I Am Truly Not a Treacherous Minister Your Majesty

Chapter 67: Massage

While Xia Yuxiao was pondering what kind of wind Qin Ji was blowing recently, Qin Ji was enjoying the massage service of his own guard at home.

Ling Yan had been bored in the palace recently. Because the security work in the palace was strong enough, she didn’t need to work so intensely.

“Young master has been very tired recently.”

In Qin Ji’s bedroom, Ling Yan’s soft hands gently pressed on his acupoints.

The Fifth Prince will be sentenced to imprisonment for “occupying civilian houses” and “usurping the throne and plotting rebellion.” However, this imprisonment is only for show; in reality, the Fifth Prince will most likely be “forced to commit suicide” shortly after entering.

Conspiring to usurp the throne and sending assassins to kill the emperor—such crimes would have warranted a death by a thousand cuts in the past. However, since the Fifth Prince is Xia Yuxiao’s younger brother, it wouldn’t be appropriate to sentence him too harshly. Letting him die with some dignity is Xia Yuxiao’s final request.

It’s truly laughable that a royal family member would ultimately have his death sentence handed down by an outsider power minister.

This suggestion is known only to Qin Ji and Xia Yuxiao; it is an absolutely confidential opinion.

“Young Master, you should also take care of your health. Although state affairs are important, excessive fatigue can sometimes be a loss for the country.”

“Ling Yan.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve been talking a lot lately.”

Qin Ji said.

The hand pressing on his back suddenly paused.

“Really? Does Young Master not like it?”

Qin Ji was about to make a joke when a sharp pain suddenly shot through his back, making him break out in a cold sweat.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! I was wrong! I like it, I like it! I like you no matter what!”

Qin Ji let out a pig-like scream, struggling desperately on the bed.

“Young Master has quite the spirit of knowingly walking into a tiger’s den. I thought you could hold out a bit longer.” Ling Yan chuckled.

Hearing her words, Qin Ji instead laughed, “I thought you hadn’t touched a book lately, but it seems you’ve read a bit.”

“I’ve just learned a little, nothing worth mentioning.” Ling Yan touched the strong back of the man in front of her.

On that back were several scars. Although Qin Ji’s self-healing speed as a cultivator was astonishing, these inconspicuous scars still remained.

These were all left from battles fought outside in the past.

To this day, Ling Yan herself finds it hard to describe her feelings for the person in front of her.

Perhaps at first, it was simply out of loyalty. From the moment she was brought into this family by the former Duke of Anguo, she was ordered to be loyal to the current Duke of Anguo.

But when did this loyalty evolve into something more? She wasn’t sure, but she knew she liked the sense of closeness and reliability that Qin Ji’s rationality now held.

The Qin Ji she once served had ambitions far beyond ordinary people, and his life was almost obsessive. She was loyal to him, and he would entrust her with all the things he least wanted others to see. Their trust was a peculiar, almost twisted kind of trust.

However, perhaps after the new emperor ascended the throne, he came to understand, or the honor and power given to him by the new emperor satisfied his ambitions. In any case, the current Qin Ji almost no longer resembled his former self.

Besides loyalty, perhaps she also had another kind of feeling for the current Qin Ji.

She took a deep breath, then leaned down, gently wrapping her arms around his neck, her soft body pressing against his back.

Qin Ji hadn’t yet reacted when he felt the softness on his back.

“Ling… Ling Yan?!”

Qin Ji’s face turned red in an instant.

As someone who had never had a real girlfriend in his previous life, the most he had interacted with a “woman” was his sister. But as everyone knows, sisters are the most wonderful when you don’t have them.

Ling Yan followed him every day, and in a way, it was the same as his sister, Qin Siyue, who was always by his side. However, his feelings towards Ling Yan were vastly different from those towards Qin Siyue.

“Just a moment, young master.”

Rare tenderness.

Qin Ji had never seen this side of Ling Yan before; she had always been strong, and he had always believed in that strength. But now, it was… quite nice, actually.

“Alright.”

He calmed himself down, his heart racing wildly. Even when facing the emperor and Qin Siyue’s direct confrontation in the grand hall, he had never felt this way.

He could also hear the heartbeat of the person behind him, but hers was exceptionally calm. What was this, a state of relaxation?

“Young master, sometimes you’re quite interesting,” she whispered in Qin Ji’s ear. “It’s a pity I didn’t discover this side of you sooner.”

“Ah, no, just talk normally, don’t blow in my ear…” The warm breath on his ear made him feel itchy, and Qin Ji was about to lose his composure.

