After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

Xie Qinglan woke up just as dawn was breaking the next day.

He very gently removed Xiao Jingyuan's hand from around his waist and quietly got up to put on his clothes.

The prime minister's crimson court robes were neatly folded and placed on a clothes rack, the gold-embroidered crane pattern on the chest shimmering in the morning light.

He was dressed neatly, and straightened his clothes and hat in front of the bronze mirror. The person in the mirror had delicate features, and his skin was as white as snow because of the vermilion. He looked less cold and aloof than usual, and more solemn and dignified.

He glanced back at the person still fast asleep on the couch, whose brow was relaxed and who was sleeping soundly.

Xie Qinglan walked out quietly, instructing Gao An to wake His Majesty in half an hour, and then took a sedan chair to Xuanzheng Hall.

He arrived early, before all the officials had arrived. Standing below the imperial steps, with the ministers of the six ministries and generals beside him, they all bowed and greeted him, saying, "Thank you, Prime Minister."

Xie Qinglan nodded slightly, his expression calm, standing at the head of all the officials, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

Before long, the morning water clock had run out, and the officials filed in, lining up on both sides according to their rank.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xiao Jingyuan arrived at the perfect time, just as the morning light was about to fade, and stepped into the palace gate.

He was hurriedly woken up by Gao An. When he opened his eyes and saw that the person next to him was empty, he felt a moment of emptiness in his heart. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Gao An say that Prime Minister Xie had already gone to Xuanzheng Hall.

The palace servants who helped him dress and wash up were quick and efficient. He put on his dragon robe and crown one by one. He looked at himself in the bronze mirror. The black dragon robe was embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. The golden threads shone, which made his cold and stern face look like a king.

The handprint on my face from yesterday faded quickly; it's barely noticeable unless you look closely.

He was still a little dizzy, and his mind was racing with those rules and regulations, afraid that he might make a mistake and upset Xie Qinglan.

"Your Majesty, it's time for court," Gao An bowed and reminded him.

Xiao Jingyuan took a deep breath and strode towards Xuanzheng Hall.

He slowly sat down on the jade steps before the dragon throne. The jade beads hanging from the crown swayed gently, concealing the slight unease in his eyes.

"His Majesty has arrived!" the master of ceremonies announced loudly. All the civil and military officials on the steps knelt down in unison, their robes brushing against the gold bricks with a neat rustling sound.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

A thunderous roar, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, resounded throughout the hall, shaking the beams and ceiling, its echoes seemingly lingering.

Xiao Jingyuan's gaze immediately fell on the figure at the very front of the officials.

Xie Qinglan was dressed in a crimson and gold-embroidered prime minister's court robe, with wide sleeves and a jade belt around his waist. His black hair was all tied up in his crown, revealing his smooth and full forehead and his cool and aloof eyebrows and eyes.

He was granted special permission to enter the court without having to kneel or bow to the crowd. He simply bowed and nodded along with the officials, his movements precise and composed. His crimson robes draped down, outlining his slender yet upright shoulders and back.

The morning light slanted in from outside the palace gates, falling on him, making him appear fiery red, yet his body was as white as jade, striking one's eyes with a sudden brightness.

Xiao Jingyuan's breathing suddenly stopped.

His heart felt like it had been hit hard, pounding wildly, and a wave of familiarity washed over him, almost overwhelming him.

"All of you, rise." Xiao Jingyuan composed himself and spoke in a deep, cold voice, carrying the majesty of an emperor, revealing no sign of anything amiss.

The officials expressed their gratitude and rose to stand on both sides.

Xie Qinglan straightened up and slightly raised her eyes, just as she met the gaze of the person on the dragon throne.

Their eyes met for only a moment before he subtly looked away, lowered his gaze, and stood there with his expression unchanged.

Only he knew that, under that person's burning gaze, the tips of his ears were secretly burning.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Xiao Jingyuan couldn't help but let his eyes drift towards Xie Qinglan. The more he looked, the more he felt that the crimson court robe suited him perfectly, making him so handsome that it was impossible to look away.

The court assembly proceeded in an orderly manner, with the ministers of each department stepping forward to present their reports. Xiao Jingyuan, relying on the regulations he had memorized the night before and his imperial instincts ingrained in his bones, responded flawlessly.

Occasionally, when unsure, he would signal to Xie Qinglan with his eyes, and Xie Qinglan would always step forward at the right moment to supplement, with clear reasoning and proper handling. The two worked together seamlessly.

After finishing his routine official duties, the Minister of Justice stepped forward from the crowd, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present. In the case of Prince Qi, Xiao Jingheng, who plotted rebellion, there are both witnesses and physical evidence. He himself has confessed to colluding with Nanyue, ambushing Your Majesty, and attempting to usurp the throne. According to the laws of our Northern Shuo, rebellion is an unpardonable crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. However, he is a member of the imperial clan, and the implications are far-reaching. I beseech Your Majesty to decide how to handle this matter."

