Asianovel

Chapter 91: Station 23: The Eight Characters

The two guards moved with incredible speed and showed no intention of reasoning with her.

They roughly dragged Yue Pengpeng out and pinned her down on the rough stone pavement, their demeanor cold and merciless.

One guard held her firmly as she screamed and struggled, while the other stepped out to retrieve the instrument of torture.

In no time, a third guard returned with a thick, red rod as thick as a wrist.

Pinned to the ground and unable to move, Yue Pengpeng's vision swam at the sight of the rod, finally realizing the foolish mistake she had made!

How could she have forgotten that emotions were non-existent in this Realm of Endless Torment?

Blame it on how realistic this world appeared; she had foolishly applied human logic to these monstrous guards, thinking she could sway them with her looks...

She pleaded for mercy, her voice filled with desperate hope that they might spare her.

But the two guards paid no heed, dragging her away relentlessly.

Sù Bó, despite her tough exterior, couldn't help but soften upon hearing the cries. She rushed to the door to investigate.

Seeing Yue Pengpeng struggling on the ground, she involuntarily clenched her lower lip.

Suddenly, a maid emerged from the moon gate outside.

Struck by an idea, she promptly warned,

"Yue Peng... Little Idol! A woman has entered. Ask her for help quickly!"

At first, Yue Pengpeng was momentarily confused by the sudden call. However, she quickly regained her composure and recalled the rules they had exchanged the previous day.

If she remembered correctly, the rule stated... Yes, that was it.

—If you wish a woman "early birth of noble children," she will come to your aid!

She was already pinned onto the bench for punishment and couldn't see where the woman was. But with no time to hesitate, she steeled herself, closed her eyes, and shouted desperately,

"May you bear noble children soon! Save me! Early birth of noble children!"

The maid who had just passed through the moon gate was clearly there to assist with an errand. Upon hearing the cry, she immediately turned around and stared directly at Yue Pengpeng as if controlled by an invisible force.

Then, with agility, she hurried over and stopped the guards, "Hold on, what wrong has she committed? Why do you two need to discipline her like this?"

The guards maintained their stern expressions and calmly pulled on the struggling Yue Pengpeng, saying, "She attempted to make us defy Madam's order and show favoritism. According to the family rules, she deserves ten strokes of the cane."

The maid paused for a moment, then put on a gentle smile, "What if ten strokes cost her life? The young ladies are about to be married soon; such a joyous occasion shouldn't be tainted with blood..."

By now, Yue Pengpeng could finally see the maid standing before her clearly.

The maid was slender and had an attractive face. She wore a finely tailored silk robe, indicating that she was no ordinary servant.

The maid gave her a thorough once-over and spoke sensibly,

"Perhaps it would be better if the two of you handed her over to me. I happen to have some tasks at hand that are in dire need of assistance. If she were to join me, she would fulfill her duty and receive an appropriate punishment. What do you think?"

The guards exchanged another glance, their expressions enigmatic.

"Well then, we shall entrust her to you. Just make sure you don't show favoritism."

The maid nodded with a smile.

"Of course."

As soon as Yue Pengpeng was released by the two individuals, he promptly scrambled forward, clutching at the hem of the maid's skirt in sheer desperation, terrified that she might change her mind.

The maid smiled gently, not commenting on her disheveled state nor showing any disdain for her dirt-covered body. She simply said:

"Quickly tidy yourself up and come with me to work."

Yue Pengpeng hastily tidied her hair and brushed off the dust on her attire before closely trailing behind the maid, on high alert against any sudden attack from the guards.

It wasn't until she stepped through the Moon Gate that she let out a long, thorough sigh of relief.

The maid led her to a courtyard filled with bamboo groves and gently smiled, extending her arm towards the house.

"Go in and change your clothes. I'll wait for you here."

Yue Pengpeng nodded and hurriedly entered the room, only to find it completely empty.

Before her stood a round moon window. Beyond it, the bamboo forest whispered, and leaves drifted in, creating a picturesque scene.

Confused about where the clothes might be, she took two steps forward and noticed, to her surprise, a well right in the center of the room.

How could there be a well indoors?

She cautiously avoided the well, wanting to leave, but soon discovered that the door behind her had also transformed into a round moon window.

Attempting to exit through the window, she approached it closely, only to realize that it wasn't a view of a bamboo sea, but rather a wall painted with a bamboo landscape.

The only clue to escape was now that very well.

She approached the well cautiously and peered down into its depths.

Calm ripples spread across the icy, soft water.

Her vision suddenly inverted, and the ripples appeared right above her head.

Yue Pengpeng's eyes widened in astonishment.

No, it wasn't just the ripples appearing above her head.

Gentle bubbles brushed against the tranquil surface, creating silvery concentric circles.

A bamboo leaf drifted into the well, landing precisely at the center of those ripples.

Extending a pulsating lifeline.

-

With Yue Pengpeng's experience as a warning, the remaining three abandoned their thoughts of forcing their way through.

Liao Xinya and Su Bo closed the doors and windows, acknowledging the sense of helplessness that now prevailed—neither heaven nor earth seemed to hear their cries.

Si Shuhao propped her chin on her wrist, observing the scene unfold.

"This can't continue; we simply can't sew the sachets. But if we don't, it seems like Madam Old Bai is pushing us towards starvation as part of her plan."

"You're absolutely right."

Si Shuhao's perspective resonated with Liao Xinya, though their interpretations diverged slightly:

"In this world of ceaseless strife, the societal structure is a typical feudal one, and its governing principles reflect that."

"For instance, the phrase 'early birth of an honored child' embodies the feudal society's longing for women's reproductive roles, encapsulating traditional feudal notions of women's status. It appears to be a blessing, but in reality, it's a systemic exploitation of women's reproductive resources."

"…You're quite the professional."

Si Shuhao couldn't help but express her admiration with a fist bump.

Liao Xinya didn't expect such an adorable gesture from her; a hint of a smile graced her cold expression.

"No, although I've gathered some information on the subject, my understanding is quite superficial. I can only offer a humble perspective."

"Uh-huh, your analysis is already impressive to us."

Si Shuhao's eyes sparkled as she looked at her:

"You continue."

Liao Xinya nodded slightly:

"In feudal society, not only did it exploit and oppress women, but it also exploited and oppressed men themselves. This exploitation presented itself in a pyramid structure. The strong preyed on the weak, making the underprivileged sacrifice their inadequacies to serve the privileged."

"One of the ways this was exemplified in the old times were the so-called 'Three Great Joys.'"

"Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, achieving fame by ranking high on the golden list, and the night of the wedding candlelight in the bridal chamber."

Su Bo felt somewhat perplexed:

"How does analyzing these help our current situation?"

Liao Xinya opened the hastily written rules from yesterday and pointed to the "early birth of an offspring" clause:

"In the current rules, there's essentially a command that can make women do anything for you. Just like what Yue Pengpeng mentioned earlier, 'early birth of an offspring.' Given the situation where there's a command to manipulate women, there must naturally be one to manipulate men as well."

Her slender eyes shimmered with determination:

"I speculate that the counterpart to 'early birth of an honored son' could be 'promotion and wealth.'"

"Brilliant!"

Si Shuhao was almost applauding her deductive reasoning.

But Su Bo still wore a worried expression:

"But... how do we test this? Yue Pengpeng was merely taken away, not returned."

Liao Xinya picked up the water pitcher on the table without hesitation:

"This is my theory, so let me be the one to verify it."

Si Shuhao was taken aback, instinctively reaching out to stop her, only to feel a sharp pain in her hand from the sudden exertion.

Liao Xinya gently patted her hand.

"Nothing's wrong."

Without hesitation, she carried the empty water jug to the door and addressed the two guards, "Greetings, may you advance in rank and prosperity. We need ample water and snacks; I hope you can assist us."

The guards exchanged another glance, this time with evident struggle in their expressions. After much deliberation, they surprisingly took the water jug from her hands and turned away, leaving!

Liao Xinya covered her pounding heart, maintaining a calm facade.

The two guards returned hastily. Like thieves, they stuffed food and water into her arms before slamming the door shut. No amount of knocking would open it again!

"Food..."

Si Shuhao was dumbfounded, joyous enough to jump for joy, "You're amazing, Yaya!! We've secured our provisions for today!"

The three of them were ecstatic.

Liao Xinya consumed the food and tea first to ensure they were safe, then passed them on to the others.

However, the joy of having their basic needs met gradually faded with the passage of time.

Unease crept back into their hearts.

This was because Yue Pengpeng, who had wished for an early birth of an esteemed child, had yet to return.

After finally making his way back from the storage room to the accounting office, Shi Wenguang kept a cautious eye on Yan Qiling, who was diligently examining the ledgers, hoping to find an opportunity to apologize.

-

But before he could seize that chance, the door was rapped loudly with a "knock, knock."

This time, before he could approach to open it, the wooden door creaked open by itself.

The scene seemed eerily familiar.

Sven Guang's heart leapt to his throat. Without any prompting, he hurriedly walked over to Yan Qiling and gestured for him to look at the entrance.

A long shadow stretched across the doorway, indicating someone was stepping in.

First, a pair of red shoes embroidered with mandarin ducks came into view.

Then, a dusty gray horse riding jacket.

The man who entered was unremarkable in appearance, so ordinary that one would struggle to remember his face in a crowd.

His walking posture was incredibly peculiar.

Objects hanging from his waist jingled with each step.

With his sunken eyes rolling about, he directly headed towards Yan Qiling.

Sven Guang retreated in fear, immediately hiding behind the shelf, as far away from this ominous figure in red shoes as possible.

Yan Qiling didn't speak but instead took out a handful of copper coins and scattered them towards the man.

The man paused for a split second before a chilling gust of air burst from his mouth!

His head suddenly split into two from the center, revealing a set of interlocking fangs as he lunged towards Yan Qiling!

Yan Qiling nonchalantly tossed out a dried fish.

Sure enough, the man crouched down like a ravenous beast to devour the treat.

After consuming it, he let out a deep growl and, just as before, transformed into a vibrant red foam that vanished into thin air.

While Shi Wenming was still reeling from the shock, Yan Qiling had already composed himself and started picking up the clothes scattered on the ground.

Just like before.

Beneath the clothes, bloody characters appeared.

Two words:

Eight characters.

Chapter 174: Everything Can Be Grilled on a Stone Plate

The meal was hastily consumed by Shen Lie and his companions. After some preparation, they were ready to leave the valley. It was still the same group, minus Shen Jin.

As they were about to depart, Sang Luo came to see them off. Shen Lie whispered, "This morning, we spent two hours hunting, setting traps, and picking wild vegetables. This time, we'll head straight for our target, so it should be faster. However, since we're ambushing the boar, we can't predict its activity time. If we're delayed, it might expose our valley if we return with torches at night. Don't wait up or worry. We've all spent nights in deep forests before; we can handle ourselves."

His words were accompanied by a smile, which touched Sang Luo's heart. "If that happens, we'll enjoy your stone-grilled meat another day."

Sang Luo looked into his smiling eyes, and her heart was unexpectedly brushed by an indescribable sensation.

It was gentle but lingered, remaining even after Shen Lie and his companions had climbed up to the cave, left the valley, and disappeared from sight. Sang Luo pressed her chest, feeling a strange tenderness there.

This feeling was unfamiliar, but Sang Luo understood its meaning.

She realized that she had been touched by the gentleness and affection in Shen Lie's demeanor.

Was it affection?

She belatedly noticed that every time Shen Lie went out, he would meticulously inform her of his itinerary and return date. Had he looked at her this way before?

At first, it was a pure and exhilarating joy because of the food and water she had provided. But later, when some other emotions began to seep in, she hadn't noticed at all.

Recalling that he was supposed to leave and might even spend the night outside, she mentioned going to find a stone slab. Despite this, Shen Lie didn't mention preparing any food or water; instead, he accompanied her to search for the slab, catch fish, and test the stone.