What was wrong with her today?

“Uh, can we continue the massage?”

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Qin Ji decided to change the subject in time, as he was indeed struggling to hold on.

“Okay~”

The soft rustling sound came from behind, and Qin Ji took a deep breath, relieved that he had managed to calm down.

But soon, a soft, elastic touch came from behind, gently pressing against his back.

“??”

Wait, what are you doing? You’re not normal!

Qin Ji didn’t dare turn around, fearing that he would see an even more stimulating scene.

Ling Yan felt the warmth emanating from the sturdy body in her arms and quickened her breathing. She stretched out her hand, and in that instant, a surge of impulse took over her mind.

“Why not just continue like this?” a thought emerged in her mind.

Her cherry lips parted, and for a moment, she seemed to transform into a man-eating demon, wanting to devour the person in front of her completely.

But her actions stopped.

She saw the inconspicuous scars on Qin Ji’s back.

Then, she let go of his hand with a tinge of melancholy.

No.

Her young master was the empire’s Taifu, the Duke of Anguo. The gap in their social status was too great.

And who could know whether the Qin Ji in front of her truly had feelings for her?

If she forced herself on him, it might not be a good thing for either of them.

She looked down at the patch of snow-white skin pressed against his back and let out a long sigh, leaving Qin Ji’s back.

Before Qin Ji could turn around, the girl had already fastened her buttons again.

“Sorry, young master, I was being irrational.”

She said softly.

“Where do you think you were being irrational?”

Qin Ji’s voice reached her ears, but this question left her puzzled.

“Where was I irrational?”

“You must have been thinking a lot just now,” Qin Ji turned around. Although his face was still red, he was no longer flustered. “What were you thinking about? That you might not be worthy of me?”

Qin Ji wasn’t being narcissistic; he was stating a fact.

Ling Yan was from the Demon Sect. Although she was just a child when she was brought out, her identity as a disciple of the Demon Sect was undeniable. If it weren’t for his father’s sharp eyes, Ling Yan might have become a formidable weapon on the battlefield, but she would likely never have a normal life.

Of course, even now, her life was very different from that of ordinary people.

Therefore, Ling Yan’s identity indeed made it difficult for her to match him. He didn’t mind, but the higher-ups in the Xia Kingdom despised the Demon Sect.

“…Yes.”

Ling Yan said in a flat tone. But this flat tone was achieved with a deep breath.

Qin Ji was amused by her contradictory demeanor.

“Look at you, frowning.” He reached out and stroked Ling Yan’s face. “Don’t worry, no matter what others think, as long as you want to stay by my side, I will never let go.”

“Mm.”

Ling Yan’s lips curled slightly, but she immediately controlled her expression.

Her ability to control her expression was truly masterful. If he didn’t know her well, Qin Ji would have thought she was completely unaffected.

“However, I still hope you won’t act impulsively.”

He put on his shirt and then said.

“Why?”

“You shouldn’t be considering whether the other person will accept you. You should first consider whether you truly have feelings for the other person, how deep those feelings are, and whether they are worth acting impulsively for,” he shrugged and then said, “For example, what if I am actually someone who uses you as a tool and discards you when I’m done? Would you still be willing to act impulsively for me? Consider yourself first, then consider whether others can accept you—in matters of the heart, it’s like this.”

“Isn’t that very selfish?”

“Feelings are inherently selfish. No one’s feelings and emotions are entirely for the other person. It’s okay to be a little selfish in this regard.” He said with a smile.

Of course, everyone understands the theory, but putting it into practice is different. For example, in his previous life, he could talk about these theories endlessly, but he didn’t even have a girlfriend. However, several classmates successfully found partners after his guidance and lived happily ever after.

Wuwuwu, this world is still better. At least there are reliable female guards to comfort him.

“I understand, young master.”

Ling Yan returned to her usual working state and stood up.

Qin Ji didn’t expect Ling Yan to understand immediately; that was unrealistic.

He knew what Ling Yan was trying to do just now. After all, they had reached that point, and he didn’t dare to think about what she wanted to do next.

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But Qin Ji knew that the more a girl like Ling Yan was, the less he could impulsively cater to her. It would destroy her. She was fierce in battle and good at teasing him, but once she truly gave her heart, she would be more impulsive than anyone.

“Next, young master, you still have a lot of work to do, you can’t rest yet. The documents regarding the northern defense work need your approval.”

Ling Yan read out the above content with a cruel smile.

Qin Ji immediately wilted.