{"id":7068,"date":"2025-07-01T08:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T06:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/?p=7068"},"modified":"2025-07-01T08:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T06:41:53","slug":"your-majesty-you-mustnt-chapter-75-2-the-eye-pill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/your-majesty-you-mustnt-chapter-75-2-the-eye-pill\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Majesty, you mustn’t! – Chapter 75.2: The Eye Pill"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

There was still a bit of time before bed, so Qu Yunmie picked up the military report Wang Xinyong had delivered that day\u2014this time it was a real military report. Wang Xinyong didn\u2019t dare include a single word of nonsense.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie didn\u2019t open it right away. He first looked up and glanced in a certain direction.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There was where Gao Xunzhi lived\u2014and where the three members of the Xiao family lived. With the literary competition approaching, Qu Yunmie was extremely busy, and Xiao Rong even more so. The two of them hadn\u2019t seen each other for almost twenty-four hours.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It wasn\u2019t like when Xiao Rong had been in Jinling. Back then, Qu Yunmie had worried something might happen to him. Now, Xiao Rong was right there in Chenliu, perfectly safe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even so, he still found himself thinking about him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie furrowed his brow. Admittedly, he admired Xiao Rong and agreed with his principles, but did he really need to be this clingy? Yu Shaocheng had been rather attached to his own older brother. Was it possible\u2026 Qu Yunmie now saw Xiao Rong as either an older or younger brother?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Strange.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie was in the middle of self-reflection. A good King shouldn\u2019t be so dependent on a subordinate. He was supposed to protect and support Xiao Rong, not constantly wish he could turn him into a Snow-Drinking Vengeance Spear, just so he could place him wherever he wanted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Qu Yunmie jolted upright, worried for a moment that he had somehow said his thoughts out loud and now Xiao Rong had come to confront him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even though everyone now knew how to knock on doors\u2014thanks to Xiao Rong\u2014Qu Yunmie could still instantly recognize his knock. Everyone in the palace had learned to knock by imitating him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He adjusted his posture, trying to appear calm, but when he caught sight of his dripping wet hair, a flicker of annoyance crossed his face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Still, he called out toward the door, “Come in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong pushed the door open with his elbow, holding two jars of wine in his arms. When he saw that Qu Yunmie had already taken off his hair crown, he paused in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These days, men only wore one hairstyle\u2014wearing a crown. Nobles wore ornate ones, while commoners used cloth strips or sewed caps as substitutes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ever since the capping ceremony became an essential rite of passage for Central Plains men, loose hair had basically disappeared. Dramas liked to depict male characters with their hair down not because it was historically accurate, but simply because it looked good.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Well\u2026 it did look good.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong silently stared at Qu Yunmie. In his mind, he hadn\u2019t only given Qu Yunmie the nickname \u201cBig Fool,\u201d but sometimes even called him \u201cOne-Nine-Five.\u201d Though he told himself he was mocking Qu Yunmie for growing taller without getting any smarter, the truth was\u2014he was jealous of how tall he was.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So annoying. What\u2019s the point of being tall like a utility pole when there are no light bulbs in this era to hang on it?<\/span><\/p>\r\n


<\/span>

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n


<\/span>

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Without his armor, Qu Yunmie didn\u2019t look as hard and unapproachable. His long hair, reaching down to his waist and wet with water, clumped into strands\u2014more defined, firmer, but also messier. Droplets of water soaked his robes, the ash-grey fabric turned black when wet, making him appear even leaner and more upright.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong had seen his figure before\u2014Qu Yunmie wasn\u2019t skinny. Xiao Rong felt that if Qu Yunmie did a sit-up, he might randomly crush someone to death.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This was what people meant by \u201clooking slim with clothes on, muscular with them off.\u201d It was a pity he was born in this era. If Qu Yunmie lived in modern times, he\u2019d be a world-class male supermodel, no doubt about it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong kept staring at Qu Yunmie without saying a word. Qu Yunmie stood up to greet him but noticed that Xiao Rong hadn\u2019t even realized he\u2019d moved\u2014he was still staring blankly at him. Qu Yunmie hesitated, then glanced down at himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong saw his movement, and his eyelid twitched. He took two steps forward, then gave his hips a backward push and casually shut the door with his butt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie, having witnessed that: \u201c\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Just a moment ago, he had grasped onto some train of thought\u2014now it had been shoved away by Xiao Rong\u2019s hip.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong walked over to the table and said, “This is wine I brewed when I first arrived in Chenliu. I originally planned to sell it if it turned out well, but now that we\u2019re no longer short on money, I\u2019ve decided to make the recipe public so the common people can learn how to brew wine too. Who knows, maybe in a year or two, many new kinds of wine will emerge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

