Chapter 63: Daily Life on the Island

Chapter 63: Daily Life on the Island

The next morning, while having breakfast, Liang Zhen mentioned his desire to take Rong'er to pay respects to his late father. Zhu Yunxuan, who was holding Rong'er and feeding him porridge, glanced up at Liang Zhen and said, "If you want to go, just go."

Liang Zhen smiled. "I'm worried that His Majesty might think it's not suitable to bring a child to such a place. As long as you approve, it's fine."

"...Since Rong'er calls you father, it's only right for him to pay tribute to his grandfather."

The smile in Liang Zhen's eyes deepened. "Alright then."

Xiao Junbo's grave was located on a hill in the southwestern part of the island. A small area of the mountain had been designated as a cemetery, where people who had passed away on the island over the past two decades were buried. Xiao Junbo's grave occupied a modest space, not standing out among the others. The tombstone was erected by Liang Zhen himself, meticulously cleaned, with "Honorific Title of Our Late Father Xiao Junbo" inscribed in the center, and "Installed with Tears by His Unworthy Son Xiao Nian" etched in the lower left corner.

There was also an epitaph on the tombstone detailing Xiao Junbo's life. It mentioned that during the twenty years he was stranded overseas, he never remarried. Only Liang Zhen and his biological father's names were listed under the spouse section.

Liang Zhen placed the offerings in front of the tombstone and lit the joss paper. Zhu Yunxuan stood behind him, silently reading the epitaph, reliving Xiao Junbo's tragic life in his mind, which evoked a profound sense of sorrow. After a moment of silence, he gently pressed Rong'er's shoulder, who was still in a daze, and prompted him, "Good boy, kneel down and pay your respects to your grandfather."

Rong'er obediently knelt and reverently bowed his head three times. Liang Zhen caressed his head, gave him a string of paper yuanbao, and held his hand as they tossed them into the fire.

Zhu Yunxuan personally picked up the libation cup, poured three cups of wine before the tombstone, and scattered them in tribute.

After paying respects to their ancestors, they descended the mountain. Zhu Yunxuan still felt somewhat heavy-hearted, but Liang Zhen, in a lighthearted tone, brought up the subject that his father's remains were buried at the foot of the hill behind Yuanji Temple, next to the manor he once owned. Back then, it was the abbot of Yuanji Temple who had helped collect his father's body. He only wished that one day he could reunite his father's remains with his grandfather's, fulfilling his father's last wish.

Zhu Yunxuan was slightly startled. "…Why didn't you mention this before?"

Liang Zhen shook his head. "The old abbot was afraid that the former emperor would find my father's remains, so he didn't even dare to set up a gravestone. It was just an unmarked grave. What was there to mention?"

"So, you built that manor there to keep watch over your father's grave?"

Liang Zhen sighed. "Yes, but unfortunately, the manor has been seized. When I left the capital, I thought about taking my father's remains with me, but after much contemplation, I decided it wouldn't be right to disturb him after so many years of peace. So, I entrusted the old abbot to continue looking after it. I never expected to encounter my father here in the Southern Seas."

Zhu Yunxuan's gaze drifted for a moment. "The manor is still there."

"Hmm?"

Zhu Yunxuan concealed his emotions and told him, "The manor... I didn't order anyone to touch it. It's still as it was, and I've never given it to anyone else."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly. "That's good to hear."

Zhu Yunxuan felt a bit awkward and changed the subject. "The name you go by now, did your father give it to you?"

"Yes," Liang Zhen replied with a smile, explaining, "Before Father left for battle, he gave me this name when I was still in my father's womb. He said it would suit a boy or a girl. He knew back then that he wouldn't return, so this name was his last token of remembrance for my father."

As Liang Zhen recounted these past events, there was no longer any trace of the gloom and despair he once had. Only a subtle wistfulness hid behind his smile. Zhu Yunxuan understood that he had truly let go.

Seeing Zhu Yunxuan lost in thought and Rong'er looking up at them with confusion, Liang Zhen chuckled helplessly. He lifted the child and asked Zhu Yunxuan, "Your Majesty, do you wish to visit the military camp on this island?"

Zhu Yunxuan snapped back to reality. "…We can visit?"

"There's nothing to hide."

Liang Zhen led them along another path up a nearby hill. The mountains on the island weren't tall, and within a quarter of an hour, they reached the summit. From there, they could see the entire scene on the other side of the mountain.

To their surprise, there was an area behind the mountain almost as large as the visible half. Soldiers were orderly training there. About twenty ships were docked at the seaport, though not comparable to the naval forces of Great Yan, it still left Zhu Yunxuan utterly astonished.

Liang Zhen continued, "Father brought the last one thousand survivors here. Along with the children who grew up on this island and those who escaped from other parts of the South Seas over the years, our current force numbers close to three thousand."

Zhu Yunxuan frowned. "Escaped refugees?"

"Yes, many regions in the South Seas are now occupied by those foreign tribes. Some who couldn't endure the hardships sought refuge elsewhere. We're selective about who we take in. Their character must be acceptable, lest we inadvertently invite spies. Most of them are people from Central China, originally from Fujian and Guangdong, who had migrated to the South Seas during our dynasty or even the previous one. They share the same roots as us."

Zhu Yunxuan's gaze fell on the boats. "Where did all these ships and cannons come from?"

Liang Zhen explained calmly, "Back then, Father and the others only had two ships left when they ended up on this island. The rest were converted merchant vessels purchased from South Sea traders and foreign lands. As for the cannons, they were naturally bought from those foreigners as well."

Zhu Yunxuan looked at him doubtfully, not entirely convinced. "They're that benevolent? Not only do they not attack you, but they also sell you cannons?"

