Chapter 68: Isle of Rainbows

Chapter 68: Island of Rainbows

In the morning, Zhu Yunxuan paid special attention to their surroundings. The island had become much quieter; the women and children who would usually be at the beach working or playing were nowhere to be seen. Instead, guards patrolled everywhere. Even though Liang Zhen had only punished the ringleaders of the previous night's unrest, the lingering gloom was still etched on everyone's faces.

But Liang Zhen was not worried. Compared to these minor disturbances, the higher-ranking officers on the island now knew of the Great Yan emperor's promise - the most tantalizing carrot dangled before them, distracting them from any further thoughts of rebellion. That was why the recent uprising could be quelled so swiftly.

They boarded a ship at the dock. The weather was exceptionally fine, with clear skies and calm seas. From the moment they set sail, Liang Zhen took Rong'er to the deck to fish, while Zhu Yunxuan spent an hour reading in the cabin. Eventually, he felt dizzy and went outside for some fresh air.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Rong'er clapping his hands excitedly, laughing and screaming in delight, completely immersed in play. Liang Zhen, with a casual flick of his wrist, sent his fishing rod soaring through the air, and something heavy landed with a thud on the deck behind them.

"It's a turtle!" The child was ecstatic. Spotting Zhu Yunxuan, he ran over, tugging at his hand, eager to show him. "Daddy, Daddy, look! Father caught a big turtle!"

Zhu Yunxuan wiped the sweat from the boy's forehead and looked at the turtle, now flipped onto its back, spinning in circles on the deck. Its head and limbs were safely tucked inside its shell – an amusing sight. He wondered how Liang Zhen had managed to catch it. Eager to touch the creature, Rong'er was stopped by Zhu Yunxuan. The child explained, "The big turtle is so silly. Father caught it so easily; it's really stupid."

"Yes, yes, our Rong'er is the cleverest," Zhu Yunxuan agreed, smiling.

Liang Zhen had already filled a basket with fish and shrimp. Zhu Yunxuan led the child over for a look. Indeed, the catch was bountiful. Rong'er proudly boasted, "I caught a fish too, two of them!"

"Well done, my smart baby," Zhu Yunxuan praised his son without reservation.

Liang Zhen reeled in the fishing line with a soft chuckle. "Why doesn't Your Majesty commend me?"

Zhu Yunxuan glanced at him, his eyes shimmering with concealed amusement. "How do you want me to praise you?"

Liang Zhen lowered his gaze and coughed discreetly. "Just say that the man of your kingdom is incredibly capable."

Zhu Yunxuan was momentarily speechless, his eyes wandering. He could only mutter an ambiguous "I don't understand."

As the sun began to set, their boat finally docked. Zhu Yunxuan led Rong'er out of the cabin, and both were immediately captivated by the sight before them. The island was a blossoming garden, with colorful, stone-built houses and pavilions nestled among the flowers. Intricately carved corridors and painted eaves seemed to rival nature itself, all bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, creating a mesmerizing rainbow-like spectacle.

Rong'er's eyes widened in awe, exclaiming, "So beautiful!"

Liang Zhen stepped forward and scooped up the child. "Let's go."

"I want to walk by myself!" The child wriggled, eager to touch the ground. "My turtle!"

Liang Zhen couldn't help but smile wryly as he put Rong'er down. "You're still thinking about that silly turtle?"

Rong'er nodded vigorously. "I want my turtle!"

A rope was tied around the belly of a turtle, and the child led it along with hesitant steps, glancing back every few paces. Zhu Yunxuan watched helplessly, furrowing his brows and exchanging a look with Liang Zhen. "You came up with this idea; look at him now – he only has eyes for that turtle."

Liang Zhen shrugged off the concern. "Children have short attention spans. Let him play with it for a couple of days. Later, we'll just have someone cook the turtle."

Zhu Yunxuan replied, "…If you're not afraid of him severing ties with you as a father, then go ahead. But don't blame me for not warning you when the time comes."

Liang Zhen fell silent.

This Rainbow Island was enormous, at least three to four times larger than the island occupied by Liang Zhen's father. With fewer than five thousand permanent residents, life here was peaceful, and most people looked similar to those in Great Yan. However, their attire was vastly different. Glimpsing around, men, women, and elders alike wore sheer veils and lightweight dresses in vibrant, eye-catching hues. They adorned themselves with shell and coral jewelry that shimmered and dazzled.

As they walked, Liang Zhen explained to Zhu Yunxuan, "The ruler of this island is from the Qin family, who migrated from Great Yan over a hundred years ago. When I first arrived in the South Seas three years ago, I coincidentally befriended the current ruler and became close friends. Now, the ruler's family is celebrating a wedding, and it coincides with the quarterly gathering. That's why there are more people on the island than usual. Normally, it's much quieter here."

Zhu Yunxuan looked at Liang Zhen with surprise. "A wedding?"

"Yes, the ruler's eldest son is getting married. They've sent out many invitations, and we're here to attend the celebration."

So that's how it is… Zhu Yunxuan casually asked, "How long will we be staying here?"

Liang Zhen smiled and responded, "Is His Majesty eager to return?"