Now, thinking about Shen Lie's constant smile throughout the journey, Sang Luo finally sensed something different.

She could almost hear the faint thumping of her own heartbeat.

Lost in thought, she returned to her cave. Shen Ning heard her footsteps and poked his head out from the kitchen, holding a freshly washed piece of ginger.

"Brother-in-law, is this piece of ginger enough?"

"Enough. Wash some garlic and grind some Sichuan peppercorns as backup." Gathering her wits, Sang Luo started preparing dinner with Shen Ning.

The stone slab she found was intended for grilling meat or frying various cuts. Clearly, today's chicken was more suitable for frying chicken cutlets.

She didn't hide anything from him and taught Shen Ning how to debone, tenderize, and marinate the meat.

Living in the valley, all ingredients were precious. So, while removing the bones, they left some meat attached, not wanting to waste anything.

"To make the chicken cutlets taste delectable, the meat needs to be marinated for one or two hours. Moreover, Xiao Jin and the others can't digest too much greasy food, so we can fry the chicken later. For now, let's simmer a pot of chicken soup while waiting for your brother and Big Mountain to return. The bones with some meat on them, along with the heads, wings, and feet, make excellent soup ingredients."

As per usual, the Shen family had their evening meal at around four o'clock. The three chickens' meaty bones and scraps were combined with the fresh mushrooms that Shen Jinhua and Shen Lie had picked in the morning, resulting in a half-clay pot of aromatic chicken soup. Dried jujubes from the Xu family and two mulberries from Sangluo added an extra depth of flavor. The scent wafted over to the Xu family next door, making them salivate as they ate wild vegetables and tofu stew.

The Chen, Lu, and Shi families also had mountain chickens. Sangluo took two bowls and instructed Shen An and Shen Ning to deliver generous servings to both the Xu and Zhou families. Once the siblings returned, their own meal would commence.

For dinner, they would enjoy the nourishing chicken soup, its taste sweet and savory, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, and light yet restorative.

"Let's eat this for now. Later, when your big brother comes back, we'll prepare some grilled meat."

None of the younger ones declined, let alone with the prospect of roasted meat. Just the thought of having chicken soup for dinner, served in clay pots, with two bowls per person, was enough to satisfy even Shen Tie, who always felt he didn't get his fill.

What more could they ask for?

...

After the evening meal, the sun was no longer shining directly into the valley. Each family stored away their provisions, and the children, now idle, waited for the sun to set and the sky to darken. Then, the younger ones all rushed over to the Shen household, for they had heard that tonight, they would be cooking with stones, just like playing house, and preparing meat!

They were no strangers to using stones to ignite leaves for fire, but witnessing meat being cooked this way was a first. They arrived early, crouching nearby in anticipation.

Widow Chen and Qin Fangniang were delighted by the commotion and joined Sanluo to watch the spectacle. They examined the makeshift stove and stone slab. Widow Chen found it curious and asked Sanluo, "Is cooking on this better than using a clay pot? Wouldn't all the soup and water leak out?"

Sanluo chuckled. "It can be. Auntie and Grandma, come over tonight and try it out. If you like it, look there, I've chosen that stone slab for your family. Just take it away."

Widow Chen was amused. "Well, my kids are always craving your food. I'll definitely come tonight to see for myself. If it works, I'll carry it away right away."

As they chatted, Shen Lie's group returned to the valley.

Everyone was waiting for them, frequently glancing towards the entrance cave. The children were the first to spot them but refrained from cheering, instead rushing back to their homes to alert their families.

The six baskets were lowered one after another, stunning Village Chief Zhou and the others. "So much?"

Liu Sanlang, who had descended first, smiled. "Three wild boars, one large and two small. But they were all shot by Lie and Dashan."

Initially, they had spotted five wild boars, but their hiding spots were too far away. Their arrows lacked the strength and accuracy needed for such a distance, even for Liu Sanlang's brother. Their missed shots startled the boars, causing them to flee. Thus, they had only done the physical labor today.

When Sanluo came over, Shen Lie had just descended. Seeing her, he couldn't help but smile. However, feeling the strong scent of blood on him, he didn't approach. Instead, he said, "I'll distribute the meat and return."

The distribution of meat followed established precedents, allocated according to effort. Thus, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan received the lion's share, as they had hunted two of the three wild boars together, while each took down one of the smaller ones. They also distributed some portions to the brothers who had joined them and offered a few pounds to the Zhou and Xu families for their meals. The remainder was split evenly between the Chen and Shen households.

As they were all acquaintances, there was no need for precise weighing; they simply took what they deemed appropriate.

Shen Lie carried home two large baskets brimming with meat. After consulting with Sang Luo, they decided to distribute over twenty pounds to each family, and more than forty pounds to the Xu family as a token of gratitude for the food they had provided to Shen Jin and his siblings previously.

This distribution left them with a manageable amount at home.

Sang Luo found this satisfactory. With one basket of meat still remaining, she knew they would have their hands full preparing it for dinner. Considering the prospect of roasting meat and the excitement it would generate among the children, she asked Shen Lie to select a piece with a good balance of fat and lean meat. Only then did she send him off to bathe and change clothes so they could enjoy a relaxed meal later.

Upon seeing Sangluo specially cut off a piece of meat just for them, all the children swallowed their saliva.

"Sister-in-law, are you still making pork for dinner tonight?"

To the eyes of the young ones present, Sister-in-Law had prepared an exceedingly abundant spread of food. There were chicken legs, chicken breasts, giblets, tofu, leeks, mushrooms, and Chinese cabbage, alongside several bowls filled with minced ginger, garlic, leek greens, scallions, crushed Sichuan pepper, and dried zanthoxylum berries reduced to fine powder. And yet, there was still talk of adding meat to this already lavish array.

Despite not having a clue what this stone-grilled meat would taste like, and despite having eaten only in the afternoon, the younger ones couldn't help but salivate uncontrollably. This was especially true for the Shen brothers; after all, they had endured unbearable hunger for those preceding months.

Sang Luo smiled. "Prepare some extra, I suspect we won't be the only ones enjoying it later."

As predicted by Sangluo, just as she had sliced and marinated the pork belly, a group of children who had accompanied their elders to fetch meat earlier returned to the Shen residence.

Especially when Shen An and Shen Ning lit the fire; with the tall trees above, the flames were invisible from the top of the valley, but those living within the valley could see them clearly. They all flocked over to join in the excitement.

Sangluo was amiable, warmly inviting the older children to help carry the tables and chairs out of her house. They brought out several more stools as well.

There weren't enough chairs for everyone, so Chen Ershan, Xu Wenbo, and their friends led a group back to their own homes to retrieve additional chairs. As the sky darkened, the lively atmosphere at the bottom of the valley seemed to be just beginning.

With plenty of stools available, Sangluo placed a few near the stone slab specifically for her ingredients, and she found herself a chair to sit on. Even before the barbecuing started, the spectacle was already set up, drawing the curiosity of the adults from the Chen and Xu families.

When Shen Lie and Chen Dashan emerged, freshly cleaned, they found not only tables and chairs arranged, but also the tempting aroma of meat wafting through the air. A circle of children surrounded Sangluo, slurping in anticipation.

Spotting her brother, Xiaoya's face lit up. "Big Brother, hurry, come here, you can sit here."

She had known since the afternoon that her big brother would have dinner at Sister An's tonight. With the tables and chairs set, there was a spot reserved especially for him. Xiaoya was both envious and thrilled. This was far more exciting than their pretend play.

Chen Dashan exclaimed, impressed by not just the aroma but also the grand scene that promised a lively gathering.

"Ah Lie, it has to be your wife!"

Shen Lie was also taken aback by the sight, but he soon broke into a smile. He didn't sit down and instead moved closer to Sang Luo. He noticed that a stone slab was piled high with chicken meat and offal, garnished with a colorful array of white, green, and red seasonings. The dish had been brushed with sauce and sprinkled with scallions, making it look incredibly appetizing.

"Can I lend a hand?"

Sang Luo waved him off. "You'll have to learn first. Eat for now; you've been busy all day. Enjoy your meal with Big Mountain. This is meant to be eaten as it's being grilled."

While they spoke, the chicken skewers were ready. Since there were no knives, the skewers had already been cut into bite-sized pieces. Sang Luo called for Shen Ning to bring a plate, then started piling the chicken onto it. She first filled a plate with a dozen small pieces for Shen Ning to take to the children before serving the second helping.

The crowd was overwhelming, so she had marinated the meat from three chickens all at once. Shen Lie stood by, assisting her by taking and passing plates. In no time, a platter of fried chicken cutlets and another of fried offal were served on the table.

Chen Dashan devoured his food with gusto, praising it profusely as he ate. As for Shen Lie, while Sangluo was still busy, his mind was not on the food at all. He frequently glanced over to where she was working.

Jin Ning rushed back and joined Sangluo in frying pork belly slices and vegetables.

Madame Chen, Qin Fangniang, Madam Xu, and Wei Lingzhen watched in awe, exclaiming, "What an innovative way to cook! It smells so delicious!"

Madame Chen could hardly contain her excitement. Seeing that the stone slab Sangluo had mentioned was already clean, she promptly called out to Old Man Chen and Chen Youtian, "Go gather some stones. Let's set up one beside them. Fangniang, learn from Ah Luo and prepare some meat and vegetables."

The vegetables are grown right outside our doorstep, always readily available.

At the old Lady Chen's directive, the entire Chen family sprang into action. Even Chen Ershan and Little Ya, who were still indulging in their chicken drumsticks, eagerly joined the search for stones, followed by a swarm of children lending their help.

In the blink of an eye, one barbecue stall turned into two. After Sang Luo had grilled a few servings, Shen Ning was able to take over. With the task in his capable hands, she finally allowed herself to taste a few bites.

Well, not bad at all. The heat is substituted by prickly ash, though there's still a subtle distinction in texture. More importantly, the absence of pepper and cumin means it's lacking that essential spark of flavor, its very soul.

It stands to reason that "pepper" refers to spices imported from foreign lands. It's unlikely that the Great Qian Dynasty would have had access to it. Even if they did, it would be incredibly expensive, perhaps valued at a thousand copper coins. Only the elite families and wealthy aristocrats could afford such a luxury.

As for chili peppers, just like cotton, they didn't exist at all, at least not in the original owner's memory.

Yet, in the eyes of everyone in the valley, the soulless chicken cutlets and various skewers were incredible delicacies. A long table was gradually filled with an array of stone plate dishes. The Xu family members shamelessly came over to sample a few bites. Manager Xu, who ran a restaurant himself, had his eyes shining: "Madam Sang, this is remarkable! This way of eating is innovative. If you add more variety to the ingredients, you could even open a food stall on its own."

Sang Luo chuckled. "Master Xu, you truly live up to your reputation as a merchant."

Should there be chili peppers, peppercorns, or cumin in the mix, she would indeed give it serious thought. Barbecue, hotpot, Western cuisine – she could experiment with various styles. But without these essential spices, it would merely be a lively feast. Moreover, such indulgences would only be possible in a peaceful world where she had the means to safeguard the recipes.

Shen Lie watched as Sang Luo finally found a moment to eat amidst her busy schedule. Hastily, he began exchanging dishes he had personally tasted and found delicious with those on her side. Just as he lifted the plate, however, Sang Luo stayed his hand, saying, "I've already had my evening meal at the hour of Shen. I'm not accustomed to consuming too much after nightfall; tonight is merely for merriment and sampling a few bites. Please, all of you enjoy the food. I'll go assist Aunt You Tian for a while."

Shen Lie was aware that she didn't usually eat much at night, so he reluctantly withdrew his offer. However, Chen Dashan was quite delighted and called out in a loud voice, "Sister-in-law, apart from the family's money-making culinary skills, could you teach my mother some common techniques? I genuinely enjoy this dish."

