Jin Qiu looked at the man who just entered through the window.
"If your aim was to kill me, then you wouldn't even ask such question." Jin Qiu said while crossing his arms. "So why don't you tell me what you want? Just so you know, I feel tired and really want to sleep now."
"I came here because my master told me to do this."
"Your master?"
The man looked at Jin Qiu for a moment before he let out a sigh. "My master want to make a deal with you, but before I told you about the deal, I will introduce myself. I'm Xiao Changming, the cook who made the honey chicken you ate before."
Jin Qiu almost looked confused when the man suddenly mentioned about honey chicken, and then he remembered the blonde that looked quite sly. He started to laugh for a moment before letting out a sigh. "That blonde send you here to make a deal with me?" He asked. "Fine. Tell me what's the deal."
"There are a lot of people gathering under my master and they plan to kill the Emperor. My master asked if you would want to join us."
Jin Qiu raised an eyebrow. This is the first time he heard that there are some people out there who want to kill the Emperor.
In the novel, though the Emperor is ruthless towards Jin Qiu, he is quite kind and caring towards his people. This loving side were brought out more after the Empress entered the palace. So why would people want to kill him?
"Why do you want to kill him? It's not like he do something bad to his people."
"Are you really unaware, or you're just pretending to be unaware?" Xiao Changming asked. "Everyone has already knew that the Emperor is a ruthless person. He destroyed the small kingdom around the Empire, taking them as part of the Empire and he is famous to kill anyone who have no use for him. And it's kinda funny to hear you say that, since you are someone who suffered the most by his hand."
"What if I choose to not work together with you and telling the Emperor about this instead? Aren't you afraid?"
"My master believes that you won't do something like that."
The blonde is cleverer than what Jin Qiu had expected. While it's true that there's no merit from him telling the Emperor about the group, if revealing such information is necessary for his freedom, he wouldn't hesitate to tell the Emperor.
Xiao Changming could see that Jin Qiu being hesitated. "You don't have to answer it now, but please think about it as fast as possible because everyone will gather and set up a trap for the Emperor. If you want to join, you can meet my master before that."
"I don't have to think to give you an answer." Jin Qiu replied. He would be crazy if he choose to betray the Emperor and teaming up with this people who he doesn't know about. "I won't betray the Emperor and as my act of kindness, I won't say anything about you or your master."
"You sure you won't regret this?"
"Of course I won't. Why would I regret it? Not to mention, there's something that I need to do and in order to do that, I will need the Emperor's power. So please leave now. I want to sleep."
Jin Qiu lay back down on the bed and covered his whole body with the blanket while Xiao Changming just stood there and watching the man. "I will tell my master about your answer, but..a fair warning...my master is not someone who will give up easily." He warned before climbed to the window and closed it again. It looked as good as before.
Once he's sure that Xiao Changming has already left, Jin Qiu pulled down the blanket and stared to the ceiling on top of his bed. He can't afford to betray the Emperor because he need to know how to go back to his world, and the easier way to gather that kind of information is by using the Emperor's autorithy.
What happen to this body after he left, he doesn't really care about it. True that he pitied this poor concubine, but it doesn't mean that he's willing to live as the concubine.
He rubbed his face with both of his hand. He doesn't want to care about it now. He can think again after he get some sleep. He closed his eyes, but then, a knock could be heard on his door.
"Jin Qiu, are you inside?"
"What again now..."
He was thinking to just ignore it, but he got a feeling that the person waiting in front of his door is someone quite important. With a sigh, he got up from the bed and walked to the door.
The one who stood in front of the door was quite a beautiful man. More beautiful than himself. His dark purple hair adorned by beautiful golden hair accessories, the same color as his eyes. With a closer look, one would know that the man is wearing something that looked like lipstick. Not that Jin Qiu knows what it called in this world.
"Who are you?"
"Why are you joking at such important time?" The man shoved Jin Qiu inside and closed the door. Without giving explanation, he went and placed several clothes on the crumpled bed and a small box on the table.
"Just so you know, I feel tired and I want to sleep, so if it's not important, can you get rid of all this?"
"So now you're going to cast me aside once you win His Majesty affection?"
Jin Qiu racking his brain to remember the man in front of him. Someone in the novel who like to dress luxuriously and going around like he's a courtesan.
There's only one person who would fit the description. The prostitute who brought to the palace on the wedding night. That night, instead of spending time with Jin Qiu, the Emperor was spending his time with the prostitute. And since then, the prostitute has been living a luxurious life in the palace. That prostitute is named Xiang Ru.
But the novel never mentioning that Jin Qiu is close with the prostitute.
"Forget about that." Said the man before he holds a white hanfu. "I came here because I heard that you will be invited in today's court meeting. There will be a lot of nobles coming there, so you need to look good."
"What did you say?"