Zhu Yunxuan faintly curled his lips but didn't respond. Half of the agreed two-week period had already passed, and they hadn't set a specific date for their return. However, no matter how much they tried to avoid it, they would eventually have to go back and settle everything conclusively.

Seeing Zhu Yunxuan momentarily distracted, Liang Zhen smiled and softly reminded him, "Come on, let's stroll around the city and find an inn first."

"Inn?" Zhu Yunxuan raised an eyebrow. "The island lord invited you to his wedding banquet, yet he didn't even arrange accommodations for you? Is this how the island lords treat their guests?"

"No, we arrived a day earlier than expected. His family must be busy with the wedding preparations, so it wouldn't be right to bother them. Come on, let's head up front."

"Come on, my little darling." Smiling, he turned around and called out to Rong'er, who was entirely focused on the turtle.

The child happily followed, holding onto his turtle, grinning from ear to ear. "Rong'er is here!"

As they entered the city, it was even livelier. This island had quite a reputation in the region. The island lord's fleet frequently traded between Great Yan and the Southern Seas. People from nearby islands also came to shop here. Despite his thriving business, the island lord wisely avoided provoking the foreign tribes and would even offer concessions or benefits when they crossed paths. Thus, he enjoyed a peaceful existence over the years.

Zhu Yunxuan casually asked Liang Zhen, "How did you get to know the island lord here?"

"It was just a coincidence. Three years ago, when I first arrived in the Southern Seas, I rescued the island lord from a stormy shipwreck that nearly claimed his life. After that, I accompanied him to Rainbow Island. This place is truly wonderful – peaceful without being too dull. I had planned to settle down here, but to my surprise, I met my father. My father is also friends with the island lord, so when he came to visit, we were finally reunited."

Liang Zhen's words were filled with profound emotions. Zhu Yunxuan listened silently, his mind preoccupied with the thought that had it not been for his arrival in Quanzhou, they might truly have never met again in this lifetime.

A shadow fell across Zhu Yunxuan's face. Sensing his thoughts, Liang Zhen asked, "Your Majesty, what are you pondering?"

Zhu Yunxuan replied softly, "Nothing much. Let's go. First, we need to find an inn to settle down. Rong'er must be hungry by now."

The largest inn on the island was located on the busiest street in the city. Unfortunately, they arrived at a bad time, and only one top-notch room remained. Liang Zhen promptly reserved it without hesitation. Standing aside, Zhu Yunxuan said nothing, simply nodding in approval when Liang Zhen sought his consent with a glance.

The inn was bustling with activity. The first floor was filled with diners, many of whom were merchants from Great Yan, openly discussing the news of the emperor's disappearance in Quanzhou as if they had witnessed it themselves.

They chose a table in a secluded corner. Liang Zhen tied Rong'er's sea turtle to a leg of the table and lifted the child onto his lap, giving him some warm water to drink.

Zhu Yunxuan calmly sipped his tea, listening to the animated conversations around them.

"One of those ghostly pirates kidnapped the emperor. I saw it with my own eyes. It happened during the Buddha's birthday at West Mountain Temple in Quanzhou. He was abducted while praying to the goddess. The city gates were immediately sealed that day."

"That's right. The officials in Quanzhou are going crazy, fearing unrest. We've brought our families here to hide, just in case the gods start fighting and we ordinary folk get caught in the crossfire."

"The problem lies in the emperor not having an heir. If something were to happen to him, who knows who would become the next ruler? There will likely be another struggle for power. We've barely had a few years of peace..."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly and asked Zhu Yunxuan, "They say His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Yan, has gone missing. What do you think?"

Zhu Yunxuan replied nonchalantly, "What do I think? Whoever dared to abduct the emperor deserves to be..."

"What deserves to happen?"

Zhu Yunxuan narrowed his eyes slightly and let out a light scoff. After a pause, he suddenly inquired, "You were in the South Seas for three years, while your father has been here for nearly three decades. Did either of you hear anything about those ghostly pirates?"

A corner of Liang Zhen's mouth turned down slightly. "No, those people are elusive. How could they easily interact with others?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunxuan's gaze darkened momentarily. He didn't ask any further but instead added food to Rong'er's bowl, encouraging him to eat on his own.

As the child ate, he picked out a piece of meat with his small spoon and threw it on the floor for his turtle. Seeing the sea turtle enjoying the treat, Rong'er broke into a delighted smile. He looked up at Zhu Yunxuan and asked, "Daddy, can I sleep with my turtle tonight?"

"No," Zhu Yunxuan answered expressionlessly.

"Why not?"

"You can only choose between Daddy and the turtle."

The child pouted reluctantly, and Liang Zhen chuckled, asking, "Do you want to sleep with your turtle, my little treasure?"

"Yes," the child replied, hopeful, his eyes eagerly fixed on Liang Zhen.

"If you behave and don't cling to Father for bedtime, you can let the turtle sleep at the foot of your bed."

Zhu Yunxuan frowned, "What are you talking about?"

Rong'er glanced alternately between Zhu Yunxuan and his turtle, after a brief struggle, he shook his head, "Then I don't want the turtle, I want Father."

Liang Zhen laughed, gently rubbing his son's nose, "You're clever when it suits you."