Liang Zhen smiled and shook his head. "Your Majesty is not aware, but there are countless islands in the South Seas. They can't possibly occupy them all. This is just a small, isolated island that they don't value. It's not worth their effort. Besides, the foreigners in the South Seas come from various countries of the Western Continent. They're constantly vying for territory and have no time to bother with our tiny island of a few thousand people. As long as we don't provoke them and pay them enough silver, purchasing their outdated cannons isn't a difficult task."

Zhu Yunxuan's expression darkened. "But they still dared to harbor ambitions towards the Great Yan..."

Liang Zhen nodded. "Back then, they sent envoys to the capital, hoping to gain more benefits in trade with the Great Yan, such as higher export quotas and lower tariffs. However, they never received any concessions from the Great Yan court."

Zhu Yunxuan scoffed, holding these ambitious and arrogant foreigners in low regard. He gazed out at the turbulent sea before him. After a long silence, he sighed softly. "Regardless, those remaining on this island are subjects of the Great Yan. If they truly wish to return, I will issue an imperial edict."

Liang Zhen smiled slightly. "In that case, I'll express their gratitude to Your Majesty in advance."

Zhu Yunxuan averted his gaze. Liang Zhen didn't ask further, and neither of them mentioned whether 'they' included Liang Zhen himself. Nevertheless, they both understood each other's unspoken thoughts.

Rong'er, completely clueless about their conversation, looked perplexed. Tugging on their sleeves, she said, "Rong'er wants to play by the seaside."

Liang Zhen playfully tickled the tip of his nose with a smile. "Alright, I'll take you there this afternoon."

Zhu Yunxuan brushed aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind and turned around. "Let's go. Let's head back first."

In the afternoon, the two of them took Rong'er to the same beach they visited the previous night. The fine, white sand shimmered brilliantly under the scorching sun, looking even more picturesque than it did during the sunset the day before.

Liang Zhen placed Rong'er on the ground and squatted down to remove his shoes and socks. As the child stepped onto the warm sand, he let out an "ah" and stomped a few times, giggling away.

Before Zhu Yunxuan could say anything, Liang Zhen raised his eyebrows at him with a smile. "People here play like this. There aren't many rules. Your Majesty, do you want to give it a try?"

Zhu Yunxuan hesitated for a moment but eventually decided against it, mindful of his imperial dignity. Liang Zhen didn't mind. If he didn't want to, then so be it. He removed his own shoes and socks and joined his son in playing in the sand.

It was low tide in the middle of the afternoon, and the beach was filled with fish, shrimp, crabs, and shells washed up by the sea. Women and children carried buckets and basins to gather seafood. Rong'er found the scene fascinating and tugged on Liang Zhen's hand, asking to pick up seashells. Liang Zhen readily agreed and asked someone for a wooden bucket. He then turned to Zhu Yunxuan. "Your Majesty, would you like to come along?"

Zhu Yunxuan felt a bit drowsy and just wanted to sit down and quietly watch the sea. "You take Rong'er. I'll stay here for a while."

Liang Zhen gently stroked his face, his voice particularly tender. "If Your Majesty is tired, you can lean against a rock and take a nap. I won't take Rong'er too far, just nearby. You can sleep soundly."

For a moment, Zhu Yunxuan was taken aback. Under Liang Zhen's smiling gaze, he nodded in agreement.

Liang Zhen carried a wooden bucket in one hand and held Rong'er's hand with the other as they ventured forward. Zhu Yunxuan found a rocky shore to sit on, his gaze fixed on their figures - a large and small silhouette - as they dug around, seemingly searching for some invaluable treasure. He watched as Rong'er clung to Liang Zhen's arm, laughing as he jumped into his embrace, and then observed their playful chase, eventually closing his eyes slowly. In the warm, sunlit afternoon, he gradually drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Zhu Yunxuan stirred back to consciousness, dazed, only when he heard Rong'er's laughter again. Liang Zhen sat beside him, holding a seashell they had just collected, placing it near Rong'er's ear. The child's eyes widened in delight and surprise. Upon seeing that Zhu Yunxuan was awake, he immediately rushed over, shouting "Father" as he wanted him to hear the shell.

Indeed, this seashell was larger than the one they had bought at the seashore market before, its patterns more vibrant. The flesh inside had been removed and cleaned, and Rong'er presented it to Zhu Yunxuan like a precious gift, cupping it in both hands. Liang Zhen picked it up, bringing it close to Zhu Yunxuan's ear: "Listen."

As the faint sound of waves resonated from within, Zhu Yunxuan's expression shifted slightly. He turned to look at Liang Zhen, confusion in his eyes, only to realize how close they were. Liang Zhen had leaned in while speaking, almost invading his personal space, their breaths intertwining.

Rong'er innocently blinked his eyes and suddenly asked, "Father, Father, are you playing kissy-kissy?"

Zhu Yunxuan's eyes flickered with fleeting panic, which he quickly concealed by looking down. He retreated slightly, creating some distance. Liang Zhen chuckled softly and pinched his son's chin, "Oh, my little darling, you know what 'kissy-kissy' is? Where did you learn that?"

Assuming Liang Zhen was praising him, the child replied happily, "Rong'er has seen it. Big Father and Father do this kind of kissy-kissy, but they don't let us watch. Brother Yuan Bao took Ming'er and me to secretly watch them many times."

Zhu Yunxuan: "…"

Liang Zhen burst into laughter, ruffling the toddler's nose with his finger, "You truly are the apple of your father and father's eye."

Zhu Yunxuan's ears flushed red, and he glared at Liang Zhen. Liang Zhen drew near, quickly pecking him on the lips before stepping back. He tilted his head, smiling as he winked at Rong'er, "Did you see that? That's how you give a kiss."