Quick Transmigration: The Villain is Destiny, the Protagonist Takes a Backseat

Song Li was so embarrassed he wanted to disappear into the ground. His face flushed, he tugged at Ji Qiuzhe's sleeve, "We're still at the palace gate, behave yourself..."

"Alright then, Ali, go back and make it up to me. Also, don't forget the wedding banquet you promised me."

"Yes, I won't forget."

Speaking of this, Song Li also became excited.

He also had his own selfish motives. Ji Qiuzhe was a promising young man who would rise to high positions in the future if nothing unexpected happened. He was born into wealth and would surely be loved by countless people. Only by holding a wedding banquet and letting everyone know that this person belonged to him could he feel at ease.

Day two.

This is the procession of the top scholar through the streets.

Song Li went to her family's restaurant's street-facing room early to wait.

The long street was already crowded with people standing on both sides.

After waiting for almost an hour, the procession of the top scholar finally arrived slowly.

Ji Qiuzhe took the lead.

He was dressed in a red scholar's robe, wearing a black official's hat, riding a white horse. He had a handsome face and a tall, straight figure. As he rode past, he was covered in flowers and handkerchiefs.

He smiled, gently brushed the things off his body, and then his gaze moved upwards, precisely capturing Song Li.

The moment their eyes met, all the surrounding noise vanished. Song Li could no longer see anyone else; her mind was filled only with that dazzling red.

Ji Qiuzhe was still waiting for Song Li to throw him flowers when he saw her staring blankly at him. Somewhat puzzled, he silently uttered two words: "A-Li?"

Song Li then came to her senses and hurriedly threw the flowers in her hand down.

The shot went astray.

No matter, Ji Qiuzhe calmly grabbed the crabapple blossom in his hand and tucked it behind his ear.

Flowers adorn her jade-like temples, and spring colors paint her red dress.

"Wow--"

Someone exclaimed.

This year's top scorer is clearly more dazzling than the third-place scorer.

Song Li didn't even want to blink, wanting to remember this scene forever.

Only after the young man in red rode away, leaving behind a mess of colorful flowers and handkerchiefs, did Song Li turn her gaze away, close the window, and go home to wait.

The Qionglin Banquet was bustling with activity, but Ji Qiuzhe wasn't particularly interested in enjoying it. He just sat quietly in his seat, lost in thought about his beloved Ali.

During the conversation, the emperor asked him a few questions, and he answered them flawlessly.

The crowd then egged on the three scholars to compose poems while drinking. Ji Qiuzhe and the other two men did not refuse. He was the first to stand up, take a sip of wine, and compose a poem on the spot, displaying his amazing talent.

The emperor was very satisfied and granted Ji Qiuzhe's request on the spot.

Some ministers took the opportunity to act as matchmakers, trying to arrange marriages for the top three winners and win them over—a very clichéd tactic. Unfortunately, their wishful thinking backfired.

The emperor would not agree. He thought highly of Ji Qiuzhe and would not feel at ease handing him over to anyone else. It would be better to let him be a loyal and honest minister.

As for Ji Qiuzhe himself, he stated on the spot that he already had a wife at home, and that he and his husband were very much in love. He said he would never take a concubine in his life and that he wanted to be with his husband for life. He asked the emperor to grant him and his husband a wedding banquet.

The emperor thought highly of Ji Qiuzhe and immediately granted the promise, even bestowing upon him a mansion to serve as their marital home.

Ji Qiuzhe was happy.

As soon as the banquet ended, he went home excitedly.

Song Li was still sitting on the edge of the couch, fully clothed, waiting. Ji Qiuzhe returned, reeking of alcohol. Seeing the young man huddled by the couch waiting for him, he tenderly pulled him into his arms and planned to settle him into bed.

Unexpectedly, this movement startled the person in his arms awake.

“A-Zhe…”

Song Li grabbed Ji Qiuzhe's collar. The top scholar she had been longing for during the day was now right in front of her. He was wearing red clothes and a black hat. His stunningly beautiful face was gentle and tender, a stark contrast to his arrogant and unrestrained demeanor during the day.

"Um……"

Ji Qiuzhe responded softly, quite satisfied with the infatuation in Song Li's eyes.

His Adam's apple bobbed: "Ah Li, I'm back."

Song Li's gaze was immediately drawn to his Adam's apple.

Song Li swallowed hard, her gaze sweeping up and down.

He usually wore plain clothes, but I had never seen him wear such a bright color before. Song Li felt that he was born to wear this red.

He grabbed Ji Qiuzhe by the collar, leaned in and kissed his lips, which were made even more vibrant red by the red dress. He tasted the cool aroma of the wine, and his not-so-clear consciousness was made dizzy by the fragrance.

Ji Qiuzhe had no choice but to hold him tightly to prevent him from falling, and cooperated by letting him kiss him to his heart's content.

Then, with a deep gaze, he said, "Ah Li, how about I help you bathe?"

Song Li was so captivated that she couldn't hear anything clearly, and only vaguely replied, "Okay."

When he was stripped naked and sitting in the bathtub with Ji Qiuzhe, he realized what he had promised.

"Here……"

He struggled to get out, but Ji Qiuzhe held him firmly in his arms. There seemed to be something pressing against his back, which froze him instantly, and he dared not move an inch.

“Ah Li”.

Ji Qiuzhe whispered in his ear, her breath sweet as orchids, "You promised to bathe with me, you can't go back on your word..."

Her ears twitched uncontrollably, and Song Li's whole body went limp; she no longer had the courage to go out.

In the end, it was unclear who helped whom bathe, but after being dried and placed on the bed, Song Li stared blankly at the top of the bed curtains, feeling her whole body burning hot.

He shouldn't have let the red-clothed man bewitch him, allowing Ji Qiuzhe to take whatever he wanted. He didn't know where this man learned so many tricks. He clearly didn't finish the job, yet he suffered just as much.

"Ah Li~"

Ji Qiuzhe pressed closer again, and Song Li trembled, shrinking back in fear. "No, no more..."

"Pfft-"

Ji Qiuzhe was amused. He pulled the person back into his arms and comforted him, "Okay, okay, I just wanted to hold you while I slept. I didn't mean to do anything else."

Song Li stopped struggling and obediently let Ji Qiuzhe hold him. He realized that he was the kind of person who didn't learn his lesson easily. He had been thoroughly tormented just now, but now he was extremely fond of this embrace.

Early the next morning.

After Song Li and Ji Qiuzhe finished their breakfast, they learned that someone from the palace had come to deliver an imperial edict.

They hurried to the front hall to greet the guests.

Upon learning that the Emperor had bestowed a wedding banquet upon them and even granted them a residence, Song Li stood there stunned, unable to react for a long time.

The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree chuckled and joked, "Young Master Song is so lucky! Last night, Lord Ji declared in front of all the civil and military officials that he would never take a concubine in his life and would be with his husband for life!"

Song Li blinked, wondering if she was still half asleep.

It wasn't until Ji Qiuzhe squeezed his palm that he regained his senses, hurriedly handed the prepared large red envelope to the eunuch, and respectfully saw the man out of the mansion.

Looking back, it was as if I had just woken up from a dream.

“A-Zhe…” Song Li stared intently at Ji Qiuzhe’s delicate face, her eyes reddening, and asked in a trembling voice, “Why… did you say that?”

"It is because it is what my heart desires."

Ji Qiuzhe cupped his face in his hands.

His child is extremely insecure, has his own little pride, and is not good at expressing himself, so it is difficult for him to quickly understand and resolve any thoughts or ideas he has.