Chen Po scolded her with a smile, "Is there anything from Ah Lie's household that you don't like?"

Everyone chuckled.

Chapter 128: Eating Melon Seeds

With everything going too smoothly, Wen Ying felt that there must be a catch. He sized up this excessively sycophantic devil and couldn't see any signs of it being a succubus. Yes, this ugly creature was actually a succubus.

Images of Essence constantly treading the path of seduction flashed through Wen Ying's mind. Looking at this devil now, he was utterly disgusted. Yet, this devil was attempting to use its succubus charm to evoke pity from Wen Ying, hoping to dissuade him from killing it.

An eyesore.

"How do you contact the Saint?"

Exorcists in the Human Realm mainly belonged to two large official organizations, the Exorcist Association and the Church of the Archangel. From what this succubus said, the Church of the Archangel had actually colluded with the extremist faction of the Devil Realm?

This was shocking news, both to humans and devils.

But if it were true, Wen Ying flexed his wooden puppet-like fingers and clenched them tightly—he would definitely be the top scorer in the final exams!

The thought of Poros and the others' furious faces made Wen Ying happily beckon at the succubus with his finger. The succubus eagerly approached. "My Lord, demons like us who are on the periphery of these organizations have to submit the negative emotions we've collected from humans once a month. Very coincidentally, tonight is the time for me to contact my superior."

"Didn't you say you could help me contact the Saint?"

"I can't contact them directly, but my superior should be able to. If they can't, cough cough," the succubus rubbed its hands together, a sly glint flickering in its eyes, "their superior should be able to."

Wen Ying looked at it expressionlessly, "Are you trying to get something for nothing?" This creature was even more cunning than he was.

The succubus smoothly knelt on one knee, "My lord, I've provided a very reliable starting point for a chain reaction!"

It meant toppling one would cause a cascade of others to fall, Wen Ying rested his chin in his hand, "Alright, arrange a meeting."

"Got it."

The succubus flipped its hand and conjured a miniature magic circle, addressing it, "Old Hong, let's meet at that abandoned building in the south tonight. I'll head there now."

With that, the black magic circle dispersed as the succubus switched back to its fawning tone, "My lord, Old Hong doesn't know as much as I do. You know how humans are, they're full of lies and can't be trusted."

Wen Ying looked at it with a faint expression, and the succubus blinked rapidly.

The door suddenly opened, and Yang Rixi walked in. Although the succubus in the room was close to being an intermediate demon, its essence was still that of a low-level demon, invisible to ordinary humans. Thus, Yang Rixi was completely unaware that there was another demon in the room.

He asked Wen Ying, "I forgot to ask before, do demons need to eat?"

Wen Ying stroked his stomach. "Ordinary food can't satisfy me."

"The Lord, I have excellent human essence here!" The incubus fawned, extracting a vibrant ball of energy from its small body. "If you need more, I still have plenty of treasures!"

On the white energy ball, Wen Ying sensed an aroma. His eyes were instantly captivated, unable to look away. His silver-white eyes turned cold and focused like a predator on the hunt.

"What's that?" Yang Rixi noticed Wen Ying staring intently at something and followed his gaze, but saw nothing.

Wen Ying forced himself to look away. He couldn't start down this path or he might not be able to stop.

"It's nothing. I'll be out tonight, so no need to leave a pillow for me."

He rose from the bed and flew out through the balcony. The incubus put away the essence and followed.

"Lord, is that human your chosen reserve?" the incubus asked. "The quality of his essence is quite good. No wonder you're a Lord, different from lowly devils like us who just take what we want."

Listening to the incessant babbling behind him, Wen Ying turned with an unbearable glare. The incubus, attempting to flatter him, promptly shut up.

The incubus cautiously observed the demon before it. Though this was a strange white demon, it was indeed powerful, and it felt there was great potential in following such a being.

"Wen Ying instructed, "Remove all the magic that Yang Shize has granted you."

The succubus promptly replied, "No problem, done already." It didn't hesitate at all since it was about to abandon its host anyway, sooner or later.

Wen Ying knew the abandoned building in the south, so he flew straight towards it.

After bonding with Yang Rixi, this avatar puppet had become much stronger than when it was in cotton doll form. Wen Ying flew openly through the night sky, and ordinary people could only see a black smoke trail passing by.

"Do the peripheral demons like you in your organization know about the connection between the Church's Saint and the extremist faction from the Realm of Devils?"

"Of course not. Those simple-minded guys only know that their superiors' superiors might be exorcists from the Church. Unlike me, who knows that many high-ranking members of the Church have ties with the extremist faction. Whatever the Saint knows, I know too."

Wen Ying looked at it sidelong, examining it curiously. Despite its claims, it seemed to be just an ordinary low-level demon.

The succubus read the meaning behind Wen Ying's gaze and puffed out its chest proudly. "I was born from the Saint's lust."

Wen Ying: "..." He almost blurted out a curse as he stared in shock at this succubus that didn't look the part at all.

"I didn't have a physical form when I was born. I lurked in his shadow, confused and unseen. I followed him and watched many events unfold right before my eyes!"

"Does he know about your existence?" Wen Ying asked earnestly, genuinely curious.

The incubus pouted. "He found out, but fortunately, I ran fast. He thought he got rid of me, but I managed to escape with half my body."

Wen Ying, entertained, continued, "From which Saint's... you know what... were you born?"

There were more than one Saint in the Church of the Archangel, some still young and vibrant, others already middle-aged.

The incubus spilled the tea. "The human-like Xiao Long. Don't be fooled by his holy facade; he's quite lustful. Otherwise, I wouldn't exist."

Xiao Long... Wen Ying dug through the information he had learned from his demonic teacher. This Saint seemed to be one of the older ones.

As he feasted on the gossip within the exorcist community, listening to the incubus divulge Xiao Long's affairs and hypocrisy, they soon arrived at the abandoned building in the south.

This unfinished building was left behind by a developer due to financial issues, and no group had taken over the clean-up yet. In the dead of night, the wind blew through the steel and concrete, producing eerie whispers.

Inside the derelict structure, a figure of an old man could be seen. Wen Ying almost immediately threw a ball of flame to "banish the ghost."

Chapter 93: Unwillingness

"Only that," Lu Ran said.

He put the remote back and secretly glanced at Ji Min, who was engrossed in playing with the robotic puppy.

Recalling the gifts Ji Min had received today, he whispered, "I don't have much money, and I might not be fully prepared."

After a moment of silence, he lifted his chin and added, "But I've put in a lot of effort. So, please don't nitpick."

Ji Min looked up at him and asked, "What if I insist on being picky?"

Lu Ran: "..."

He puffed up with indignation and reached out to retrieve the puppy from the wheelchair's remote control. "Then give it back!"

Ji Min blocked his hand and hid the puppy in his palm.

"No," he hurriedly said. "I really like it, every single one of them. And your performance as well."

Hearing this, Lu Ran lifted his gaze to study the expression on Ji Min's face, as if trying to discern the sincerity behind his words.

"Really," Ji Min replied, unusually candid.

He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly and with effort, "No one has ever put so much thought into celebrating my birthday before."

"Really?" Lu Ran was somewhat surprised.

Earlier, for easier remote control, he had simply taken a seat on the floor next to Ji Min's wheelchair.

Now, he leaned against the armrest to look at the man.

"But many people have always attended your birthday parties, haven't they? You've been like that since you were young," Lu Ran pointed out.

Ji Min only managed a small tug at the corners of his mouth, not saying anything in response.

Lu Ran thought of Ji Yue, whom he had met earlier today.

Unable to resist, he asked, "Does your family treat you badly too?"

Hearing the word "too" in the child's question, Ji Min chuckled and said, "What's wrong? Are you comparing yourself with me?"

"No, I'm just curious," Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min rubbed the metal puppy in his palm with his fingertip.

He began to recount his past slowly:

"My mother and father were married for business reasons. After I was born, she moved abroad."

Ji Min's mother passed away during an overseas trip when he was five years old.

His father then brought back his first love to the Ji family, causing Ji's grandfather to be hospitalized from the shock.

It was rare for someone like Ji Min's father, who was so driven by love, to emerge from the Ji family.

Not only did he deeply love his first love, but he also extended his affection to the stepson brought into the family, going as far as to plan to leave his shares in the Ji Corporation to this child.

On the surface, Ji Min's life back then seemed glamorous, but in reality, it was far from easy.

His father favored a stepson with no blood ties over his own biological son, showing him no concern or care.

As a result, young Ji Min placed even more value on familial bonds and took great care of his illegitimate younger brother.

This was precisely why Ji Yue felt untouchable during that period.

However, in the end, he was betrayed by that very same younger brother, who ruthlessly crippled him at a crucial moment.

Listening to the story, Lu Ran leaned his chin on the armrest of Ji Min's wheelchair.

Upon hearing this part, he exclaimed, straightening up, "So you mistook me for an illegitimate child back then, which led you to say those things!"

Ji Min: "..."

He pressed his finger to his lips, coughed softly, and whispered, "Didn't I apologize to you later?"

Lu Ran didn't seem to mind this at all.

He rested his chin on the armrest again and gazed at Ji Min for a while.

The man's expression remained calm as he recounted these past events, though a hint of coldness shimmered in his eyes.

"Boss, you were so pitiful back then," Lu Ran said.

After some thought, he asked, "So, is that why you're so kind to me, because our families aren't reliable?"

Ji Min glanced down at him and replied, "Guess?"

Lu Ran shot him a glance before lowering his head to watch Big Yellow play with the ball on the floor. He didn't respond.

Ji Min, however, reached out to pat his head and said, "That's partly the reason, I suppose."

But only a few.

Ji Min traced his fingertips through the soft strands of the youth's hair, gently caressing them.

His mind drifted back to the day of his car accident.

Realizing the culprit behind the car trouble, Ji Min quickly identified the culprit.

But there was no emotional resentment; instead, he quickly regained his composure and earnestly took measures.

Otherwise, he would lose more than just his legs.

Upon admission to the hospital, learning about his disability was not unexpected for Ji Min.

Over the years, he had keenly experienced the inconveniences in life and the myriad of judgmental gazes from those around him.

Ji Min was indeed temperamental, yet he remained consistently composed.

He was acutely aware that this was the price the Ji family had to pay for their power struggle, and it was also due to his own failure in judging people's character.

As for Ji Chi, whom he had sent to prison, Ji Min merely viewed him as a defeated rival in his eyes.

He wasn't even consumed with anger over the betrayal.

It wasn't until their recent negotiation with Shen Xingyu that things changed.

Shen Xingyu had brought up the matter of their engagement.

Ji Min didn't show any sign of cowardice then and calmly replied that he would consider it.

However, upon returning home, he spent a long time alone in his room in deep thought.

The following day, Ji Min asked Manager Chen to gather information on eligible candidates from prominent families.

He placed this data on his computer and meticulously screened through it every day.

It was as if he had truly become an elder to Lu Ran, attentively selecting suitable marriage partners for the young one.

Preferring a background of distinction, admirable character, and personal strength, not merely relying on family resources.

He laid out a multitude of criteria, scattered yet precise.

Yet, the most crucial prerequisite was: good health, with no disabilities.

Ji Min sat in front of his computer, thoroughly reviewing the entire document.

He appeared to be a considerate "elder" figure.

Yet, he scrutinized and criticized every character in the document with biting wit.

Like an unscrupulous rival.

In the end, gazing at the blank last page of the document.

A rare surge of resentment unexpectedly welled up within Ji Min.

In that moment, he acutely realized that he harbored a profound desire to harm Ji Chi.

If it weren't for Ji Chi, his leg wouldn't be broken.

He wouldn't have to sit in front of the computer, struggling with this indescribable conflict and pain, to view this document.

If it weren't for Ji Chi, he could have logically appeared on this list.

Right at the top.

Ji Min had assumed he could genuinely be content as an "elder."

It wasn't until that day when he noticed those subtle marks on Lu Ran's neck.