The hall fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on the emperor on the dragon throne.

Xiao Jingyuan tapped the imperial desk lightly with his fingertips. Before he could speak, Xie Qinglan stepped forward from below the steps.

Holding an ivory tablet, he bowed deeply, his crimson robe sweeping across the gold bricks in a clean, crisp arc. His clear, resonant voice echoed throughout the entire hall.

"Your Majesty, I believe that treason is a heinous crime that cannot be pardoned by law. Xiao Jingheng, as a prince of the imperial family, did not think of serving the country but instead harbored disloyal thoughts, colluded with foreign powers, and plotted to harm the monarch. His crime deserves to be punished by death. He should be beheaded immediately and executed in the autumn to serve as a warning to others."

He paused, then continued, "As for his family and relatives, although the crime of treason implicates nine generations of his clan, many of Xiao Jingheng's collateral branches were unaware of the plot, and the elderly, women, and children are even more innocent. Considering their bloodline within the imperial family, they are spared the death penalty, but the male members are exiled three thousand li away, never to return to the capital; the female members are confined to the inner palace as slaves. This is both strict in upholding the law and not lacking in benevolence. What does Your Majesty think?"

These words were reasonable and well-founded, combining firmness and leniency. They upheld the authority of the law while leaving room for maneuver, leaving all the members of the imperial clan who wanted to plead for Xiao Jingheng speechless.

Xiao Jingyuan replied without hesitation, "Granted. As the Prime Minister has said, Xiao Jingheng shall be executed immediately, his family members shall be dealt with according to the law, and all his property shall be confiscated. The Ministry of Justice shall immediately supervise this matter without delay."

"Your subject obeys the decree." The Minister of Justice bowed and acknowledged.

After the first matter was discussed, the hall had been quiet for a moment when the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, the Northern Barbarians have sent an envoy with a letter of state, and have been waiting at the post station for three days. The Northern Barbarians intend to seek peace, and their Khan wishes to form a permanent alliance with our Northern Barbarians, agreeing not to invade each other. To show their sincerity, they wish to send Your Majesty their sixth son, born of the eldest son, to the harem, thus establishing a lasting alliance."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low murmur of discussion arose in the hall.

Most of the military generals looked disgusted—the Northern Di had just suffered a crushing defeat, and now they were sending their prince to marry a foreign ruler; it was clearly a delaying tactic. The civil officials had differing opinions. Some thought they could agree for the time being to appease the Northern Di and focus on dealing with the Southern Yue. Others thought the Northern Di were fickle and that the marriage alliance was not necessarily reliable.

No one found it strange that the Northern Barbarians sent a prince for a marriage alliance. Everyone knew that His Majesty favored Prime Minister Xie, and it was likely that the Northern Barbarians had also found out about it.

The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, their gazes all turning to Xie Qinglan.

Xie Qinglan's expression remained unchanged. Holding his scepter, he stepped forward and spoke calmly yet clearly: "Your Majesty, I believe that the proposal of a marriage alliance should absolutely not be approved."

"Firstly, the Northern Barbarians have always been fickle and unpredictable. Their current offer of peace after their recent defeat is merely a delaying tactic. Once they have had time to recuperate and recover their strength, they will surely break the alliance and invade south again. Today's peace treaty is like trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin; it will be of no benefit whatsoever."

"Secondly, our Northern Shuo has just pacified the Western Rong and our military power is at its peak. Why should we rely on marriage alliances to secure stability? If we agree to the marriage alliance with the Northern Di, we will only be at a disadvantage."

"Thirdly," Xie Qinglan paused, looked up at the person on the dragon throne, her tone so indifferent that it revealed no emotion, "Your Majesty's harem has been empty for a long time. There is no need to humiliate yourself by taking in unrelated people for the sake of diplomatic relations."

Sitting on his throne, Xiao Jingyuan heard the last sentence and a smile suddenly appeared in his eyes.

He knew that Qinglan, though she didn't say it, cared about him.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice so gentle it was almost melting: "What you say is absolutely right, my dear minister."

The courtiers below got goosebumps from hearing this and gasped in unison.

Xie Qinglan coughed lightly, feeling awkward, and glared at Xiao Jingyuan.

"Go back and tell the Northern Barbarian envoy," Xiao Jingyuan said, turning to the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, his tone now serious and each word firm and resolute, "I am the Emperor of the Northern Barbarians, with a vast empire and thousands of generals. Why should I rely on marriage alliances to achieve peace? If the Northern Barbarians truly wish to form an alliance, they should submit and pay tribute annually, opening their markets. If they continue to play these petty tricks, they should get out of here as soon as possible."

Xie Qinglan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, seeing Xiao Jingyuan's dignified expression, just as imposing as before he lost his memory.

However, the next second the man smiled gently at him, and when he spoke again, his voice was deep and solemn: "I already have a beloved in my heart, and he will belong to me alone in this life. Let them no longer have any ideas about a marriage alliance."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

The officials exchanged bewildered glances, all seeing shock in each other's eyes. His Majesty had practically laid bare his relationship with Chancellor Xie in plain sight.

