Regent (14): 

Last night, after arranging for people to protect Gu Juntian, Zhou Qinghao personally led soldiers to make arrests.

Most of the nobles in the capital were easy to seize, but there were some who were not. The main reason was that certain people had once sent assassins after Zhou Qinghao, and fearing his retribution, they naturally resisted desperately.

During the arrests, Zhou Qinghao fought and shed blood. At this moment, there was a faint smell of blood on him.

When Gu Juntian approached Zhou Qinghao, he caught the scent and immediately asked, “Uncle, are you hurt?”

Zhou Qinghao replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but I am unharmed.”

Among the nobles of the capital were some strong or skilled fighters.

But no matter how powerful they were, they could not compare to Zhou Qinghao, a general hardened by countless battles.

Besides, they were shaken and fearful, and Zhou Qinghao cut them all down.

Gu Juntian looked him over, saw that his clothes were undamaged, and was relieved. He handed Zhou Qinghao a list: “Uncle, let’s proceed as planned. Kill everyone on this list, and I will go see the others.”

Keeping them alive would only cause trouble; those who needed killing should be dealt with quickly.

As for the rest, he would handle them.

Zhou Qinghao agreed.

In truth, the number of people Gu Juntian wanted killed was not large—only a few dozen.

Compared to many kings of the time who would wipe out entire households, Gu Juntian’s killings were few.

But among them were two very famous men—Lord Pinghai and Lord Moshang—who were also his paternal uncles.

Even as King of Jin, killing such people would earn him heavy criticism.

Still, he could bear that infamy.

Gu Juntian did not know what Zhou Qinghao was thinking. He went to see the retainers and families of those he had ordered executed.

People of this era thought differently from him.

When they learned that Lord Pinghai and Lord Moshang had been killed, some retainers were furious, and a few even committed suicide in loyalty.

But the number was small—only about ten in all. Most people still wanted to live.

As planned, Gu Juntian dispersed them and assigned them to work in various places.

Women and children were given light tasks; men were different.

For example, some men were sent to carve inscriptions—if the craftsmen worked for a certain amount of time, those men would work the same amount.

In addition to arranging their assignments, Gu Juntian had to soothe the frightened Queen Dowager, reassure the citizens of the capital, assign people to take over the duties of those he had killed…

Fortunately, among the three kingdoms, Jin was the smallest, and there had been no natural disasters lately, so government affairs were few.

These tasks, though tiring, were manageable for him alone.

Moreover, it wasn’t as though he had no capable people around him.

The world was full of talented men without opportunities, and as King of Jin, it was easy for him to find help.

However, because he was so busy, he had no time to be with Zhou Qinghao.

Every day, Gu Juntian rose before dawn, worked on government affairs in his study for an hour, then exercised briefly, ate breakfast, and moved on to other matters.

He was busy all day, and in the evening, he would summon the officials he had recently promoted to teach them simplified characters and how to manage affairs his way.

In the coming days, he planned to completely reform Jin’s systems.

He also intended to write a new code of laws, as he felt the current laws were too harsh on commoners.

While Gu Juntian was busy, Zhou Qinghao was also occupied.

In the first few days, Zhou Qinghao patrolled the capital, rooting out spies placed around Gu Juntian.

Then, he led men to suppress rebellions on certain noble estates.

Since Gu Juntian had opposed Jin’s entire ruling class, it was natural that some were dissatisfied, and uprisings broke out in several places.

One day, after discussing state matters, it was already dark.

With Zhou Qinghao away, Gu Juntian did not bother returning to his bedchamber, instead sleeping in his study.

This way, when he woke, he could start working immediately.

His study was about the same size as his bedchamber.

When he had first arrived here, the furnishings were sparse.

Over time, he had added some things—tables, chairs, cabinets, and even a bed.

Of course, his bedchamber had also been furnished, and it now held many of Zhou Qinghao’s clothes and personal items.

He missed Zhou Qinghao a little.

Thinking of Zhou Qinghao reminded him of the gifts he had prepared.

He had commissioned a blacksmith to forge an iron sword for Zhou Qinghao and had an old set of copper-wire armor he once wore polished until it gleamed.

He planned to give these to Zhou Qinghao in a few days.

Gu Juntian soon fell asleep.

At the same time, Zhou Qinghao, having finished quelling the rebellion, returned to the capital.

Traveling day and night, he covered a five-day journey in just three days.

But because of that, he arrived at night.

The gate guards, being his men, recognized him.

He entered without trouble, but as he looked at the quiet city, he paused.

Now that the realm was pacified, would His Majesty still welcome him into the palace?

How much longer would he live after this return?

Though uneasy, he went to the palace gates.

He thought he might be stopped, but the guards let him through.

However, when he reached the bedchamber, Gu Juntian was not there.

“Where is His Majesty?” Zhou Qinghao asked a guard.

The guard replied, “His Majesty is sleeping in the study. Does the general wish to go there?”

Zhou Qinghao was silent for a moment, then asked, “Has His Majesty been sleeping in the study all this time?”