Ji Min's gaze softened as his fingers, entwined in Lu Ran's hair, delicately shifted.

Tenderly, he brushed aside the youth's stray locks at the tip of his hair.

Near the collar, those glaring red marks had vanished.

Ji Min's finger gently brushed against the other's palm, an unspoken intimacy lingering in the gesture.

He pondered, could he truly bear to see upon the youth's form any vestiges left by another, should such a day ever come to pass?

The man's fingers lingered with reluctance for a long while.

Until Lu Ran couldn't bear it anymore, his voice trembling as he asked:

"Boss, what are you searching for in my hair?"

Ji Min froze.

There, the youth lifted his head, his face alight with sheer terror as he asked, "Could there be a cockroach in my hair?"

Ji Min: "..."

He withdrew his hand and gently patted the child, saying, "So you do know fear, huh?"

He reached out to touch again.

Yet, Lu Ran blocked his head, preventing him from touching it.

He reached out to gather the four robotic dogs.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow and asked, "weren't these for me?"

Lu Ran: "…"

He fell silent for a moment, then looked at the man in the wheelchair with a complicated expression. "Do you really think I could afford something like this?"

Ji Min: "…"

"I borrowed them from a classmate who's into DIY," Lu Ran said, unable to resist the urge to boast. "But I assembled them and wrote the programs myself!"

Recalling the pitiful performance just now, Ji Min nodded. "I can tell."

Probably because he had to learn programming and assembly from scratch, it had taken him a long time.

That was why he'd been staying up until late these past few days.

And he had even found the time to secretly make a cake for Ji Min.

The next day, Lu Ran returned the four robotic dogs.

Unbeknownst to him, those four mechanical canines were swiftly purchased by a "mysterious person."

After wrapping up Ji Min's birthday celebration, Lu Ran recalled Gu Zhi's words from that day and made a special trip to the Shen family residence.

Upon arriving at the Shen household, he noticed two cars parked in the courtyard, indicating the presence of guests.

As Lu Ran entered the living room, he was surprised.

Seated were the Lino family.

The trio was engaged in conversation with Shen Hongyuan, the atmosphere appearing amicable.

There was no sign whatsoever of the previous "unpleasantness" that had occurred some time ago.

Lu Ran found the situation impressive.

Shen Hongyuan was truly remarkable. Despite Shen Xingran almost offending them severely last time, he had somehow managed to reconcile with the Linos.

The Linos were also quite impressive.

To think they could sit together at a dinner hosted by Shen Hongyuan after drinking that stuff – it showed their ability to adapt and compromise.

However, it was likely that each of them had ulterior motives for putting aside their grudges.

When Shen Hongyuan saw Lu Ran approaching, he was momentarily taken aback.

Anxiety flashed across his face instantly.

He subconsciously glanced at Lu Ran's feet but didn't see the dog. Only then did he heave a huge sigh of relief.

Lu Ran not bringing the dog was equivalent to not bringing a weapon.

And upon further reflection...

He had just instructed someone to empty the trash cans in the first floor restrooms today.

There seemed to be no room for Lu Ran to showcase his abilities in this situation.

Shen Hongyuan felt completely at ease and smiled warmly at Lu Ran, asking,

"School wasn't too busy today, so why did you come back so early?"

"I came back for something."

Stopping briefly after entering the house, Lu Ran glanced at the three individuals present and then at Shen Hongyuan.

He could clearly sense that the mischievous intentions of these four were connected to him.

However, that was not what Lu Ran was most concerned about.

Looking at Shen Hongyuan, he asked, "Are you sure there's nothing else you've forgotten to give me?"

Shen Hongyuan's heart skipped a beat at Lu Ran's question.

He studied Lu Ran's expression carefully before asking with a smile, "Did you forget something? Perhaps you should ask your mother later?"

Lu Ran smiled back at him. "It's fine if you don't."

He didn't pressure Shen Hongyuan further.

Instead, he strolled around the backyard on his own.

Seeing him leave, Shen Hongyuan smiled helplessly and shook his head.

He then sighed towards the Linos and said,

"Don't mind him, my son is at an energetic age but is forced to spend his days with that... individual. It's only natural for him to feel frustrated."

The three Linos nodded understandingly.

Old Lino let out a particularly poignant sigh, remarking, "It truly isn't easy."

After Shen Hongyuan finished speaking, he couldn't shake off his concern over Lu Ran's earlier question.

He excused himself and caught up with Lu Ran who was walking ahead.

When Shen Hongyuan had also left,

The three Lino men exchanged glances.

Gin was the first to speak, "Father, what are your thoughts? Are we really going to let the Shen family have a share of this project?"

Old Lino maintained a calm expression, but he chuckled. "There's no such luck."

However, after a moment of contemplation, he said, "But we can consider an alliance. Ignoring that chaotic Shen Xingran, Lu Ran could be a possibility."

"An alliance?" Gin sounded displeased.

He did have some interest in Lu Ran.

Moreover, because of Lu Ran's connection with Ji Min, the thrill of pursuing him was even more exhilarating.

But Gin didn't believe that Lu Ran was worthy of being allied with him.

"Just a casual fling, that's all," he said with a frown.

He continued, "Father, about Lu Ran and Ji Min..."

Old Leoni detected the evasion in his tone and sternly replied, "You don't know anything. It's precisely because of Lu Ran's connection with Ji Min that I want you to intervene."

Jin was still puzzled. "If Ji Min takes action against us because of Lu Ran..."

Old Leoni puffed on his cigar, squinting slightly as he said,

"That remains to be seen. I've heard that Ji Min recently compiled a list of eligible candidates from prominent families, as if he's searching for the right person to approach Lu Ran."

At this point, Old Leoni smiled wistfully before sighing,

"It seems that Ji Min has truly taken a liking to him. He even believes himself unworthy of Lu Ran and is willing to protect him from the shadows for life."

Looking up at Jin, Old Leoni said,

"If you can truly win Lu Ran's heart to the point that he can't live without you, perhaps this could be a golden opportunity for our Leoni family!"

Over there, Shen Hongyuan found Lu Ran inspecting the rooms in the villa as if he were a bandit.

"What are you looking for?" Shen Hongyuan approached.

However, he was blocked by the two bodyguards trailing behind Lu Ran.

Lu Ran didn't beat around the bush and asked straightforwardly, "Where's the gift that the Gu family sent me?"

Upon hearing his words, Shen Hongyuan was initially taken aback before he secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

He said, "Oh, I thought you were going to say something else. How could Father possibly keep a gift meant for you? It's just that I haven't found the right time to give it to you."

With that, Shen Hongyuan went upstairs and opened the door to his study. He took out a gift box from inside and handed it to Lu Ran.

Lu Ran glanced down at it and noticed that it was a wristwatch.

It seemed quite valuable.

If this item had been secretly taken by Shen Xingran to wear, Lu Ran would have understood.

Yet, he didn't believe that Shen Hongyuan would deliberately hide a watch.

"Is that all?" Lu Ran asked.

Shen Hongyuan's eyes were calm as he replied, "The Gu family hasn't been as close to us in recent years. It's understandable that they only sent a watch."

Lu Ran gave Shen Hongyuan a deep look but said nothing, putting the watch away instead.

He didn't continue staring at Shen Hongyuan and strolled down the hallway for a while.

Surprisingly, he encountered Shen Xingzhuo.

Shen Xingzhuo had just come out of the restroom and was somewhat surprised to see Lu Ran.

Then, his eyes lit up. "You still know how to come back! Tell me, did that Ji guy bully you?" As he spoke, he reached out to pat Lu Ran's neck.

Halfway through, his hand was blocked.

Shen Xingzhuo lifted his gaze and noticed two bodyguards standing on either side of Lu Ran.

"What's going on here?"

He raised an eyebrow, brushing off the bodyguard's hand as he attempted to embrace Lu Ran once more.

But his attempt was in vain; his arm was firmly blocked.

The bodyguard explained sternly, "Apologies, Mr. Ji has instructed that no one from the Shen family is to approach Young Master Lu Ran within two meters."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingzhuo's eyebrows nearly shot up to the sky.

"He's quite the control freak, isn't he? I'm his brother!"

The straightforward bodyguard replied, "Mr. Ji specifically instructed us to pay extra attention to anyone who claims to be his brother."

Shen Xingzhuo: "..."

Not bothering to beat around the bush, Lu Ran asked, "Do you know what the Gu family sent on the night of my official return?"

"Hmm? They specifically sent something?"

Seeing his reaction, Lu Ran lost interest in further conversation with Shen Xingzhuo and turned to head back to the living room.

But after taking a couple of steps, he glanced at the bathroom door behind Shen Xingzhuo and asked, "Did you just finish using it?"

"Yes," Shen Xingzhuo nodded.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran finally smiled at him and said, "Well done."

Chapter 82: Making the Best Use of Everything

At the end of the twelfth hour of the night.

It was already the third night in the dungeon. Liang Zhen couldn't sleep. He took out the jade pendant from his bosom and held it in his palm, gently rubbing it. This was the only thing left from Zhu Yunxuan. The flowers and sugar in the bamboo tube were lost when he fell into the water, which was truly regrettable.

As midnight approached, faint noises could be heard from outside, accompanied by the smell of suffocating smoke filling the air. Liang Zhen leaned against the straw pile, frowning slightly but not feeling worried.

After two quarters of an hour, someone appeared at the door of the cell, slashing through the iron chains with a saber. In a hoarse voice, they reminded Liang Zhen, "Come on, County Magistrate Liu sent me to pick you up."

Liang Zhen stood up, glanced at the person, and asked nonchalantly, "What's going on outside?"

"Stop asking so many questions," the person replied impatiently, "Hurry up! No tricks!"

Liang Zhen looked up at the small window high on the wall, just big enough for a hand to fit through. Beyond it was an endless night. He smiled and followed the person out.

The further they went, the thicker the smoke grew until they had to cover their noses with their sleeves to keep going. They escaped through a secret tunnel from the dungeon, leading all the way to a pier by the sea.

Upon emerging from the tunnel, they could see the blazing flames behind them. The fire originated from the most prominent mansion in the center of the island. Screams and shouts echoed everywhere, as if hell had descended upon them.

Someone behind Liang Zhen gave him a gentle push. "Stop looking, hurry up and board the ship."

Three boats were docked at the pier, including the one that had brought back the deserter that day. These were likely the last three remaining vessels on the island. This Clerk Liu Gen was a ruthless man. Not only did he set a massive fire, but he also had no intention of leaving any boats for the people on the island, determined to trap them with no escape.

The three ships quickly raised their sails and set off. More and more people rushed to the seashore, helplessly watching as the boats departed, collapsing to the ground in despair, wailing in agony.

Liang Zhen was pushed into the cabin, where Liu Gen and several unfamiliar individuals were present. Liu Gen seemed to hold the highest rank among them and had convinced these people to join him in surrendering to the Great Yan. On the floor nearby, their captured lord lay bound with hemp ropes. His limbs were tied, and he struggled fruitlessly, his muffled cries reduced to whimpers due to the tape over his mouth.

Liang Zhen raised an eyebrow. He had initially intended to persuade them to kill this lord, but they had unexpectedly taken him alive. It appeared they were genuinely resolved to present a grand gift to the Emperor of the Great Yan as a gesture of sincerity.

Liu Gen treated Liang Zhen with a certain degree of politeness, inviting him to sit and enjoy tea. The others, however, were on high alert. One of them bluntly suggested to Liu Gen, "Why do we need to take him along? He's cunning. Who knows if he'll scheme against us again? Why can't we just go and seek refuge with the Great Yan court on our own?"

Looking at Liang Zhen, who remained smiling and unflinching, Liu Gen frowned and shook his head. "No, it's too risky. If we go alone, we might not even make it to shore before the Great Yan naval forces sink our ship with their cannons. With him there, at least he could help mediate."

