Most beautiful of the seven lands...

Ji Yue was very tender in the youth’s first time and dared not demand too much. He endured and only went for two rounds. Even so, they still tossed about for nearly the entire night. When the sky faintly turned bright and the water clock sounded, the duo embraced each other and fell asleep. 

The next day, Wei Lian woke up and frowned as soon as he moved slightly. 

Ji Yue was afraid for his health and helped clean his body before sleeping. He did not clean up completely after all and could feel a difference. 

He lowered his eyes and counted the marks on his body. After a moment’s silence, he was ready to get off the bed to freshen up. 

As soon as he opened the quilt, a hand pulled him back. 

“Where are you going?” Ji Yue captured him into his arms, and his voice was hoarse from sleep. 

Such a deep, alluring voice, full of laziness and tenderness. A very deadly voice to hear in the morning. 

Wei Lian turned back at him. The Emperor’s hair scattered on the bed, and there was a smile on his face, filled with unrivalled charm and there were several red scratch marks on his shoulders…

They were marks left by Wei Lian. 

He looked away and asked calmly, “What time is it?”

Ji Yue pondered for a moment. “It should be…late morning.”

Wei Lian was surprised. “Why are you not greeting the Court?”

In the past, Ji Yue had to get up and attend Court before sunrise.

“With a beauty at our side…it is natural that we yearned to turn the short, admirable night into this sunny morning,,” Ji Yue said with a smile, “Henceforth, we would forsake our morning Court.”

Wei Lian glanced at him. “I am not taking this blame. You might be ready to act like a foolish Emperor, but I am not planning to be the enchanting lover that brings suffering to the empire and people.” 

“There will always be a daily morning Court, there is nothing wrong taking one day off.” Ji Yue hugged him intimately. “But you will only have this first time. If you woke up and did not see us, wouldn’t that appear as if our love were fickle?”

There was indeed one time for his first time. 

But who would think that an emperor’s love was fickle if he did not stay the next day? This had previously been the proper way, all right?

Only Ji Yue, this dummy, would think like that. 

He was different from other emperors. 

Wei Lian said, “I heard that the Yan Empire envoy should arrive today and would wait for an audience with you at the Black Tortoise Gate玄武門 North gate. Isn’t it improper for them to wait in vain for you most of the day because you decided to suspend the court?”

“Meeting in the morning, meeting in the afternoon, it’s all the same. They are of no importance.” Ji Yue did not care for a defeated empire. He discontentedly pinched Wei Lian’s soft cheek. “Why bring up official business in the bed, it destroys the atmosphere.”

Wei Lian waved his hand away and looked away. “Stop messing around.”

“We are only messing with you.” Ji Yue pinched the young man’s chin and moved the youth’s head back. “Tell us, is ours better or the jade pillar better?

Wei Lian: “...”

Why did this man remember this still?

How laughable, comparing himself with a jade pillar. 

Wei Lian kept his anger in mind. “You already know your capability and your so-called skill! Why ask me to say such a humiliating thing out loud—hic! Ji Yue!”

Wei Lian’s face turned white, he arched his back and leaned himself on Ji Yue’s shoulder, digging his fingers into the older man’s arms. 

How dare he…to enter like that!

“We hold back because of our compassion for you, we did not want to be too brutal. But we also do not want to make Wei Lian misunderstand.” Ji Yue showed a lascivious smile. “Since we are inferior, we will give you a taste of your true strength.”  

“Ji Yue, you—” Wei Lian almost wanted to swear, but Ji Yue sealed his mouth with his own. 

* * *

Unknowingly, half a day had passed during their pleasant time in bed. Ji Yue pressed down on the other and demanded, “Zhi Zhi, which is better, ours or the jade pillar?”

Wei Lian: “...”

Ji Yue’s voice dropped an octave, “Zhi Zhi?”

Wei Lian closed his eyes and replied, “...Yours.”

But Ji Yue wasn’t about to let him go. “Does the book have more tricks than we do?”

Wei Lian was powerless. “...No.”

Ji Yue even asked, “Do you feel differently?”

Wei Lian surrendered. He completely laid down his arms. 