The prostitute looked at Jin Qiu and let out a sigh. "What's wrong with you? Did you get too happy or get too shocked? You keep making me repeating what I said." He replied. "Or maybe no one tell you yet? You will join today's court meeting. It's finally the day, huh? You will be recognized as the concubine and no one would look down on you anymore."
Jin Qiu indeed looked shocked, but that was only for a seconds.
After the feeling of shock disappeared, he started to laugh.
He thought that the Emperor would just ignore what he ask and treat him like madman, but unexpectedly, the Emperor desperately wants the military power of Jin Family. He really makes the right decision to bargain using his position as the commander of Jin Troop. He can't get rid of the Emperor, but he can do something to make sure the Emperor won't ignore him.
"Though it's true that man is going to acknowledge me, why did you come here? You are the prostitute who brought here to become my rival. He spends the night with you instead with me and if the Emperor favors me, you will be the one who get abandoned. Don't you afraid?"
"Why are you bringing this up now? I told you that nothing happen on that wedding night. He spent night in my room, but he didn't touch me. He used my ability to fool people for his own merit and you know that I'm on your side. If one day he choose to abandon me, I can just go back to become a prostitute. Simple, right?"
Jin Qiu proceeds the new pieces of information inside his head. The novel didn't write about something like that.
"Thank you for all your advice." Jin Qiu finally replied with a smile, a natural smile that shows no malice at all.
He then started to take off his clothes. If the prostitute wants to help him, he will receive it, but he would never let his guard down.
The clothes that the prostitute chooses were indeed beautiful. It gives off an elegant feeling, but not common.
For a concubine, these clothes is really good, because if he uses something too luxurious, people will think that he want to fill the position of the Empress, but if he used a common clothes, people will think that he tried to make the Emperor look bad.
Though..Jin Qiu has no intention to take that troublesome position. If he wants to take a position, then he might as well take the Emperor's position. Not like that will be possible.
Done with the clothes, the prostitute started to work on Jin Qiu's hair. Again, the man only uses a simple hairpin that looked elegant.
Now after the entire make over, Jin Qiu looked even more beautiful than before. No one would believe that he is the commander of 10.000 soldiers. Jin Qiu smiled. He is not someone who likes to dress himself even when he's in his original world, but for some reason, he felt satisfied.
Not long after they're done though, a knock could be heard on the door. "Your Highness, I came to help you with the preparation."
"Look at them, coming when the time is close like this. I bet they don't like that you get close to the Emperor."
Well..of course. Who would want to serve someone who they have been ridiculing all this time? All those servants might've been feeling humiliated or maybe afraid that Jin Qiu will give them some harsh punishment now that he got the power to do so. That's the normal way a human think after all, but Jin Qiu has no interest to any of that.
"Why don't you come with me?" Jin Qiu asked the prostitute. "You are adored by His Majesty up until now and now that I rose to power, some people will try to use you to get rid of me. So why don't we show everyone that we're getting along quite well?"
The prostitute seemed to be surprised.
Of course, he would never expect that Jin Qiu, who has been longing for the Emperor's affection, is now trying to share that affection to him, someone that is said receiving all those affection. "You sure? If I go there, the Emperor might try to abandon you and would only pay attention to me, if that happen-"
"That won't happen."
The prostitute stared at Jin Qiu.
He doesn't know where Jin Qiu's confidence came from, but he trust the man, so he nodded his head and the two went to the Court Hall together.
❖
All the nobles murmuring and whispering to each other. Usually, they would start as soon as they gathered here, but now, the Emperor seemed to be waiting for someone. They became quite anxious since they don't know who the man could be waiting.
Their curiousity answered soon enough. The door opened and two people stepped in. Not just common two people, but the two man that has been famous within the palace. Jin Qiu, the First Concubine who got abandoned by the Emperor and Xiang Ru, the prostitute who is adored so much by the Emperor. They can't believe the two people that should be enemy is now walking into the Court Hall together.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Xiang Ru bowed his head elegantly and taking the seat that has always been given to him ever since he entered the palace. The seat between the Emperor most trusted subordinate, the warlords, because of that, everyone assumed that the Emperor adored him so much that the man want him to be protected by those warlords.
"Where's my seat?"
The nobles who didn't come to the hunt was caught off guards when they heard Jin Qiu's question. Of course, all this time, despite being the commander of a very big Troop within the Empire, Jin Qiu never allowed to enter the Court Hall, and now, the man entered and asking where should he sit? The nobles started to laugh and chuckle. To them, it's just Jin Qiu being pitiful and trying to get the Emperor's attention. They can't wait to see the Emperor send him away.
"Qiu er." Ren Zhengsheng started.
"You're the one who called me here, so shouldn't you show me where I sit first? Or you want to see them ridicule me? That's fine by me, but you know what I will do."
Ren Zhengsheng leaned to his hand and showing a soft smile, an affectionate smile. "I know that I've made a lot of mistake to you, but won't you forgive me now? You should call me affectionately like at past."