Liang Zhen chuckled. "Counselor Liu truly is a wise man. Rest assured, with your sincerity, I will do my utmost to assist you in gaining favor with the Great Yan court."

Taking you back to meet your deaths would indeed be the truth.

The lord lying on the ground, overhearing their conversation, struggled even more violently. His face twisted in rage, his eyes glaring fiercely, seemingly ready to bleed. Yet, no one paid him any attention.

The ship gradually sailed away from the island, and Liang Zhen finally learned how these pirates, who had hidden on this haunted land for two hundred years, managed to enter and exit the island. They could only find safe passage by sailing along a specific route at particular times and with favorable winds. Two hundred years ago, they stumbled upon this island by chance and barely survived until now.

The Great Yan court had indeed speculated about this secret, even dispatching experts in tidal and wind patterns to investigate. Unfortunately, the island was too well-concealed, and the chances of aligning all the natural factors were incredibly low. Every expedition sent had never returned, causing the court to abandon further attempts.

Heaven had offered them a path to survival, but they chose the life of outlaws, ultimately leading to their own destruction.

Exiting the island took much longer than entering. It took three days for the ship to leave the haunted area, with another two days' journey to Quanzhou. Liang Zhen was eager to return home, though he concealed his impatience. Most of the time, he stayed in the cabin, occasionally venturing onto the deck, with someone always following him discreetly. He paid no attention to it; whether Liu Gen believed him or not was irrelevant. Once the ship docked at Quanzhou, Liang Zhen wouldn't need to worry about what followed.

On the fourth evening since boarding the ship, Liang Zhen stepped out of the cabin to see someone crawling up from the hold, head bowed, carrying a food box. It was likely a servant delivering meals to their lord, who was imprisoned below. The figure swayed slightly, and as they passed, Liang Zhen suddenly halted, casting a sidelong glance. In the next moment, he reached out and firmly grasped the other's shoulder.

Little did he expect the man to materialize a dagger in his hand and instantly stab at him. Liang Zhen instinctively dodged sideways, releasing his grip on the man's shoulder, allowing him to slip away from Liang Zhen's grasp.

Seeing the man attempting to flee, Liang Zhen swiftly kicked the back of his ankle. The pirate reacted swiftly, tumbling forward without falling. Half-kneeling on the ground, he turned and lunged the dagger back at Liang Zhen, who was closing in behind him.

Liang Zhen evaded once more, narrowing his eyes. He had now recognized the attacker's face – it was the man who should have been locked in the hold. Gasping for breath, the man glared at him with anger, then charged again with the dagger, ready to fight Liang Zhen to the death.

For a moment, the two were locked in a fierce struggle. To Liang Zhen's surprise, despite the pirate captain's seemingly weak appearance, he proved to be quite skilled. Unarmed, Liang Zhen found defending against the dagger more challenging than he'd anticipated.

The spy watching Liang Zhen, sensing the danger, dared not intervene. Instead, he hurried back to the cabin to call for reinforcements.

The man, drained by wine and lust, was no match for Liang Zhen. After a few exchanges, he realized his defeat and attempted to escape again. Liang Zhen had already grabbed him, but the vigorous movement caused the jade pendant in his embrace to fly out, hitting the ship's railing. A huge wave rocked the boat, and seeing his precious jade pendant sliding towards the edge of the barrier, he reluctantly pushed the man away and lunged forward, managing to seize the tassel just as the jade was about to slip.

In the next moment, a sharp pain pierced his back. The deranged lord, laughing maniacally, fiercely pulled out the dagger embedded in Liang Zhen's back and raised it to strike again. But before he could, the crew who had rushed from the cabin pinned him to the ground.

Liang Zhen remained unconscious for two hours before stirring. There were no medical experts on board, so they merely bandaged his wound with a type of seaweed they commonly used, barely stemming the bleeding.

Upon hearing that Liang Zhen had regained consciousness, Liu Gen personally came to apologize, explaining that they had been careless, allowing the lord to conceal a dagger on his person. After killing the food server, the lord disguised himself and tried to flee, only to encounter Liang Zhen.

"Tomorrow, we should reach the waters where the Great Yan Navy is stationed. By dusk, we should arrive at the Quanzhou port. Fortunately, your wound on the back is only three inches away from your heart. You've survived the bleeding, and with time to find a doctor on land, there shouldn't be any issues."

Liang Zhen, barely holding back curses, nodded. He lacked the energy for pretense and drifted back into an unconscious state.

Liu Gen's prediction proved accurate. At dawn the following day, they encountered the Great Yan Navy still searching for Liang Zhen. Instantly, their ship was surrounded.

Awakening from his sleep, Liang Zhen felt much better. Just as the Great Yan soldiers burst through the door, he opened his eyes, looking at the dozen sword-wielding soldiers before him. Helplessly, he waved the dragon-patterned jade pendant and croaked, "This is the Emperor's pendant. Send someone to inform your admiral."

He Huailing, who was also personally searching for Liang Zhen at sea, received the news and promptly arrived, accompanied by a military doctor.

Liang Zhen's injuries were far worse than the pirates had described. It was fortunate that the bleeding had been stopped in time, or he would have lost his life the previous day. After the military doctor examined and re-dressed his wounds, Liang Zhen, now assured of survival, nonchalantly asked He Huailing, whose face was grave, "How is the Emperor?"

He Huailing gave him a glance and said solemnly, "The Emperor will be fine... as long as you return to him."

Liang Zhen felt relieved and curved his lips. "Of course."

He Huailing: "..."

For the first time, he began to question why he had specifically returned to the capital three years ago to lead the troops and save the emperor.

When Zhu Yunxuan received the news, he was convening the court officials for a meeting. Since he had instructed that any news about Liang Zhen should be immediately reported, the messenger dared not delay and informed him in front of everyone. Zhu Yunxuan froze for a moment before rising from his seat under the watchful eyes of the courtiers and rushing out.

The ministers exchanged awkward glances before dispersing separately.

In the afternoon, Zhu Yunxuan's falcon suddenly flew into the window and perched on Liang Zhen's bedside. Liang Zhen sat up in delight. The falcon pecked his hand twice fiercely before lifting one foot proudly.

Liang Zhen chuckled softly. He didn't have anything else on him at the moment. After some thought, he simply cut off a strand of his hair, tying it around the falcon's leg. The bird glanced down at the hair with what seemed like disdain, pecked Liang Zhen again, then flapped its wings and flew out swiftly.

Zhu Yunxuan's imperial carriage remained parked at the harbor from noon until dusk. Originally, he intended to board a ship and set sail to retrieve Liang Zhen. However, after receiving the item sent by the falcon, he changed his mind and decided to wait at the harbor. His fingers continued to twirl the strand of hair, and a smile finally appeared on his gloomy face.

Approaching the harbor, Liang Zhen untied the bandages wrapped around him, deliberately aggravating his wounds to make them appear more gruesome. He even stained his fresh clothes with blood. Satisfied, he rewrapped the bandages and lay back down comfortably.

Given that he's already injured, it would be wise to make the most of it, and evoke even more concern from His Majesty.

Chapter 83: A Reunion After Parting

Upon docking, Zhu Yunxuan stepped off the boat onto the pier. Liang Zhen, supported by others, descended from the ship. Zhu Yunxuan strode forward, staring blankly at the man before him, pale and with blood on his chest. Liang Zhen smiled slightly at him, "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yunxuan reached out and, in full view of everyone, embraced Liang Zhen.

Liang Zhen placed his hand around Zhu Yunxuan's waist and whispered hoarsely into his ear, "A Xuan, it hurts so much..."

Zhu Yunxuan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he pressed his lips together before holding Liang Zhen even closer.

After embracing for a while, He Huailing, who had followed Liang Zhen, coughed awkwardly and, with great effort, reminded them, "Your Majesty, let's get in the carriage and return home first... Many people are watching."

On the ship, on the pier, and among those waiting below, countless pairs of eyes were upon them. Zhu Yunxuan took a step back, then naturally took Liang Zhen's hand, "Come on, let's go back."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly as he allowed Zhu Yunxuan to personally help him into the carriage.

Once inside, Zhu Yunxuan hastily began to tear at Liang Zhen's clothes, "How did you get hurt? Is it serious? Let me see."

Liang Zhen caught his hand, smiling as he reassured him, "It was just an accidental trap set by someone else. It's nothing."

Zhu Yunxuan forcefully tore open his clothing, revealing the blood-soaked bandages pressed against his chest. His brows knitted together in concern. "Why is the wound so close to your heart? What happened with Duke Ding? Weren't there military doctors on the ship? Why didn't he call for someone to stop the bleeding? Does it really hurt?"

Liang Zhen nonchalantly held his hand, teasing him. "If you kiss me, A Xuan, the pain will go away."

Zhu Yunxuan replied irritably, "How can you be like this? You're injured like this and still have the mind to joke around?"

"I'm not going to die anyway... Alright, I won't say anything more. Don't be angry, please."

Suppressing the untargeted anger in his heart, Zhu Yunxuan carefully avoided Liang Zhen's wound, leaning in to embrace him. He whispered hoarsely, "Thank goodness you're back..."

His tone was a mix of relief and lingering fear.

Liang Zhen reached up to caress Zhu Yunxuan's face. "I've caused Your Majesty to worry. It won't happen again."

"Okay."

Upon returning to the General's residence, Zhu Yunxuan promptly summoned the accompanying Doctor Fang to examine Liang Zhen. The old physician's hands trembled as he almost failed to take Liang Zhen's pulse. Liang Zhen chuckled, reminding him, "Why are you so nervous? I wouldn't eat you."

Zhu Yunxuan asked with a frown, "How severe is his injury?"

The experienced old physician quickly regained his composure and undid the bandages that Liang Zhen had been wrapped in. Zhu Yunxuan's eyes narrowed at the sight of the bloody mess, clenching his fists tightly.

Doctor Fang carefully examined Liang Zhen's wound, then looked up at him with some uncertainty before lowering his head again. After a moment of hesitation, he reported to Zhu Yunxuan, "The injury is indeed severe, quite close to his heart. The bleeding might have stopped initially but could have started again due to movement. There's a risk of infection, which would be troublesome. However, there's no need to worry excessively. This old servant will stop the bleeding, apply medicine, and prescribe some internal medication. As long as he remains in bed for the next two weeks, frequently changing the dressing, he should recover."

"Are you sure there won't be any complications?" Zhu Yunxuan asked anxiously.

"As long as the wound doesn't bleed again, there won't be any issues, Your Majesty. Please rest assured."

After applying medicine and re-bandaging the wound, the physician retreated to prepare an internal medication prescription. Zhu Yunxuan sat by the bed, taking Liang Zhen's hand in his, still feeling uneasy and worried. He asked, "Is there anywhere else that hurts? Are you hungry? Should I ask someone to prepare some light food for you?"

Seeing the unmasked anxiety and concern on Zhu Yunxuan's face, and the faint dark circles under his eyes, Liang Zhen realized that the other must not have slept well these past days. He suddenly felt regretful for causing such distress.

"I'm fine, A Xuan. Didn't the physician say that I'll recover in two weeks? I have a strong constitution; I won't die. I'm still waiting for you to crown me as your queen when we return."

Knowing that it was rare to hear anything sincere from this person, Zhu Yunxuan decided not to pursue the matter further. Instead, he leaned down and tenderly kissed Liang Zhen's chapped lips.

Liang Zhen blinked, smiling, and grabbed the back of Zhu Yunxuan's head, fiercely biting his lip. His tongue forcefully entered Zhu Yunxuan's soft mouth, licking and teasing playfully, their embrace seemingly endless.

Outside the window, twilight deepened, and the fading sunlight illuminated the edge of the bed, outlining their intertwined figures.

"Father!"

