform will harm their interests, and they will resist with their lives,” Gu Juntian continued. “If that’s the case, it’s better to kill them first.”

Gu Juntian did not like killing.

In fact, when he had gone out of the city that morning to welcome Zhou Qinghao and saw the ragged commoners, his heart was full of sympathy.

But he knew that sometimes, iron-blooded methods were necessary.

Zhou Qinghao asked, “How do you plan to reform?”

Reform was an idea Gu Juntian had only thought of after arriving in this world; he had no set plan.

At this moment, he searched the original host’s memories, recounted the reforms of past rulers, and then, as if from nowhere, new ideas appeared in his mind. He laid them out methodically.

Zhou Qinghao listened with rapt attention.

Having grown up among commoners, he knew that Gu Juntian’s reforms would benefit them and strengthen Jin.

Such reforms must have been long in the making, and there must be capable advisers by Gu Juntian’s side guiding him.

After all, reforms like these were not something a young man raised in the deep palace could devise.

Therefore, Gu Juntian had not been as helpless under the royal clan’s oppression as he claimed, unable even to leave the palace.

His king had grown in ways he could not see.

Jealousy rose in Zhou Qinghao’s heart—toward the person who had persuaded Gu Juntian to reform.

That person must be close to him to make him, who once ignored commoners, agree to reforms that would benefit them.

But such reforms would inevitably draw the scorn of the scholar-official class.

Gu Juntian would not personally implement them—he would have someone else do it.

And who better than him?

Today’s kindness from Gu Juntian was clearly to persuade him to slaughter the royal clan and then implement reform.

Afterward, when Gu Juntian killed him, he would inherit a strong Jin without staining his own name.

That must have been the suggestion of the one who urged Gu Juntian to reform.

Did Gu Juntian now have someone closer to him than Zhou?

Zhou knew that once he agreed, there would be no turning back.

Before, he had a sliver of a chance to survive, but now, after killing so many royals, completely alienating the scholar-officials, he might be torn apart by five horses.

And in doing this, he might be paving the way for that adviser.

Zhou thought a great deal but agreed to all of Gu Juntian’s requests.

Gu Juntian was now undoubtedly a wise ruler, and if the reforms succeeded, he would be loved by the people.

Zhou was willing to give his life to help him; he hoped Jin would only grow stronger and that the people would have enough to eat and warm clothing.

He had already accepted death.

But if he was to pave the way for that person behind Gu Juntian, he would at least demand some benefit for himself.

The thought he had tried to suppress now burst forth.

Zhou Qinghao looked at Gu Juntian and suddenly said, “Your Majesty, I am fond of you.”