NOVEL NEXT chapter 1
Your Majesty, I’m Really Not a Traitor!
Author: Ju Xiang Gong Zi
Transmigrating into the empire’s powerful minister, Qin Ji thought he would become a winner in life. However, the newly ascended empress was already plotting to eliminate this “traitor”…
“My beloved minister, I grant you the privilege of not bowing in my presence, not rushing to court, and wearing your sword in the hall. Rejoice!”
Rejoice, my foot! This is obviously more dangerous!
Chapter 1: I, a Traitor, Now Want to Be a Good Person
The 558th year of the Xia calendar.
Central Empire of Da Xia, Duke An’s Mansion.
“Your Excellency, Duke An, look, this is the most expensive jewel produced by our Holy Church Nation—the Tear of the Holy Mother. It was obtained from the underground caves of the Holy Church Nation, carefully selected and polished by our jewelers. Its value is rare in the world. I’m not joking with you, look at this luster, this clarity…”
The man, known as the world’s most authoritative jewelry collector, was introducing the gem in his hand incessantly. As he spoke, he occasionally glanced at the man called Duke An in front of him.
However, in response to the collector’s enthusiastic sales pitch, Duke An, dressed in a dark robe, only nodded slightly:
“How much?”
“Well… if it’s for you, this jewel can be free of charge. It’s a testament to our friendship, don’t you think? Moreover, your wife is so outstanding, this jewel can be our blessing to you and your wife.”
The collector smiled as he spoke, placing the small box containing the Tear of the Holy Mother in front of Duke An.
Unexpectedly, the young duke pushed the Tear of the Holy Mother back:
“Sorry, I hope to correct two small mistakes in your words just now.”
“First,” Duke An pointed to the elegant black-haired girl sitting beside him, “this is not my wife, she is just my guard. I let her sit beside me because I think it’s tiring for her to stand all the time in daily situations.”
“Second,” at this point, a hint of coldness appeared on Duke An’s young but resolute face, “I am very clear about the intention of your church to give me this jewel for free. There is a saying in Da Xia: there is no such thing as a free lunch. I understand your church’s intention very well. Frankly speaking, Da Xia is not suitable for your church to propagate its theories. I don’t want to pay more in the future to make up for the small advantage I gain today.”
He then looked at the girl beside him:
“Ling Yan, what is the market price of this item?”
“In the Holy Church Nation, the value of a Tear of the Holy Mother is about 1500 gold dragons (Da Xia’s currency unit).”
“Pay this gentleman 2000 gold dragons, 1500 for the jewel, and the remaining 500 as a commission and a token of gratitude to the Holy Church Nation.”
“Yes.”
The girl named Ling Yan lowered her delicate face, then got up and left. In less than five minutes, she returned with a small box and placed it in front of the collector.
The collector was silent for a long time, but finally accepted the money.
Watching the collector leave, Duke An Guo stared at the dazzling jewel and let out a long sigh.
“Did you really spend a fortune on this jewel? Was it worth it?”
Ling Yan picked up the pure gem and examined it carefully—if it were any other noble, their guard would be reprimanded or even punished for such “rude” behavior, but it was clear that Ling Yan had done this more than once.
Duke An Guo—Qin Ji slumped wearily in his soft chair.
Of course, it wasn’t worth it.
As a powerful minister of Da Xia, he knew very well that this so-called “Tear of the Holy Mother” was just an ornament. As a man, he had no interest in it, let alone any desire to collect it.
But now, he was desperate.
Qin Ji was not from this era—not even from this world. He was sent to this world by a ghost fire that was so wicked it made his ancestors’ graves smoke. What happened to that ghost fire boy after he hit him, Qin Ji didn’t know, but it couldn’t have been much better.
After all, in his last memory, that little yellow-haired boy also flew out with his bike.
Now, he had become the Grand Marshal and Duke An Guo of the Da Xia Central Empire, young and promising, and logically, he should be a winner in life.
But Qin Ji was already numb.
From the memories of this young Duke An Guo, he learned that the current Duke An Guo’s father—the former Duke An Guo—was a general full of martial virtue. He assisted the late emperor in numerous battles, achieving great military exploits. And his son, now himself, naturally inherited his father’s title after his father’s death.
The current Duke An Guo was also full of martial virtue, and at the same time, his ambition was much greater than his father’s. Facing the aging late emperor and the heir appointed by the late emperor (the current emperor), Duke An Guo held the reins of power under the guise of assistance. The old emperor was too feeble to suppress him, and the new emperor… was almost entirely supported by him to the throne. Now, the entire court and the public loathed this “traitor.”
Holding this seemingly invincible script, Qin Ji couldn’t laugh.
On the surface, Duke An Guo was a winner in life, having reached the level of “entering the court with a sword, not hurrying in the court, and being praised without being named.” However, in reality… the new emperor was no pushover.
The first day he came to this world was the day the new emperor ascended the throne. When the new emperor Xia Yuxiao conferred him the title, there was nothing left to confer, so he was given the title of “Brother,” meaning he was like the emperor’s own brother.
But looking at the coldness in the eyes of this elegant and composed young girl, he immediately understood one thing—he might not be holding the script of Chancellor Cao, but the script of the infamous Ao Bai.
To put it bluntly, even if one day a group of wrestling enthusiasts came out of nowhere and tied him up when he met the emperor, he wouldn’t be surprised.
So now Qin Ji was ready to save his life—
First, he would act submissively.
He had to find a way to save his life first. While the new emperor still needed him and didn’t dare to act rashly, he had to quickly find a way to remove the title of “traitor.”
What? You ask why he chose to be submissive when he had so much power?
Was Ao Bai submissive? No.
Ao Bai wasn’t submissive, and what happened to him in the end?
Throughout history, many people have died because of this. Not to mention that Qin Ji had no intention of usurping power, even if he did, it shouldn’t be openly declared.
Openly declaring it would be seeking death.
So today, he specifically bought this jewel at a high price, planning to present it to the emperor tomorrow to show his loyalty. The reason…
Just say it was a gift from the Holy Church, and as a minister, he didn’t dare to hide it, so he presented it to the emperor. On one hand, he offered a gift, and on the other hand, he showed his “loyalty.” It depended on whether the emperor accepted the gift. If she did, it meant he was still safe and had a chance to turn things around. If she didn’t…
Then she didn’t. He would slowly try to gain her trust later. Qin Ji had already thought of many ways to gain trust. He didn’t dare to really take the emperor’s throne—although part of the military power was in his hands, these were not troops he personally trained. If the emperor gave an order, who knew how many would defect on the spot, and then he would be in big trouble.
ps: The new book is online, and it is updated simultaneously with the neighboring “How Did I Become a Succubus as a Witch”. One is Yuri and the other is Harem, the taste is really great~
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