Regent (16): 

Zhou Qinghao looked at the yawning Gu Juntian, then at the various pieces of furniture he had moved to the middle of the room, feeling a bit uneasy.

Instinctively, he spoke. “Juntian, if you’re tired, go lie down on the bed and rest.”

Hearing this, Gu Juntian didn’t refuse and went to lie down on the bed.

There were no outsiders in the study, only Zhou Qinghao. Not long ago, the two of them had spent a sweet afternoon together.

With rare free time, Gu Juntian started rambling to Zhou Qinghao. “Uncle, for that whole month before, I only slept two hours a night! I’m not yet of age, so I could’ve grown taller, but I was sleep-deprived every day, so I stopped growing.”

“I didn’t even have time to practice martial arts—my hands have gone soft. That’s why my performance was so poor before!”

“Uncle, for the next half month, I can rest every afternoon. Teach me martial arts! Let’s spar again!”

“After sparring, we can take a bath together. I’ll scrub your back.”

…

Gu Juntian’s imagination ran ahead, the more he thought about it, the happier he felt.

For example, when scrubbing Zhou Qinghao’s back, he could do this and that…

Standing in the study, Zhou Qinghao gazed at Gu Juntian, his expression growing softer and softer.

He had a lot he wanted to say, but in the end he only said, “Juntian, bring my desk to the study. I’ve finished everything I needed to do, so I can help you from now on.”

Gu Juntian said, “Alright! Let’s do that.”

Zhou Qinghao helping him—what could be better?

This way, they could be inseparable every day.

Zhou Qinghao stared at Gu Juntian a while longer before going out to find the guards, instructing them to move his desk from another room. At the same time, he personally tidied up and rearranged the room.

The furniture was made of fine hardwood, very sturdy, and naturally heavy.

But when Gu Juntian tried to help him, Zhou Qinghao refused without hesitation.

He needed to do some work to calm himself down.

Previously, he had been certain there was someone backing Gu Juntian, because the things Gu Juntian accomplished could not have been done by one person alone.

The administrative work Gu Juntian handled daily was several times what the late emperor had dealt with!

Gu Juntian would also occasionally take out books that couldn’t be found elsewhere, said to be written by his own hand.

Some were on agriculture, some on law, and some were for teaching literacy.

With so many things, how could Gu Juntian have produced them all alone?

What’s more, Zhou Qinghao had taught Gu Juntian before—he was indeed clever, but not a heaven-sent prodigy.

So he had assumed there was someone helping Gu Juntian, and that these things had been developed over a long period by that person.

But there was no one else in Gu Juntian’s study, and no hidden passage.

Gu Juntian hadn’t lied—those books were indeed written by him.

For the past half year, Gu Juntian had truly worked extremely hard, while Zhou Qinghao, in the face of that effort, had still clung to him…

And then there was Gu Juntian’s feelings toward him…

With talent like that, why would Gu Juntian ever need to wrong himself?

Moreover, the loving look in Gu Juntian’s eyes when he looked at him wasn’t fake.

Gu Juntian wasn’t the type to act. Yesterday, when he pretended to be injured, his performance was an absolute mess.

As for the scent in Gu Juntian’s room before… it was probably because a young man had been holding back too long and had done something…

The more Zhou Qinghao thought about it, the more things became clear, and the unease in his heart slowly dissolved.

Indeed, his own people had all been sent away by Gu Juntian, but if Gu Juntian didn’t trust him, how would he dare to use his people like that?

Still, the Gu Juntian before him was definitely not the same Gu Juntian he had raised for many years.

The Prince of Jin had changed.

After arranging the study, Zhou Qinghao asked, “When did Your Majesty start liking me?”

Gu Juntian replied, “The first time I saw you, I liked you.”

Zhou Qinghao felt a bit helpless at that.

Couldn’t this man hide it a little?

The first time he met Gu Juntian, the latter was still a child, crying nonstop, without giving him a single glance.

The “first meeting” Gu Juntian spoke of should be earlier this year, when he returned victorious from battle.

Back then, he was dusty, travel-worn, and full-bearded—Gu Juntian actually liked that?

Thinking about it carefully, yes, Gu Juntian did. After all, that very day, he had successfully climbed into his bed.

After resting, Gu Juntian stood, came behind Zhou Qinghao, and leaned on him, squeezing the muscles in his arms.

He wanted muscles like this too!

Seeing Gu Juntian’s fascination with his muscles, Zhou Qinghao suddenly understood.

So His Majesty liked strong men!

From now on, he must keep training!

Gu Juntian didn’t know what Zhou Qinghao was thinking. He checked the time and said, “Qinghao, let’s go get something to eat.”

It was already dark, and he was hungry.

The two ate together, and after the meal, clung to each other as they returned to the room.

Once in bed, Gu Juntian hugged Zhou Qinghao, intending to do something more, but Zhou Qinghao refused. “Your Majesty, you should rest well.”

His majesty had been so busy this past year that he hadn’t been able to sleep properly—Zhou Qinghao’s heart ached for him.

Gu Juntian was a bit puzzled.

Zhou Qinghao hadn’t been like this before—usually he was the more proactive one between them!

But not long ago, he had complained to Zhou Qinghao about being too tired.

This must be Zhou Qinghao caring for him.

So resting well now wasn’t a bad idea.

The two fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Meanwhile, the agents sent by Qi and Chu to Jin had learned a piece of shocking news.

The Prince of Jin and Zhou Qinghao were lovers!

Zhou Qinghao had been living in the royal palace, even in the prince’s own chambers—something many people knew.

Before, some had speculated,

But the large age difference and Zhou Qinghao’s personality, which didn’t seem like one to submit to others, coupled with the prince’s ambitious nature, made it hard for people to imagine there was anything between them.

Yesterday, the prince had gone to the barracks to find Zhou Qinghao, and the two had acted intimately.

After returning to the palace, the prince had shown affection toward him in front of a large crowd.

Only then did they realize the two were indeed involved.

This was shocking enough that they immediately arranged to send the news back to their countries.

At the same time, they began thinking about how to use this to sow discord.

But the movements of Qi and Chu’s spies hadn’t escaped the notice of Jin’s court.

When Jin’s nobles had fled to Qi and Chu before, Gu Juntian had planted some of his own people among them.

Now, among the spies sent to Jin, there were people he had placed.

One such person reported the news Qi and Chu’s spies had discovered to Jin’s ministers, asking whether they should intercept it.

If they acted immediately, they could prevent the message from reaching Qi and Chu.

After reading it, Jin’s ministers said, “No need to intercept.”

They all knew about their ruler’s relationship with Zhou Qinghao.

Their ruler had already said that after coming of age, he wouldn’t take a wife. During ancestral rites for the royal line, he even planned to have Zhou Qinghao stand beside him.

This was clearly treating Zhou Qinghao like a queen.

In the future, Jin might very well have two kings reigning side by side.

But that was fine—they didn’t have to worry about Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao fighting and throwing the country into chaos.

Right now, the only thing they were looking forward to was the New Year holiday.

Working under the Prince of Jin was exhausting!

They wanted time off!

The next day, as usual, Gu Juntian got up early to handle state affairs.

Zhou Qinghao silently followed him.

He didn’t have much work himself, so he could easily help Gu Juntian.

After helping for a while, he became even more certain of one thing—Gu Juntian had truly changed into a different person.

The current Gu Juntian was like a god descended to earth, unlike any ordinary man.

As Zhou Qinghao was thinking this, he heard Gu Juntian say, “Qinghao, I’m tired. Kiss me to restore my energy.”

He was tired and needed to draw a little of Zhou Qinghao’s yang energy to feel better.