By the time he finished speaking, Qu Yunmie had already walked up behind him. Xiao Rong didn\u2019t realize he was so close and suddenly turned around\u2014only to slam his forehead right into Qu Yunmie\u2019s cheekbone. The pain nearly killed him. He clutched his forehead, wincing, then looked up and muttered, “Your Majesty, your face\u2026 is hard\u2014in every sense of the word!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie didn\u2019t respond. He hadn\u2019t even felt any pain. All he noticed was the faint herbal bitterness on Xiao Rong.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong had clearly bathed before coming. Normally, he had no particular scent, but after bathing, he always carried a trace of fragrant medicinal herbs\u2014bitter, but strangely addictive once you got used to it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He didn\u2019t catch the last thing Xiao Rong said. After grumbling about the head bump, Xiao Rong let it go. He sat on a stool and patted the one next to him, pouring a cup of his homemade wine for Qu Yunmie and saying, “Your Majesty, have a taste.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie sat down as told and stared at the clear liquid. “Are you sure this is safe to drink?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong replied, “Don\u2019t worry, Your Majesty. An hour ago I had Zhang Biezhi try it. He\u2019s still alive and kicking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie: \u201c…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He tried a sip. It was definitely wine, though not as strong as the General\u2019s Brew. It was closer to the mild sake favored by nobles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although it was a bit stronger than sake. Qu Yunmie always thought sake tasted like water. This, at least, had real flavor\u2014and wouldn\u2019t get him drunk too fast. It seemed suitable for leisurely sipping.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie smiled faintly. “It tastes very good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Then he finished the cup, picked up the wine jar, and poured himself another. He even grabbed a second cup, intending to pour for Xiao Rong as well, but Xiao Rong stopped him. \u201cNo need, Your Majesty. Have you forgotten? I can\u2019t hold my liquor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie suddenly recalled the day they first met\u2014who would\u2019ve thought that the drunken mess he\u2019d once considered killing would now become one of the most important people by his side?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie couldn\u2019t help but curve his lips. He didn\u2019t press Xiao Rong and drank his own cup. Then, in a light tone, he said, “There\u2019s no need to always be so cautious. After all, you\u2019ve already offended me once. If I wanted to punish you, I would\u2019ve done it long ago\u2014not waited until today. One of life\u2019s few joys is drinking together with good company. Not being able to drink with you\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Somehow it feels like a regret.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong looked at him but still didn\u2019t reach for his own cup. He asked, “Your Majesty is so certain that my drunken disgrace won\u2019t make you want to kill me again?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie: \u201c…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Usually, he was the one bringing up the past. Today, Xiao Rong had finally turned the tables.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie took that verbal hit and looked a bit embarrassed. Recalling his own mistake back then, he didn\u2019t try to argue. Instead, he replied in a softer voice, “At that time, I didn\u2019t understand you, which led to the misunderstanding. That won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong heard him, but thought to himself, \u2018You still don\u2019t understand me.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You don\u2019t understand anyone in this world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sigh. That old saying was so true\u2014only parents genuinely cared about you. Everyone else had their own agendas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For Qu Yunmie, that was exactly the case. Gao Xunzhi and Agusejia were the ones who truly loved him. As for those he trusted\u2014whether it was Yuan Baifu, himself, or Jian Qiao, who had always been loyal\u2014none of them gave themselves to him fully or without reservation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jian Qiao could be set aside, Qu Yunmie didn\u2019t value him that highly anyway. Sometimes Xiao Rong even thought, \u2018General Jian, why are you so loyal to such a dog of a king?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was different with himself and Yuan Baifu.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Especially after recalling what Gao Xunzhi once said\u2014he had described Yuan Baifu as the King\u2019s brother.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong: \u201c\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He truly hoped Yuan Baifu wouldn\u2019t walk down that same path again. He didn\u2019t want him to reveal his true nature. If he was that scheming, then let him keep pretending for the rest of his life\u2014until both he and Qu Yunmie were buried. As long as he didn\u2019t harm the Northern Army, Xiao Rong would keep pretending with him, play dumb alongside Song Shuo, and fake ignorance to the very end.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All of this\u2026 was only his hope.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If hopes came true, he wouldn\u2019t be sitting here now. He\u2019d be at home with the air conditioner on, eating ice cream\u2014and not gaining a single ounce.<\/span><\/p>\r\n