Xie Qinglan stood below the steps, her knuckles unconsciously clenching the official tablet.

He hadn't expected Xiao Jingyuan to say such a thing in public. His heart was pounding uncontrollably, and the unpleasantness he felt upon hearing about the marriage alliance vanished instantly.

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial was stunned for a long while before bowing and replying, "Your subject... Your subject obeys the decree."

The bell rang to signal the end of the court session, and the officials bowed and filed out.

Xiao Jingyuan said loudly, "Thank you for staying."

Xie Qinglan stopped in her tracks.

After the ministers had all left, Xiao Jingyuan gave a signal, and Gao An closed the palace doors from the outside.

The vast imperial court was now empty except for the two of them.

"Your Majesty?" Xie Qinglan looked up, her tone tinged with doubt, "Why didn't you leave after court?"

Xiao Jingyuan coughed guiltily, "Come up here for a moment."

Xie Qinglan had no idea what he was up to. She walked up the steps and stood in front of Xiao Jingyuan, looking down at him.

"Your Majesty, it's time to return to Tingxuexuan to review the memorials."

Xiao Jingyuan didn't hear a single word.

He stared at the small section of Xie Qinglan's neck exposed at the collar, at his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he spoke, and at his eyelashes trembling as he lowered his eyes.

Only one thought kept running through my mind: He looks so good in red.

An even more audacious thought struck him, making his temples throb—he wanted to strip off this crimson court robe.

The moment the thought came to mind, a few fragments flashed through my mind—a red robe lying on the couch, a crimson belt pulled off, and fair shoulders slipping out from the collar.

The fragments were blurry, as if they were seen through a layer of mist.

But he was certain of one thing: he must have seen this man in red before, and he must have taken it off himself.

Xiao Jingyuan raised his hand and grasped the wrist of the person in front of him, his Adam's apple bobbing violently a few times, and earnestly praised, "You look very good in red today."

Xie Qinglan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a strange, ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

Sure enough, the next second the man grabbed his waist, and he was caught off guard and fell forward, straddling Xiao Jingyuan's lap, his hands supporting him on the armrests of the dragon throne.

The two were very close, and Xie Qinglan could clearly see the darkness in Xiao Jingyuan's eyes.

He immediately tried to get up, but said, "I have other matters to attend to, I must go first—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Jingyuan wrapped one arm around his waist and the other around his chin, then lowered his head and sealed his lips with his.

The kiss was tender and lingering, and Xie Qinglan's struggles melted away unconsciously as she became immersed in its warmth.

Xiao Jingyuan's hand slid from Xie Qinglan's chin to her collar, his fingertips probing inside the collar of her court robe, gently caressing the skin above that small section of her collarbone.

Xie Qinglan froze, raised her hand to grab his wrist, and abruptly turned her head away from the kiss. She glared at him angrily: "You said you'd be obedient yesterday, and today you're acting like a fool again!"

"You look so good in this outfit, I couldn't resist for a moment." Xiao Jingyuan was slightly out of breath, his eyes still filled with lingering warmth. "I've also recalled some fragments."

"What clip?"

"I saw that I had removed your crimson robes." Xiao Jingyuan's voice was low and husky, close to his ear. "The moment I first saw you, I wanted to remove your court robes and be close to you on this dragon throne."

Xie Qinglan's ears turned bright red, and she was so angry that her lips trembled. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth: "...No matter how absurd His Majesty was in the past, he never sat on the dragon throne—"

"I know, I won't bother you today." Seeing that he was truly angry, Xiao Jingyuan quickly soothed him, gently brushing his waist with his fingertips. "Just this one kiss, consider it a reward for reciting last night's lessons. Don't be angry, okay?"

Xie Qinglan's ears burned, and she glared at him fiercely, but she couldn't break free from the hand that was wrapped around her waist.

He felt a sense of absurdity; this scene was just like the scenes in the unofficial plays he had heard in the streets of Nanyue in his early years, where a foolish emperor and his treacherous ministers behaved improperly and made a fool of themselves in the court.

A wave of shame washed over her, and she couldn't help but rebuke him coldly: "The Xuanzheng Hall is a place of great importance in the imperial court. How can Your Majesty behave so frivolously?"

Xiao Jingyuan chuckled softly, carefully smoothing the wrinkled collar of his court robe with his fingertips, and pleaded softly in the man's ear, "It's my fault."

Xie Qinglan broke free from him and stood up: "You admit your mistakes every time, but you never change."

Xiao Jingyuan chuckled awkwardly, took his hand, and stood up, walking down the jade steps one by one.

Gao An pushed open the palace door from the outside, and the morning light poured in, enveloping the two figures in warm light.

The hems of the crimson court robes and the black dragon robes brushed lightly against each other, their shadows intertwined and inseparable on the gold bricks.