If he had known how heavy the consequences would be, he would not have thrown out that misunderstanding even if he was beaten to death. 

“Gege, go easy on me, please?” Wei Lian covered his eyes with the back of his hand and gasped under his breath, “I did not use that thing…”

Ji Yue paused, and he smiled with his eyes. “So, does that mean you were deceiving us earlier?”

“...Yes.”

“How should we punish you for the crime of deceiving the Emperor?” Ji Yue appeared as if he was deep in thought. “How about another round?”

Another?!

Wei Lian was shocked. 

He can’t. 

He absolutely can’t. 

If they go another round, he would really die on this bed today. 

He would not serve this god damned Qin Emperor anymore!

Wei Lian wanted to kick the other man out of the bed, but he was afraid this might come back and bite him. Ji Yue might use it as an excuse to restrain him and bully him to death. 

He thought for a moment and decided to admit defeat. 

Pinching his own thigh to quickly force out tears, looking like he was about to cry. “Your Majesty, please have mercy on this subject…this subject is in pain.”

Ji Yue was startled and looked very serious for a moment. “Very painful?”

Looking in daze, the young man nodded and buried himself in the older man’s arms in distress, begging in a low voice, “This subject can’t bear it…”

Ji Yue: ‘We can’t bear it as well.’

Wei Lian’s voice was so soft, like a kitten. It scratched on the tip of his heart, creating a mad itch. 

However, since he had bullied the younger man to the point of tears, Ji Yue was no longer in the mood to continue. 

He needed to be good for the other man.  

Wei Lian already had a weak body. It was already inhuman enough to be tossed around like this on his first time. 

The guilt settled inside of the Qin Emperor.

Wei Lian burrowed into his quilt, poked his head out and advised, “Your Majesty, go meet the Yan Empire’s envoy. You can’t afford further delay as the state banquet is this evening.”

How could Ji Yue leave when the other was in this pitiful state? “Let us apply ointment on you.”

Wei Lian gripped the quilt’s corner and insisted, “This subject can do it himself!”

If he let Ji Yue do it, he was afraid that Ji Yue would not be walking out of Zhongling Palace’s door today. 

Ji Yue became silent. He felt that Wei Lian’s sudden serious address was a little strange, yet everything else out of his mouth was very normal. 

Sure enough, the youth was frightened to death by his tyrant manner. 

Ji Yue stood and dressed with a gloomy aura. 

Wei Lian got up on his knees and wanted to serve the Emperor by helping him change clothes. But halfway, he lacked the strength, stumbled, sat down hard from the gravity and hissed. 

Ji Yue was startled and ordered, “Don’t move! Lie back down!”

Ji Yue quickly tucked Wei Lian back into the quilt and wrapped it around him tightly. 

Wei Lian lowered his head. “It appears that this subject doesn’t even have the strength to walk.”

Ji Yue immediately said, “You don’t need to walk. You are to stay in bed today. We forbid you from leaving the bed.”

Wei Lian hesitated. “But the state banquet tonight…” He had to attend. 

“Your presence is not required.” Ji Yue replied instantly. 

Nothing else was as important as Wei Lian’s wellness.

Wei Lian leaned against the headboard, looking pale and vulnerable. “Thank you, your Majesty…”

After Ji Yue exhorted the younger man to prioritise his health, he left, while turning to look back repeatedly at every step. 

As soon as Ji Yue left, Wei Lian quickly lifted the quilt and walked to the table to pour himself a cup of tea. 

After crying out for hours, he was dying of thirst. 

He had strengthened his body with martial arts. So he was naturally tougher than average people, who would not be able to get out of the bed after their first time if they were to go through the same exercise as him. 

Other than discomfort, he could run and jump without any issue. 

His weak displays from before were only for deceiving Ji Yue, to quickly stop the older man.

Otherwise, his false, bedridden appearance would become true. 

No matter how strong he was, he was no match for the way Ji Yue tossed and turned him.

Ji Yue was really fierce. 

When Wei Lian thought of the things Ji Yue forced him to do on the bed, his hand trembled and some tea spilled from the cup. 

He flattened his lips with a faint blush on his cheeks. 

* * *

It was night-time outside the throne room used to entertain all the visitors. 

