Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

Emperor Jin’an smiled bitterly in his heart. He blinked, and the outside world became clear. He saw Yaoniang with rosy cheeks and misty eyes, leaning against him like a delicate flower waiting to be picked.

The throbbing sensation gradually intensified, making him feel like he was about to burst.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at her again, his deep voice tinged with an unmistakable hoarseness. “It’s getting late. There are still some documents Zhen needs to go through. You should go back for now. I’ll join you for dinner later.” As he spoke, he reached out and gently rubbed the slightly reddened corner of her eye.

Yaoniang’s hazy eyes gradually cleared, and she realized her posture was quite embarrassing. Furthermore, there was something pressing against her below. She hurriedly stood up, not daring to look at him, and just nodded as she turned to leave. However, before taking a step, she hesitated and glanced back at him.

Emperor Jin’an knew exactly what she was wondering as he watched her walk away. He lowered his head and glanced at a place that had been dormant for years, his face filled with bitterness. Then, he closed his eyes.

He diverted his attention to the space in his mind where that other person was currently unconscious. He felt a hint of regret and even considered whether he should bring her back and continue what was left unfinished.

But it was just a fleeting thought.

It didn’t matter to him, but one day, he might be gone, and if the original owner returned and found out about this, would there be a rift in their hearts? Would he have harmed her again?

He shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside, and focused on reviewing the memorials.

As Emperor Jin’an learned more about this world, he began to understand the profound differences between their lives. If he had walked a difficult and treacherous path, then the original owner walked an easy road—like a favoured child of heaven.

It seemed that everything had gone smoothly for him, and his good fortune was enviable. However, Emperor Jin’an never believed that luck alone could pave a smooth path in life. Although it had nothing to do with him, he obsessively collected information about this life that diverged from destiny’s original course.

To gain assistance, he even coaxed the original owner to provide him with various information and then supplemented it with information from the outside world.

The more he understood, the more he felt that everything was predestined. Because in this life, their starting point had changed. She was not Xu Yueru’s person, and she did not try to climb his bed. Therefore, ‘he’ had a completely different attitude from the very beginning.

It was all a matter of timing and fate!

He naturally thought of Han Chuanzi; perhaps the changes in this life were because of him. He was also aware that the opportunity to return to his own time lay with Han Chuanzi, yet he hesitated to seek him out.

‘He’ was him, with the same background and identity, except for her. In fact, one could also argue that she belonged to him too. Without him, there would be no ‘him’ and her in this life. He could easily assert his dominance.

These thoughts grew like wild weeds in his mind. At the same time, the original owner did not sit idly by. He did not know what methods ‘he’ used, but ‘he’ began to compete with him for control of this body. Although ‘he’ couldn’t emerge in person, ‘he’ caused significant trouble for Emperor Jin’an.

However, they did not openly confront each other, both being aware that there was a line they should not cross lest it resulted in death. But to appease the other, Emperor Jin’an had already started searching for Han Chuanzi.

Han Chuanzi had always been near the capital, and he had some reputation in Tongzhou, so, he was quickly brought into the palace.

“I never expected it would be an old acquaintance,” Han Chuanzi said when he saw Emperor Jin’an, stroking his beard.

Emperor Jin’an was surprised, thinking that the other had discovered something. Soon, he understood why Han Chuanzi had spoken to him like this, as the voice in his mind reminded him that ‘he’ had once met this person.

“Since we last parted, Master’s demeanour hasn’t changed.”

“Your Majesty, you flatter me. I am but a recluse from a distant place, with a pure heart and a single-minded pursuit of the Dao. A clear heart leads to tranquillity.” Han Chuanzi folded his hands in greeting, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant. His pure and insightful eyes seemed to understand everything.

Emperor Jin’an absentmindedly rubbed his fingers on the dragon desk and wondered if this person had a hidden agenda. He felt a deep sense of unease toward Han Chuanzi after his past experience.

This was also an instinctive reaction for an emperor towards an unknown factor. In his world, he had respected Han Chuanzi as a national teacher and even followed his advice, going to great lengths to arrange a grand formation. But at the end of the day, he understood that it had been a mere obsession in his heart. He arranged the formation because he believed it to be harmless and also for a peace of mind. He never expected it would all come true.

While Emperor Jin’an’s thoughts were in turmoil, Han Chuanzi spoke, “I wonder why Your Majesty has summoned me to the palace. Could it be related to the divination I performed for Your Majesty back then?”

With that, he forced a bitter smile. “Back then, Your Majesty was still a hidden dragon in the abyss. My divination could reveal some things, but now, Your Majesty is a true Dragon Emperor, and I have no say in such matters.”

“I did not call you here for divination.”

“Then, for what reason, Your Majesty?”

“May I ask if Master believes in the concept of souls?”

Han Chuanzi smiled knowingly and said, “It seems that Your Majesty doesn’t quite understand the Daoist way. Humans have three souls, divided into the Heaven, Earth, and Fate souls. There are also seven spirits, with the first being the heaven-thrusting spirit, the second being the intelligent spirit, and the third being the vital spirit…”

It wasn’t until dusk that Emperor Jin’an returned to the Kunning Palace.