The sudden voice made both of them pause their actions. Liang Zhen chuckled softly and bit Zhu Yunxuan's lips playfully. Frustrated, Zhu Yunxuan sat up and turned his head to look. Rong'er was curiously peering at them from behind the screen.

"Daddy!" The child's eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Liang Zhen, and he rushed to the bed, calling out repeatedly, "Daddy! Daddy! You're back!"

Liang Zhen smiled and tickled his nose. "Missed your father, did you?"

Rong'er nodded vigorously. Zhu Yunxuan scooped him up and reminded, "Don't squirm around. Your father is injured. Don't touch his wounds."

Rong'er paused, no longer daring to be mischievous. He carefully sat on Zhu Yunxuan's lap, gazing at Liang Zhen with concern. After a long hesitation, he held Liang Zhen's hand and softly consoled him, "Father doesn't hurt you, don't cry."

Liang Zhen couldn't help but laugh, gently rubbing Rong'er's nose again. "Yes, don't cry."

The meal was brought into the room. Due to his injuries, Liang Zhen could only consume light porridge. Zhu Yunxuan personally held the bowl, feeding him spoonful by spoonful.

Liang Zhen playfully teased, "With His Majesty serving me like this, it would be worth lying here for another year or two."

Zhu Yunxuan frowned. "You might as well say you want to lie there forever. I don't nurture good-for-nothings. This is a one-time exception, don't let it happen again."

Rong'er chimed in from the side, "Father, please get better soon. Otherwise, Daddy will cry every day."

Zhu Yunxuan: "..." When did I cry every day?

Liang Zhen looked at him with a smile, "Are you really that upset? You cry every day without me?"

Before Zhu Yunxuan could reply, Rong'er nodded eagerly, "Daddy cries secretly every night. It's so sad, Rong'er saw it."

Zhu Yunxuan poked his son's forehead, "Don't talk nonsense."

The amusement in Liang Zhen's eyes deepened, "Rong'er is a good child and never tells lies. Why should His Majesty be angry over a joke?"

Zhu Yunxuan lowered his gaze, remaining silent. After a moment of tranquility, Liang Zhen took his hand, "Are you angry? I was just joking with you."

Zhu Yunxuan lifted his eyes to glare at him, his eyes gradually reddening, "If you knew, why didn't you come back sooner? Why didn't you try to send any news? Do you have any idea how worried I've been these past few days? You did this on purpose, didn't you? You wanted me to worry and be anxious, isn't that right?"

Liang Zhen was momentarily at a loss for words. He indeed had numerous reasons to placate Zhu Yunxuan, considering he hadn't intended to disappear after falling into the water. However, intentionally causing Zhu Yunxuan's concern was indeed his fault. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Zhu Yunxuan.

He didn't offer an excuse, instead gesturing to Rong'er, "Come, my little darling, and cheer up your Daddy."

Rong'er looked at Zhu Yunxuan in confusion, "Father, don't cry anymore..."

Faced with Rong'er, Zhu Yunxuan couldn't bring himself to say any harsh words. He composed himself and smiled at the child, "I'm fine, son."

He then stuffed the bowl back into Liang Zhen's hands and said, "Eat on your own," before carrying Rong'er outside for dinner.

Liang Zhen stirred the congee in his bowl, smiling helplessly with lowered eyes.

As night fell, after sending the wet nurse to take Rong'er back, Zhu Yunxuan stayed alone and asked for hot water to be brought in to bathe Liang Zhen.

"You don't have to do this yourself, just call a eunuch," Liang Zhen reminded him with a smile. Zhu Yunxuan ignored him, undressed Liang Zhen, and gazed at the old and new scars on his chest, feeling deeply uncomfortable. Holding the warm towel, he suddenly felt unsure of where to begin. After a moment, he averted his gaze and called for a eunuch to come in.

Liang Zhen patted the space beside him, inviting Zhu Yunxuan to sit down. Zhu Yunxuan leaned over and nuzzled against his forehead. Liang Zhen held his hand and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"....I'll stay with you tonight."

"I, a severely injured person, can't serve in bed," Liang Zhen teased him on purpose.

Zhu Yunxuan gently closed his eyes. "I didn't ask you to serve me in bed, so why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Liang Zhen turned his head and kissed Zhu Yunxuan's cheek. "How many days haven't you slept well? Can't you sleep without me? How did you manage those first few years?"

Zhu Yunxuan didn't answer, instead nestling against Liang Zhen's earlobe, finally finding complete calmness in his restless heart.

After Liang Zhen finished cleaning himself, Zhu Yunxuan also quickly freshened up. He extinguished the lamp, climbed into bed, and lay down on the side that Liang Zhen wasn't injured, wrapping his arms around Liang Zhen's arm.

Liang Zhen lightly kissed his nose. "Is A Xuan being coquettish with me?"

"… I'm not Rong'er."

Liang Zhen chuckled. "Of course, I know you're not that little brat."

"Why do you always call your own son a brat? … I've already prepared to confer him as the crown prince. In the future, Rong'er's formal name will be Zhu Yinhuan. 'Yin' is the character for his generation. What do you think?"

"The emperor's decision is final. As he's destined to be the crown prince, he naturally needs to follow the proper protocols," Liang Zhen said nonchalantly. "Zhu Yinhuan, it sounds good."

Zhu Yunxuan lowered his voice. "You don't need to be jealous of him. If he's the crown prince, you'll be the empress. Your enthronement ceremony will come before his. I have to give you your title first before I can give him his."

Liang Zhen curled his lips. "Why would I be jealous of my own son? Am I that petty?"

Zhu Yunxuan scoffed softly, not exposing his true thoughts. "Sleep."

Liang Zhen embraced him and kissed his lips again, whispering hoarsely, "When I recover, I'll serve His Majesty in bed again."

Zhu Yunxuan's lips curved slightly. Lying close to Liang Zhen, he finally felt a weight lifted from his heart after so many days and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Liang Zhen raised his hand to touch the wound, gasping at the pain. It was truly a self-inflicted suffering.

But when he heard Zhu Yunxuan's steady breathing beside him, he no longer regretted his actions. If not for this, he wouldn't have gained such a caring Emperor. It was worth it.

Chapter 84: Husband as the Guiding Principle

In the early morning, Liang Zhen opened his eyes to find the bed beside him empty. Zhu Yunxuan had risen early to attend to state affairs, while he, having been injured, slept deeply and only stirred as the hour of Chén was nearly passing.

By his pillow lay two strands of hair bound together with red thread. Liang Zhen picked them up, twirling them around his fingertip before breaking into a silent laugh.

Gao An entered with his attendants to serve Liang Zhen with his morning ablutions and breakfast. Liang Zhen raised an eyebrow and asked, "You didn't accompany His Majesty?"

Gao An said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty has kept this servant to attend to you."

Liang Zhen clicked his tongue. "In the future, this palace will be the Empress. You'll need to show more respect, do you understand?"

Gao An: "..."

Truly shameless indeed, how is it that His Majesty, after all his twists and turns, has singled him out above all others!

In the following days, Liang Zhen was confined to his bed for recovery, while Zhu Yunxuan spent half his day attending to official duties and the other half by his side, ensuring that all matters were organized seamlessly.

Under the guidance of Liu Gen and his associates, He Huailing set sail with the Great Yan Navy, their mission being to eradicate the last vestiges of sea bandits. As for the former lord of the previous dynasty, captured alive and brought back by them, he was executed in the bustling marketplace of Quanzhou, publicly beheaded under the ignominious title of a notoriously wicked pirate chieftain.

In addition, the man who pretended to be Zhu Yunxuan and eventually jumped into the sea was also fortunate enough to be rescued. Considering his attempt to make amends, Zhu Yunxuan forgave him for his past transgressions and allowed him to stay in Fujian with his brother, who had already joined the Fujian-Guangdong naval forces.

Under the careful treatment of the imperial physicians, Liang Zhen's injuries gradually improved day by day. Soon, they scabbed over, and within ten days, he could occasionally get out of bed to stroll in the courtyard, thus learning more about the world outside.

His remarkable contributions in the naval battle had piqued the curiosity of the entire kingdom. As the second male Empress in the two-hundred-year history of the Great Yan dynasty, Liang Zhen's mysterious background and exceptional courage and wisdom made him an intriguing figure. It was well-known that the Crown Prince was fathered by the Emperor himself, and the one who could make the ruler willingly submit and bear a child could hardly be an ordinary person.

Regardless of how curious others were about him, Liang Zhen remained unperturbed, focusing on recuperating in the small courtyard.

On this afternoon, when Zhu Yunxuan arrived, Liang Zhen was napping on a chaise lounge with a book covering his face. Zhu Yunxuan didn't disturb him, dismissing the servants in the yard before walking over and sitting on a low stool beside Liang Zhen. He gently removed the book from Liang Zhen's face, flipping through a few pages. It was a popular folk storybook, somewhat entertaining, so he continued reading.

Only when his eyes started to feel strained did he place the book face down on his knees, leaning against Liang Zhen and falling into a deep sleep.

He woke up to Rong'er's laughter. Liang Zhen had been awake for a while, playfully interacting with the child who sat on his lap. Zhu Yunxuan sat up, concerned that Rong'er might accidentally bump into Liang Zhen's wounds if he lost his balance. Swiftly, he reached out to scoop the boy into his arms.

"Daddy's awake!" Rong'er called out brightly. "When Rong'er came earlier, Daddy and Father were both sleeping. Rong'er was very good and didn't disturb you."

Zhu Yunxuan smiled, not mentioning that Rong'er's laughter had awakened him. "Good boy."

Liang Zhen peeled a lychee and offered it to Zhu Yunxuan's mouth. "Delicious?"

Zhu Yunxuan nodded, reminding him, "Don't eat yet, your wounds haven't healed."

Liang Zhen smiled and replied, "Alright, I won't eat."

He continued peeling the lychee and feeding it to Zhu Yunxuan, who opened his mouth to receive it. Their eyes met, filled with deep affection for one another.

Rong'er watched them eagerly. After a long while, he whispered, "Rong'er wants to eat too..."

Zhu Yunxuan was taken aback, realizing that he had neglected his son. He felt embarrassed for a moment. Liang Zhen chuckled and pinched the child's chin, offering the freshly peeled lychee to his mouth. "Here you go, little foodie."

The child was easily pleased. With something to eat, he was delighted, completely unaware of being an extra in this scene. Nestled in Zhu Yunxuan's embrace, he ate until his mouth was stained with juice.

Zhu Yunxuan wiped his mouth, sighed with a smile, and said to Liang Zhen, "I've already issued an edict to confer a title posthumously on your father. When we return to the capital, you can be buried together with your father."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's generosity," Liang Zhen accepted unhesitantly, then cheekily asked, "So, am I getting a free ride here? Did Your Majesty actually intend to grant me a title?"

He knew that was how his emperor was – generous towards those he considered his own. It was the same with his brother before, and now with him. His emperor always wanted to give the best to the person he cared for.

Zhu Yunxuan smiled in acknowledgment. After some thought, he hesitantly asked, "You now bear the Xiao surname, which represents the bloodline your father preserved for your father with great effort. It can't just end with you, right? ... Rong'er is the crown prince and must take the royal surname. What are your plans for yourself?"

Liang Zhen hadn't considered this aspect and chuckled softly, blinking at Zhu Yunxuan. "Then perhaps Your Majesty could give me another child?"

Zhu Yunxuan was slightly taken aback, his gaze wandering away. "What are you talking about?"

"I was joking," Liang Zhen said nonchalantly. "The Xiao family's lineage is thin. My father had no siblings, and our grandparents passed away early. There are a few distant relatives, so if we truly want to continue the ancestral worship, we can adopt one from them."

As for his own father, his name would be recorded in the Xiao family genealogy, ensuring that future generations of the Xiao family would pay their respects. There was no need to be associated with the now-dispersed Liang family, which was for the best.

Zhu Yunxuan frowned slightly, hesitating for a long time before he held Rong'er's hand and asked, "Good baby, do you want a younger brother or sister?"