The guard answered, “Since the general left, most of the time His Majesty sleeps in the study.”

Zhou Qinghao asked whether Gu Juntian usually spent long hours in the study.

“Of course,” the guard replied. “Since returning to the palace, His Majesty has spent most of his time there.”

“Has anyone gone in?”

The guard shook his head. “His Majesty does not allow others to enter.”

Zhou Qinghao nodded and asked for hot water to bathe.

After so long on campaign, he reeked, and his beard had grown.

He needed a good wash.

While bathing, he inevitably thought of Gu Juntian.

At this moment, was there someone else at Gu Juntian’s side?

Their relationship had started when he climbed into Gu Juntian’s bed on his own.

Yet Gu Juntian had shown no aversion to intimacy between men and had gone along easily.

What shocked him even more was that afterward, Gu Juntian had cleaned him up and even checked his wounds.

For a king to personally do such things was astonishing.

No one had ever taught Gu Juntian to be so considerate before.

Who had taught him?

Was it the person who had taught him so much in the study?

Zhou Qinghao knew his suspicion was unreasonable.

The man behind His Majesty was highly learned and capable, unlikely to serve anyone with his body.

But no one had expected Gu Juntian to do such things either.

Whoever he was, he had clearly influenced the king greatly…

Zhou Qinghao was exhausted from the journey, but after only a short sleep, he awoke.

When he stepped outside, he saw light in the study.

Was His Majesty awake already, and with that person?

But inside the study, Gu Juntian was alone.

He felt a little awkward that morning.

After all, certain needs had overflowed during the night.

It had been over a month since Zhou Qinghao had left, which meant over a month without intimacy.

At his age, it was natural.

He wondered when Zhou Qinghao would return.

He changed his trousers, thinking about how to deal with the soiled pair, when a guard announced, “Your Majesty, General Zhou has arrived.”

“My uncle has returned?!” Gu Juntian was both surprised and delighted. He was about to open the door when he realized he was still holding the dirty trousers.

He stuffed them into the wardrobe and hurried to open the study door. “Uncle!”

Zhou Qinghao looked at him with a trace of awkwardness.

He hadn’t expected that before he even spoke, the guard would announce him to Gu Juntian.

Would this disturb the king?

He was still thinking when he heard the sound of the door opening, and then Gu Juntian appeared, smiling.

“Your Majesty, I’ve returned,” Zhou Qinghao said.

Gu Juntian eagerly pulled him inside. “Uncle, you just got back? Wait—you’ve already changed clothes. When did you return?”

“Last night. You were asleep then, so I didn’t disturb you,” Zhou Qinghao replied.

“How could visiting me be disturbing me? You should have come last night!” If Zhou Qinghao had come then, he wouldn’t have soiled his trousers.

Gu Juntian had just woken up, well-rested and full of energy.

After more than a month apart, the young man was inevitably stirred by the sight of his lover.

He kissed Zhou Qinghao and led him toward the bed.

Zhou Qinghao felt a bit dazed.

He had been told the study was off-limits, yet he entered so easily.

He didn’t know that Gu Juntian had also instructed the guards to treat Zhou Qinghao as himself—meaning others could not enter the study, but Zhou Qinghao could.

Still, Zhou Qinghao had never entered before.

Gu Juntian hadn’t thought much about it either, partly because they had separate tasks, and partly because having Zhou Qinghao in the study might disrupt his work.

What puzzled Zhou Qinghao wasn’t just being allowed in, but also Gu Juntian’s closeness and warmth.

It seemed His Majesty truly missed him.

Did that mean… the king had feelings for him too?

As this thought rose, Zhou Qinghao caught a familiar scent.

It was the scent that lingered after they were intimate.

Faint but detectable to his sharp nose.

What had happened here earlier?

And the sounds from inside before the door opened…

His gaze fell on the wardrobe.

Had Gu Juntian just opened and closed it?

Was there a hidden passage behind it?

Could the person who was always with Gu Juntian be hiding there?

Was the king’s sudden affection meant to distract him from noticing it?

As thoughts swirled, Gu Juntian was already undressing him.

A month apart felt like three years.

Gu Juntian realized he disliked having Zhou Qinghao far away. Over the past month, he had missed him and worried about his safety, making life unpleasant.

Thankfully, Zhou Qinghao was back.

“Uncle…” Gu Juntian pressed against him playfully.

Zhou Qinghao’s eyes kept drifting toward the wardrobe.

If the hidden passage was there, had the person left?

Could they still be inside?

Would they hear what was happening now?

These thoughts flickered in his mind, but he did not push Gu Juntian away—he even made a sound. “Juntian… mm…”

Gu Juntian silenced him with a kiss.

There were guards outside; he didn’t want anyone else hearing Zhou Qinghao’s voice.

Zhou Qinghao glanced at the wardrobe again.

Was Gu Juntian trying to keep the person behind it from hearing him?

But if so, why do this at all?

Could it be that Gu Juntian simply couldn’t restrain himself?

As he thought this, Gu Juntian bit his lip—how could Zhou Qinghao be distracted at a time like this?