Music performances using wooden stringed instruments, made a show of happiness and prosperity.

Ministers sat on both sides, exchanging many toasts in this large party. 

Envoys from various empires offered tributes one after another. 

On the throne sat the Qin Emperor. 

“Announcing the envoys from the Liang Empire!”

“Aslan, the Liang Empire’s Saint, and Myrna, the Liang Empire’s Saintess, greets your Majesty, the Qin Emperor.”

Above the main hall, the Saint dressed in blue with silver ornaments and the Saintess dressed in fiery red, carried the Liang Empire’s highest etiquette. A eunuch loudly read out the list of tributes.

“Tributes from the Liang Empire—one hundred silk clothes, thousands of various spices, three hundred fine liquors, twenty chests of amber, cornelian and other jewels…”

“Wishing good fortune and success to your Majesty, long may you live.”

The Emperor on the high throne replied absentmindedly, “Accepted.”

Aslan and Myrna saluted again, before seating themselves in a spot on the side that was prepared for them. 

“Announcing the envoys from the Chen Empire!”

“Prince Huyan Kemu of the Chen Empire, greets your Majesty, the Qin Emperor.”

A tall man dressed in field dress-up knelt down to salute. 

“Tributes from the Chen Empire—thousands of cattle and sheep, thousands of leather sheets, one hundred types of medicinal ingredients, one prized chestnut horse…”

This was the so-called everyone coming to worship the Qin Empire, nothing special. 

The grand occasion took place annually, forcing empires from all corners to submit, while the Qin Emperor leaned idly on the highest place, swirling his wine and looking down at all living beings. 

To have a panoramic view of all things, as if with arrogance. 

What kind of being could hold his regard?

During the Chu Empire’s audience, Qiao Hongfei spoke and paid homage, while Wei Yan only had the courage to timidly kneel behind the general. 

Since he was punished with thirty strokes for no reason, he had been lying on the bed to heal his wounds since then. He hated Wei Lian but was also terrified of the legendary Qin Emperor. 

At this moment, he wished he could disappear completely behind the general, completely out of the Qin Emperor’s sight. 

Luckily, Ji Yue was not interested in him and didn’t even bother to look his way. 

Wei Yan sat in his seat, the crisis avoided. 

Soon, the envoys of five empires finished their audience, leaving the Yan Empire as the remainder. 

When all empires arrived in the Qin Empire, they empathised with each other in a way as they were all defeated by the Qin Emperor. 

However, when there are people, there is also conflict. Even if they were in sympathy with each other, they all had their own positions and viewpoints. 

For example, the Xia Empire was the weakest, thus the prince of the Xia Empire had drank silently since he sat down and kept a low profile. 

Prince Huyan and Prince Yollıg’s eyes have been glued to Myrna since the start of the event, while Aslan’s eyes were as cold as a knife. 

When Qiao Hongfei saw that Wei Lian was not present, he was worried about whether something had happened to Qi Gongzi. 

The turmoil swirled uncontrollably, each harboured different thoughts. 

While wearing a harmonious and happy mask. 

“Announcing the envoys from the Yan Empire!”

The representative leading the Yan Empire envoys was an average middle-aged man with a large belly. The tribute was also the same old-fashioned specialties of the sea, the same as in previous years, such as coral, sea cucumber, pearls, etcetera. 

Let alone the Qin Emperor, other envoys were in the same boat, not interested in listening. 

It was like this every year, with nothing new. 

Then—

The Yan Empire’s representative suddenly cupped his hands. “Our empire also has the finest treasure in the world that surpasses every inanimate object in this hall.”

Ji Yue replied uninterestedly, “Oh?”

The man spoke with confidence, “Our Yan Emperor has always admired your Majesty’s infamous reputation, and always had the thought of uniting our empires through marriage. We are pleased to present our most beloved princess, Li Chonghua, to your Majesty.”

The entire hall fell into silence for a moment. 

The officials stopped whispering. Prince Yollıg and Prince Huyan stopped their glaring contest. Even the prince from the Xia Empire put down his wine glass, looking more alive. 

Princess Chonghua. 

Famous for being the most beautiful person in the seven lands. 