The child was startled, tears instantly welling up in his big eyes. "Do you have another baby? Don't you want Rong'er anymore?"

Zhu Yunxuan replied helplessly, "Of course not. Your Daddies still love you and Ming'er just as much. Don't you want more people to play with?"

With teary eyes, the child pouted. "I don't want anyone else. I only want Daddy and Father."

"Alright, alright, then we won't have any more. No more crying."

Zhu Yunxuan hurriedly comforted the child, turning to Liang Zhen. "You see, it's not that I don't want to have more children. Your son doesn't allow it."

Liang Zhen playfully pinched Rong'er's plump cheeks, "You little cunning one."

In truth, he never intended for Zhu Yunxuan to bear another child. The first time was already a painful ordeal; how could he endure it a second time? Moreover, he had promised Rong'er long ago. He hadn't expected that his casual jest would be taken seriously by Zhu Yunxuan. What was once considered a humiliation, the emperor now faced with openness and frankness. How many people in this world could be as straightforward and sincere as his Majesty?

To have a partner like this, how fortunate he was.

As night fell, Liang Zhen's wounds were redressed and bandaged anew. Zhu Yunxuan's fingers traced the fresh bandages gently, whispering, "You're finally on the mend. In another four or five days, we can set off back to the capital."

Liang Zhen caught hold of his hand, smiling as he asked, "Does Your Majesty truly wish for me to recover quickly, or do you simply long to return sooner?"

Zhu Yunxuan didn't respond, instead wrapping his arms around Liang Zhen's neck and leaning into the other side of his embrace, gently closing his eyes.

Liang Zhen lowered his head to kiss the crown of Zhu Yunxuan's head. "A Xuan..."

"Hmm?"

"My injuries have mostly recovered. Doctor Fang said that moderate movement won't affect the wounds."

Zhu Yunxuan frowned, discerning the hidden meaning in Liang Zhen's words. He softly scoffed. "Not allowed."

"Why not?"

"You're severely injured. It'll take more than just ten or so days to fully recover. Don't think about unnecessary things. When you're healed..."

Before Zhu Yunxuan could finish his sentence, Liang Zhen flipped him over and pressed down on him. He instinctively tried to push back but hesitated when he remembered Liang Zhen's injuries, refraining from any further movement.

Liang Zhen supported himself with both hands on either side of Zhu Yunxuan's body, gazing at him intently with his lowered eyes. Meeting Liang Zhen's dark, profound gaze, Zhu Yunxuan froze for a moment, his eyelashes fluttering gently as he murmured, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Liang Zhen leaned closer, tracing the outline of Zhu Yunxuan's lips with his tongue. Zhu Yunxuan let out a soft hum under his breath and turned his head away. "Don't..."

Liang Zhen then pinched his chin, turning his face back, his pupils narrowing as he stared deeply into Zhu Yunxuan's eyes. "A Xuan, say something sweet."

"...What kind of sweet words?"

Liang Zhen chuckled, caressing Zhu Yunxuan's damp lips with his fingers, drawling, "Like husband, my lord, or my beloved spouse..."

Zhu Yunxuan playfully smacked his shoulder. "You're the one who's supposed to be my Empress. You should be the one calling me those names."

Liang Zhen smiled, curling his lip. His fingers had already slipped into Zhu Yunxuan's soft mouth, mimicking the intimate act, moving in and out repeatedly. With his other hand, he slid beneath Zhu Yunxuan's clothing to massage his sensitive waist and hips. His hot breath brushed against Zhu Yunxuan's ear. "Say it again, A Xuan. Who is the wife, and who is the husband?"

Zhu Yunxuan panted softly, "…Impudent."

"Hmm?"

His touch grew more provocative, and Zhu Yunxuan soon found himself overwhelmed, unable to utter another word as he was teased. He mumbled against Liang Zhen's ear, "My lord husband…"

Liang Zhen kissed his cheek in contentment, "So obedient."

In public, His Majesty was the emperor, ruler of all, and Zhu Yunxuan willingly took on the role of his queen, the man behind him. But only in bed did he insist that Zhu Yunxuan understand the meaning of "husband as the head of the household."

Zhu Yunxuan's hands clasped onto Liang Zhen's shoulders, rising and falling with his movements, no longer able to utter a refusal. Only sweet moans escaped his lips.

Their sweaty bodies pressed tightly together, Liang Zhen lifted Zhu Yunxuan, seating him on his lap. He slowed down his actions, leaning down to kiss his fair chest.

Zhu Yunxuan cried out, tears welling up in his reddened eyes from the intense pleasure, only to be kissed away by Liang Zhen.

He should have known from the beginning – in their intimate moments, he could never gain the upper hand. This man held him firmly in his grasp, body and soul, leaving him utterly captivated.

Lying on Liang Zhen's shoulder, Zhu Yunxuan, in a daze, called out to him once more, "My lord husband…"

Liang Zhen paused, then chuckled softly, his voice strained. He held onto the other person even more tightly, drawing them both deeper into an abyss of sensation.

Chapter 85: The Empress Herself

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhu Yunxuan struggled to get up. He had tossed and turned until the late hours of the night and probably only managed two hours of sleep, leaving him feeling sore all over.

A pair of arms reached out from under the covers, pulling him back into the warmth. Liang Zhen's body pressed against his back, his face nuzzling against Zhu Yunxuan's as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you have to rise so early even when we're outside the palace?"

"I'll be back soon."

Liang Zhen playfully pinched Zhu Yunxuan's sensitive sides, eliciting a gasp. "What are you doing?"

"Can His Majesty still move?"

Zhu Yunxuan slapped his face in retaliation and insisted on pushing him away, sitting up straight.

Gao An led a team in to attend to Zhu Yunxuan's grooming and dressing. Liang Zhen also got up, leaning lazily against the headboard with a smile on his face as he watched.

There weren't as many formalities for court sessions outside the palace. Zhu Yunxuan changed into a red casual robe that accentuated his jade-like complexion. The traces of their intimate encounter from the previous night were still visible on his fair neck, hidden beneath the collar, barely discernible. Liang Zhen narrowed his eyes, amusement flickering in his gaze, but he didn't mention it.

Before leaving, Zhu Yunxuan walked back to the bed, leaning down to plant a kiss on Liang Zhen's cheek as a reminder. "Go back to sleep, it's still early."

Liang Zhen smiled and blinked his eyes. "This concubine bids farewell to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yunxuan: "…"

Just as he was about to leave, he seemed to recall something and instructed someone to fetch an item. It was the string of Buddhist beads that he had previously worn on his wrist and later removed after Liang Zhen saw it.

Taking the beads, Zhu Yunxuan rubbed them gently in his palm before passing them to Liang Zhen. "Back to their rightful owner."

Liang Zhen didn't take them, instead smiling at him. "If A Xuan likes them, I'll give them to you."

"But aren't these the keepsake from your father?"

"You can wear them too. Consider it a gift from my father to his daughter-in-law."

With Liang Zhen's words, Zhu Yunxuan no longer refused and put the beads back on his wrist. He gently twirled them and headed forward.

While on this royal expedition, Zhu Yunxuan still met with accompanying officials every few days to discuss state affairs. Yesterday, the Javanese sent envoys to seek peace and request the release of their prisoners. Today, they were going to deliberate on this matter.

"Our Great Yan is a great and civilized empire. Our recent victory has taught these foreign lands a lesson, and they surely won't dare to provoke us again. Since they are sincere in seeking peace, we should release the captives to demonstrate our magnanimity."

"These foreign barbarians serve no significant purpose in our Great Yan dynasty. Our kingdom has never had the precedent of executing prisoners of war. Why bother feeding them needlessly?"

"When this matter is resolved, we can promptly return to the court. The naval battle has already ended, and the handling of the captives is merely a trivial detail. Your Majesty might as well entrust the task entirely to the Fujian-Guangdong naval fleet."

The assembly of court officials chattered, urging Zhu Yunxuan to release the prisoners quickly. Whether it was a negotiation or surrender, it was just a matter of semantics. Settling the issue swiftly would allow them to return to the capital sooner. To these officials, a distant, barbaric minor nation was insignificant. They were unaware of how hard-fought the naval victory was for the Great Yan, believing that the long-plaguing pirates had been completely eradicated with little else to consider.

Zhu Yunxuan's brow furrowed at their dismissive remarks. He had personally witnessed the power of the foreigners' ships and cannons that fateful night. If not for their preparedness and Liang Zhen's insider assistance, the outcome could have been different.

"How can it be that our Great Yan naval force emerged victorious, yet we are negotiating and releasing them as if they are being granted a favor? It might appear to outsiders that our Great Yan court is vulnerable to exploitation."

The one who dared to lecture was not the emperor seated on the imperial throne. The voice echoed from outside, growing louder with each step, laced with mocking disdain. Everyone present instinctively turned to look, and a figure emerged from the shadows, strolling into the room. Once he stood at the center, all could see his face clearly.

Countless pairs of eyes, filled with surprise and uncertainty, fell upon him. Liang Zhen smiled, looking at Zhu Yunxuan, "This subject, Xiao Nian, pays respect to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yunxuan's brows knitted together. After a pause, he commanded in a deep voice, "A chair for you."

The seat was placed to Zhu Yunxuan's left. Liang Zhen thanked the emperor and sat down gracefully, yet with an air of nonchalance. He leaned back into the chair, his gaze casually sweeping over those present.

Most were familiar faces. Zhu Yunxuan had brought almost half of his courtiers on this royal tour. Three of the six cabinet ministers accompanied him, with the chief minister remaining in the capital to govern. Now standing at the forefront was the deputy minister, who, back when he ranked among the last in the cabinet, had often been driven to rage by Liang Zhen's antics in the imperial court.

It was he who initially urged Zhu Yunxuan to release the prisoners.

The hall fell silent for a moment, only to be followed by hushed whispers among the ministers. All eyes turned to Liang Zhen, filled with astonishment, confusion, and even helplessness.

Feeling helpless, Zhu Yunxuan coughed softly, urging everyone to quiet down. The chief deputy nearly popped out his eyeballs as he gritted his teeth, demanding of Liang Zhen, "Who are you?"

Liang Zhen turned to look at Zhu Yunxuan, a smile in his eyes. He replied to the question, "Didn't I just say? My surname is Xiao, my given name is Nian, and my father is Xiao Junbo."

...!!!

Who was Xiao Nian? He was the future Empress of Great Yan, the biological father of the prince! But standing before them was Liang Zhen, the traitorous king who had been punished three years ago! No one could resemble another person so closely; their appearances were entirely different, not to mention the arrogant tone and demeanor that vividly resembled the former Prince Zhao! They wouldn't mistake him for anyone else, even if he were ashes!

When the young prince suddenly appeared, they secretly admired the emperor's resilience, imagining the struggles he faced concealing his pregnancy without being discovered, while also battling the treacherous king. A single misstep would have meant the loss of two lives. Yet, it turned out that the child was sired by that very traitor! What Xiao Nian? What pseudonym due to certain circumstances? Rubbish!

The faces of the courtiers flushed red and then paled, their grievances bottling up inside. After enjoying their bewildered expressions, Liang Zhen found it amusing. "Weren't we discussing the foreign captives? Carry on."

Zhu Yunxuan asked directly, "What's your opinion?"

Liang Zhen smiled. "I agree with His Majesty's previous stance. This war cannot be fought in vain. Since these foreigners dared to collude with pirates to invade, they must pay the price. If they wish to retrieve their captives, they must first provide ample compensation to the court of Great Yan. It's said that Viscount Porand is the nephew of their king, a member of their royal family. If they want him back, they should show some sincerity."

The Deputy Minister reflexively countered, "That's easier said than done. What if they refuse to surrender?"

"Then we keep fighting until they yield," Liang Zhen replied coolly.