<\/span>

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\r\n


<\/span>

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie looked at Xiao Rong falling into silence, watching as he lowered his eyes, even the corners of his eyes showing a trace of worry and sadness\u2014but he didn\u2019t know that Xiao Rong was feeling sad for him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He thought Xiao Rong had remembered something painful\u2014and that the painful memory was caused by him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie asked, “Are you still blaming me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong looked up. He had been so lost in thought that he had completely forgotten what he\u2019d asked Qu Yunmie earlier.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At the dazed look in his eyes, Qu Yunmie pressed his lips together and said, “What must I do for you to believe me? Even if I were possessed by a wild ghost, I still wouldn\u2019t harm you again. If one day you grow tired of me and want to leave, I still wouldn\u2019t raise a weapon against you. I understand your heart. If you go to someone else, then it must be because I did something wrong\u2014not you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cBut I hope you won\u2019t leave. Suspicious, too focused on military matters, neglecting civil affairs\u2014I remember everything you\u2019ve said to me. I\u2019ve been trying to change. Do you think it\u2019s not enough? Then I swear it. I\u2019ll swear it in blood\u2014how about that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After he spoke, Qu Yunmie stood up directly and took his sword from the nearby rack. He was a man of immediate action\u2014if he said something, he had to follow through. The blade flashed fast and fierce as it slashed toward his palm. Xiao Rong was stunned. He leapt to his feet to grab the sword from Qu Yunmie, startling him. Qu Yunmie quickly raised the sword high, out of Xiao Rong\u2019s reach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong: \u201c…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie even turned it around and asked, “What are you doing?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong was about to explode from anger. “What are you doing?! Your body and skin are gifts from your parents\u2014aren\u2019t you afraid they\u2019ll scold you in your dreams tonight?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie replied, “I\u2019m not afraid. I don\u2019t even remember what they look like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What a hellish joke.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong wanted to laugh and beat him at the same time. He was one step away from a mental breakdown. Shaking his head, he stopped looking at the sword that was nearly poking the ceiling beam and grabbed Qu Yunmie\u2019s hand instead. He saw a fine line of blood already on his palm and slapped it in frustration. “Serves you right if it hurts!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie: \u201c…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

His eyebrows twitched from the pain, but he still pretended it didn\u2019t matter and said calmly, “It doesn\u2019t hurt at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie\u2019s blood had smeared Xiao Rong\u2019s hand. Xiao Rong looked at his own palm for a moment\u2014longer than necessary\u2014then looked up and told Qu Yunmie to put the sword down. He let out a long breath and gazed seriously into Qu Yunmie\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cYour Majesty, please remember one thing well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhen you need me, I will never leave. Anyone in this world might betray you\u2014but not me. Others entrust you with their ideals and futures, but I\u2019ve entrusted you with everything. If one day I say with my own mouth that I want to pledge allegiance to someone else, then please, Your Majesty, kill me\u2014because the one who said that wouldn\u2019t be me. If you hear those words from someone else, please also kill that person, because they are deceitful and wicked. You must never keep such a person by your side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong spoke with absolute conviction. Qu Yunmie found it both moving and amusing. He couldn\u2019t help but confirm with Xiao Rong. “Really\u2026 you\u2019d let me kill you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong nodded fiercely. “You must kill me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Qu Yunmie couldn\u2019t help but laugh. Honestly, he didn\u2019t take Xiao Rong\u2019s words literally. He figured Xiao Rong had been frightened by his earlier behavior and was now trying to comfort him this way. Given Xiao Rong\u2019s personality, how could he possibly let Qu Yunmie kill anyone?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Xiao Rong was completely serious. From what Qu Yunmie had said today, it was clear that Yuan Baifu had succeeded\u2014he had influenced Qu Yunmie. That was why Qu Yunmie had ignored the first two letters and pulled out the third one specifically. He believed what Yuan Baifu had told him, and he had already considered what he would do if Xiao Rong ever left him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Imagining Qu Yunmie silently staring at that letter, reflecting again and again, feeling sorrowful, and finally concluding that he had wronged Xiao Rong and that Xiao Rong might abandon him\u2014and deciding he must let him go without resentment\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That image made Xiao Rong boil with rage.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You think you\u2019re the only one who knows how to manipulate people?! You are at Yanmen Pass, but I am at Chenliu! The advantage of proximity is mine, and there\u2019s another truth in my favor too\u2014<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yuan Baifu, do you not understand the saying, childhood sweethearts can\u2019t compete with someone who falls from the sky?!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Edited by: Antiope<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Support translation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"This<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There was still a bit of time before bed, so Qu Yunmie picked up the military report Wang Xinyong had delivered that day\u2014this time it was a real military report. Wang Xinyong didn\u2019t dare include a single word of nonsense. Qu Yunmie didn\u2019t open it right away. He first looked up and glanced in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-your-majesty","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240106180053_200_280-1.jpg?fit=199%2C280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7068"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7069,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7068\/revisions\/7069"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}