Who didn’t want to witness such beauty themselves?

A certain person didn’t want to. 

Ji Yue’s expression remained the same, looking completely uninterested. 

Only The Yan Emperor could make the matter of selling women for glory sound so high and mighty. 

Seeing this, the envoy from the Yan Emperor thought that the Qin Emperor had never seen the princess herself. 

The princess could not be compared on the same level as ordinary women. Anyone who witnessed her beauty would fall in love at first sight. 

He made an eye signal and motioned for his men to present the princess. 

In full view of the public, a well-dressed woman wearing a veil walked in with leisurely, lady-like steps. 

Stopping in the centre, she kowtowed deeply. 

“Chonghua Just a warning now, this princess likes to address herself in third person (by her name). Make sure not to confuse her dialogue as someone else speaking.salutes to your Majesty, the Qin Emperor.” The woman’s right hand was laid on top of her left hand. Her kowtow was perfectly executed, eyes glittering and tone delicate.

Even without seeing her appearance, her voice had already softly charmed the audience. 

It aroused the hearts of the men in the hall. 

They all craned their necks, trying to peek under the beauty’s veil. 

Myrna got goosebumps. 

Ji Yue’s face was expressionless. 

Princess Chonghua: “...”

What was going on? Shouldn’t the Qin Emperor demand her to take off her veil and have a look?

Why wasn’t he curious at all?

Princess Chonghua got up silently, forged a moment of carelessness and perfectly slipped her veil off. 

A sound of sucked in breaths resounded in the hall. 

So-so beautiful!

The lady was dressed in a palace dress the colour of blue water, with long, almond eyes, she was exquisitely outstanding. A flower pattern was painted on her forehead, which only enhanced her beauty. 

Wei Yan stared at the woman in a daze. His eyes were practically coming out of their sockets. He did not even notice his spilled wine. 

Yollıg Dan and Huyan Kemu, who were originally staring at Myrna, immediately focused their attention on Princess Chonghua. Infatuation and amazement flashed through their eyes. 

There were some dumbfounded military officials, there were ones that gasped in surprise, and there were ones that were trapped in the woman’s peerless beauty. 

Myrna flattened her lips. “A bunch of uncultured swines, she is not as good-looking as Wei Lian…”

Aslan said coldly, “You like him that much?”

“I am only stating the truth!” Myrna retorted before suddenly asking, “Hey, why are you not charmed by the princess?”

Aslan replied, “...I am not like you who lose their sense of direction the moment they spot something shiny.”

He took a sip of wine, hiding his mood. 

Seeing these reactions, the Yan Empire’s representative was quite pleased. He did boast that their princess was the finest beauty in the world. How could anyone be unmoved? …Wait a moment, why was the Qin Emperor still not showing an expression?

Only thing Ji Yue did was shift to a more comfortable posture. 

His expression stayed the same throughout this audience. 

As if the most beautiful woman in the world was no different from one of the pillars in this hall in his eyes. 

There was no way that the Qin Emperor was not interested in the princess. He must be stunned into a daze by the princess…The Yan Empire representative tried to comfort himself. 

No one could escape the princess’s charm. 

The man summoned the courage and said, “Your Majesty is the most formidable person in the seven lands, and our princess is the most beautiful one in the seven lands. The most beautiful one deserves the strongest hero…”

“The most beautiful one, are you talking about me?”

A clear male voice came from outside the hall.

…Who dared to boast so shamelessly?

Everyone in the hall turned to the source of the voice. 

Myrna exclaimed happily, “We were just talking about him, and now he is here.”

What the crowd saw was a young man in white with heavenly beauty stepping from under the moonlight. His steps were calm, his posture was elegant, each and every one of his movements was as if performed by an immortal. 

Instantly, Princess Chonghua was labelled as a mediocre lady with cheap powder. 

The crowd: “...”

What about being the most beautiful one in the seven lands? The newcomer was clearly the true one!

Wei Lian slowly entered the hall, stopped not far from the princess’s side, knelt down and saluted with a gentle voice, “Your Majesty, please forgive this subject’s tardiness.”

Ji Yue’s spirit was immediately woken up as he almost fell off his throne. 

Why-why are you out of your bed!?