If the real Jin Qiu is here, then surely, the man would be so happy to do that. Not now though.
"If you call me here just to tell me this useless thing, then I will go back to my room. Just so you know, I was about to sleep when Xiang Ru came to me."
Ren Zhengsheng then patted the seat beside him. That seat was for the Empress, but now he gave it to Jin Qiu. It's all because he knew just how necessary Jin Troop is for his revenge. "You should sit beside me so that everyone could see you and know that no one should look down on you anymore."
This time, all the nobles looked even more shocked than before.
Those who have daughter or son at the age of marriage has been planning to make them enter the palace and getting close to the Emperor, because they thought that even if the Emperor adored the prostitute, with his status, the prostitute won't be able to take the seat of the Empress, but if it's Jin Qiu, they would have no chance. Who could be better than Jin Qiu? To add with his beautiful appearance, Jin Qiu is the commander of Jin Troop and has successfully lead so many battle as much as the Emperor did.
Jin Qiu didn't waste more time and went to sit beside Ren Zhengsheng.
"The purpose of this meeting is to talk about the event that happened in the empire, so stop staring at me and proceed with the meeting." Jin Qiu said.
Ren Zhengsheng smiled as he heard the sharp words. Now he can be sure that the man sitting beside him is no longer the Jin Qiu that begged for his love.
He doesn't know what made the man changed, but it's all good for him. He doesn't need to worry about Jin Qiu pestering him out of nowhere. Not to mention, the man agreed to let him do whatever he want with Jin Family. And also, Jin Qiu's presence will keep all the nobles from trying to push their daughter or son to him. It's perfect.
"Your Majesty, I have something urgent to report." Song Yun stepped forwards and placed a scroll on the Emperor's table.
He looked at Jin Qiu for a moment before continuing. "Like everyone knows, some days ago, assassins infiltrated the palace. His Majesty killed some of them but the rest managed to run away." He started. "In order to know who the mastermind behind that assassination attempt is, I send some of my trusted subordinates to follow them." He continued. "But today, those people came back as corpse."
"Since you said that those people came back as corpse means that there are people who sent them here. Am I right?"
"That's right, Your Majesty." Song Yun replied.
Ren Zhengsheng picked up the scroll and started to read it. The report said that everyone has the same wounds, a slight stab on the neck, like using a needle and most likely died because of those very wounds. It means that whoever killed them is quite skilled.
"But that person is afraid of you." Jin Qiu commented.
Ren Zhengsheng looked at Jin Qiu because just now, he also thought the same thing with the male.
Jin Qiu took the scroll from the Emperor's hand. Some people would think that he's rude by doing something like that, but he doesn't really care. He planned to find the reason why he got called to this world and in order to do that, he will need the authority of the Emperor or someone equal to him. So he can't let the enemy of the Emperor be. It would only affect him. "The report said that everyone died from the same wounds. From all the people who became your enemy, is there anyone who has this kind of skill? And one more thing. Song Yun said that the people sent there are spying, but how did the person know about them? I doubt that the people who work for you have a poor skill, so there's only one reason left. There's a traitor within the palace."
"How rude! Are you implying that someone in this room planned to betray His Majesty?! Know your place!"
Jin Qiu looked to the old noble who just stood up and shouted at him just now. The man just spouting whatever he wants and it's really annoying. If there's a gun in this world, then surely, he would've shot the man to death.
"Do you doubt me?" Jin Qiu finally asked after he let out a sigh. "If you doubt me, then can you help find the mastermind behind this assassination attemp? Or perhaps…you're the one who planned all of this and you got panic because you will be found."
"Y-you!"
A smirk formed on Jin Qiu's face as he stood up from his seat. "I'm what? A simple concubine who shouldn't say anything about the matter?" He walked over to the old noble. "You shouldn't forget that before being a concubine, I'm a commander of Jin Troop. You should be careful of what you said, old man." Jin Qiu patted the man's shoulder before he turn around to look at the Emperor. "Though I'm grateful that you tried to make this people bow to me, my presence in this meeting will only cause a mess, so I will be leaving now." Said the man as he walked out of the hall.
Jin Qiu came like a storm and leave like one as well. Because of that, Ren Zhengsheng started to show some interest towards the man. Not that the man know about it though.
"Zhiqiang." Ren Zhengsheng called.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Follow him and see what he's up to." The man continued. "I was planning to ignore him, but he made me got interested. Watch him and report to me everything that he do."
"Understood." Pan Zhiqiang bowed his head and walked out from the court hall.
"Regarding the assassin, keep doing what you did up until now, Song Yun. I don't care what my enemy did; it's not going to affect me in any way. If they want to come to me, then they can come. I will just get rid of them like I usually did. Now let's move to another problem."
"Yes." Song Yun replied and went back to his seat.
❖❖❖