"Their homeland is thousands of miles away, and even the Java Island they occupy in the South Seas is distant from our Great Yan. There has been no enmity between us. Why waste our military strength?"

Liang Zhen interrupted with disdain, "If there truly was no animosity, they wouldn't have colluded with pirates to invade our Great Yan borders. Such wolfish ambitions must be crushed early on. Do you really want to wait until they become a real threat to our dynasty?"

Without giving the other man a chance to refute, he directly proposed to Zhu Yunxuan, "Duke Ding has yet to return with the Fujian and Guangdong naval forces. Gyeryong isn't far from Java Island either. Why not have them sail over for a show of force? As I understand it, the Western Continent is currently plagued by constant warfare. Many of those foreign troops stationed in the South Seas have already recalled half their forces, especially those from Java Island, who suffered heavy losses in their battle against our Great Yan. Most of their remaining ships have returned to their home soil, leaving them incapable of resisting our naval forces. Even just a brief show of force at their doorstep would be enough to intimidate them into surrendering obediently."

"Moreover," Liang Zhen continued leisurely, "they're eager to earn in Great Yan because their homeland is at war, requiring vast sums of silver for support. If they persist in refusing to surrender, we'll prohibit all their trading activities within our borders. Then, it will be them who grow anxious. The Western Continent is dotted with countless small kingdoms; if they don't cooperate, others will vie for trade relations with our dynasty. The initiative is already in our hands."

Someone dissented, "If they're so short on funds, how can we expect them to pay reparations after surrendering?"

Liang Zhen curled his lips. "They'll have no choice but to pay. If they can't pay now, we'll arrange for installment payments. In the future, half of every tael they earn in our realm will go toward repaying their debts and interests until their obligations are cleared."

A subtle smile flickered in Zhu Yunxuan's eyes. He intervened, silencing those still debating and questioning, and issued an imperial edict: "My mind is made up. Follow General Xiao's plan. Send out the order – instruct Duke Ding to lead the naval forces to Java Island."

The ministers: "..."

Very well, henceforth the court of the Great Yan will not only have an emperor whose word holds great weight, but also an empress who openly interferes in politics. Let them proceed as they will.

Yet, at this moment, someone ignorant of the situation stepped forward, still the same censor who had previously been reprimanded by the young prince for being "too fierce, not likable." He rose and loudly challenged Liang Zhen, "You claim to be General Xiao Junbo's son. What proof do you have? Clearly, you are actually..."

Zhu Yunxuan's expression instantly turned cold. Others shook their heads inwardly; this person was indeed a fearless fool, yet they couldn't help but look to Liang Zhen, curious about his reaction. Liang Zhen's expression remained unchanged as he smiled calmly, interrupting the censor, "Proof? Why would I need evidence to prove that I am my father's son? May I ask, esteemed Censor, how do you verify that the son your wife bore is truly your son, and not the offspring of neighbor Wang or Zhao?"

"You—!"

Someone couldn't hold back a snicker, causing the censor to turn red with anger, raising his voice regardless, "What was your status in the capital three years ago? How did you meet His Majesty and conceive the crown prince? Do you dare to say?!"

Liang Zhen clicked his tongue. "Are you trying to pry into the Emperor's private affairs?"

Zhu Yunxuan intervened promptly, speaking calmly, "Enough. General Xiao and I share a deep bond. Back then, due to the uncertainty surrounding the South Sea affair, it was inconvenient for him to reveal his identity in public. Hence, our relationship was kept from the public eye. There is no need to mention this matter again in the future."

The ministers: "......."

The censor: "............"

With the Emperor insisting on turning a blind eye to the truth, what could they possibly say?

Let us return to the matter at hand. When it came to the affair involving King Zhao, only the former House of Marquis of Anle and the House of Prince Xian were truly held accountable. This was due to the fact that Prince Xian himself had long been a thorn in the Emperor's side. There were already rumors of discord between the Liang family members and Liang Zhen, stemming from their private disagreements. Furthermore, those subordinates of Liang Zhen who were exiled were indeed proven to harbor disloyal intentions and had actively incited him to rebellion. Their punishment was therefore entirely justifiable.

As for the others, even those high-ranking officials who had been close friends with Liang Zhen, they were merely demoted and had to behave themselves for a while. Back then, they believed it was due to the emperor's benevolence, not wanting to destabilize the foundation of the kingdom. Now, looking back, it was clear that it was a battle between gods, and they were spared from the collateral damage as mere mortals...

After all, when a married couple quarrels at the foot of their bed, they reconcile at the head of it by the end of three years. Why should they, outsiders, meddle in their affairs?

The censor attempted to protest further, but he was forcefully pushed back into the line by the people on either side of him, silencing his voice.

With the matters discussed, the assembly of courtiers withdrew. Exiting the chamber, they all still felt as if they were in a daze, an surreal sensation lingering. They looked at each other, and could not help but smile bitterly. After three years of tranquility, they had suddenly returned to their former state. How could one mere 'bitter' character encompass the depth of their suffering?

Zhu Yunxuan rose to his feet but was promptly pulled down onto Liang Zhen's lap. Gao An, perceptive as ever, led the servants away, granting them privacy.

With a hint of annoyance, Zhu Yunxuan nudged Liang Zhen's shoulder. "Instead of resting in your chambers, you come here to show off? And you didn't even bother to inform me beforehand."

Liang Zhen chuckled, brushing the tip of his nose against Zhu Yunxuan's face. "It just so happened that everyone is here today. Let them witness it clearly, sparing me from their endless curiosity and annoyance."

Zhu Yunxuan scoffed lightly. "Seems like you're quite pleased with yourself."

Liang Zhen continued with a smile. "Well, I still need His Majesty's cooperation. Thank you for granting me this favor, Your Majesty."

Chapter 86: Before Departure

Ten days later, He Huailing led the Fujian and Guangdong naval forces back to Quanzhou harbor, accompanied by a letter of surrender from the Javanese tributary state and the promise that the first installment of reparations would arrive soon. They also requested that the captives be returned.

With all matters settled, Liang Zhen's injuries, after over twenty days of recuperation, were almost fully healed. Zhu Yunxuan finally issued the order to depart for the capital in three days.

Before that, there was one crucial task that had been giving Zhu Yunxuan headaches: how to break the news to little Rong'er.

Rong'er now fully accepted both him and Liang Zhen, but separating the child from Zhu Yunjing and the others might not be so easy. Zhu Yunxuan didn't want to hurt the boy's feelings.

These past few days, Zhu Yunxuan had been torn and procrastinating, but with departure imminent, he could delay no longer. In the end, it was Zhu Yunjing who initiated the conversation with the child. Upon hearing the news, Rong'er's eyes instantly filled with tears, and he sobbed, "Wah... I don't want to go. I don't want to leave here. I want my papa, don't abandon Rong'er."

Zhu Yunjing helplessly knelt down, wiping away the child's tears, and shot a meaningful look at the awkward Zhu Yunxuan. Zhu Yunxuan stepped forward, lifted his son into his arms, and reassured him, "Rong'er, don't cry. Your big papa isn't abandoning you. Just come with Papa for now. When the year ends, they'll come to visit you in the capital, okay?"

He had already decided to recall He Huailing to the capital, but that would have to wait until his term ended at the end of the year.

Sniffling, Rong'er looked up at Zhu Yunxuan with a pitiful expression. After a moment, he turned back to Zhu Yunjing, "...Really?"

Zhu Yunjing stroked his face and smiled, assuring him, "Really, Papa will always love Rong'er."

The child blinked, no longer crying, and after a moment of hesitation, nestled onto Zhu Yunxuan's shoulder, whispering softly, "Rong'er is good. Daddy, you must also like Rong'er."

Zhu Yunxuan gently patted his back, finally reassured. "Silly little one."

For the rest of the day, Rong'er seemed downcast. Upon learning the reason, Liang Zhen chuckled and scooped the child into his arms, asking, "Why is Rong'er so petty? Other babies have only one father and parent, but you want two of everything. Are you that greedy?"

The child stared at him blankly. "Isn't it allowed?"

Liang Zhen shook his head with a smile. "Your brothers Yuan Bao and Ming also have only one father and parent. Why do you want two? Good children shouldn't be so greedy."

"Rong'er isn't greedy, can't I really have it all? ... Then Rong'er doesn't want Father anymore."

"Don't want Father?"

With reddened eyes, the child complained pitifully, "Rong'er wants the previous Father..."

"Liang Zhen: ..."

He pinched his son's chin in a mix of laughter and tears. "Ungrateful little one, who was it that picked up your kite, gave you lanterns, wove rabbits for you, and even took you to collect seashells? If you don't want Father, then Father won't want you either. Father will go find another baby."

"No way!" The child shook his head forcefully. "No, no, no! Father said he doesn't want any other babies. Father can't go back on his word!"

"Then did you just say you don't want me? Is your father as good to you as I am?" Liang Zhen pouted and rubbed the child's nose, feeling rather upset. What was so good about He Huailing, that soldier who clearly had no romantic inclinations? How could his own son prefer him over him?

Rong'er seemed to realize his mistake and cuddled into Liang Zhen's arms coquettishly. "Rong'er wants everyone, Papa and Father, both of you!"

".... You little rascal, you're even more domineering than your father."

The night before their departure, Zhu Yunjing arranged for a feast with fine wine and dishes to bid farewell to Zhu Yunxuan and company.

It was Liang Zhen's first time sharing a meal with Zhu Yunxuan's elder brother. He behaved very respectfully, pouring himself a drink as soon as they sat down, then raising his cup to Zhu Yunjing and He Huailing.

Zhu Yunxuan frowned, reminding him, "Your wounds have only just scabbed over. Don't drink too much."

Liang Zhen smiled at him. "Just a few cups, it'll be fine."

After reassuring Zhu Yunxuan, he turned his smile to Zhu Yunjing and He Huailing sitting across from him. His expression was unusually solemn. "I'll raise a toast to both of you first. In these past few years, thank you for taking Rong'er to Southern Border for treatment and nurturing him so well. Words cannot express my gratitude; I will remember this kindness in my heart and repay it a thousandfold in the future."

Zhu Yunxuan was slightly stunned, his gaze flickering softly towards Liang Zhen. Zhu Yunjing remained still, merely staring coldly at Liang Zhen lifting his cup. After a brief standoff, He Huailing raised his cup first, smoothing things over. "There's no need for thanks. It's what we should do. Rong'er is such an obedient and sensible child, we truly dote on him from the bottom of our hearts."

He gently nudged Zhu Yunjing with his hand, but Zhu Yunjing remained silent. Zhu Yunxuan also raised his cup and sighed. "Brother, I should also offer you both a toast. You've worked hard these past few years."

Only then did Zhu Yunjing grip his wine cup and coldly address Liang Zhen. "I've never approved of A Xuan being with you, and I still don't have high hopes for your relationship. But it's A Xuan's choice, and I won't oppose it. However, if there's ever a next time we're needed to rescue him, I won't hold back anymore. Even if A Xuan tries to stop me, I'll personally clear the court of any threats for him."

Liang Zhen nodded with a smile. "Very well, if that day comes, I'll leave it to your discretion without objection. I'll take a drink first to show my respect!"

With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup in one go.

Watching this, Zhu Yunxuan's expression softened. He turned to Zhu Yunjing and said, "Brother, I trust him, and I trust myself. There won't be a next time. Please rest assured."

He also drank his wine decisively. He Huailing followed suit, finishing his cup with great gusto. When it was Zhu Yunjing's turn, despite his reluctance, he drank more for Zhu Yunxuan's sake than Liang Zhen's. He tilted his head back and swallowed the wine.

Liang Zhen put down his cup and smiled. "Thank you, Brother and Brother-in-Law, for giving me this honor. Both of you can have peace of mind. As the future Empress, I will diligently assist His Majesty and ensure he never endures any hardship again."

He wasn't bothered by Zhu Yunjing's cold demeanor. He knew he had done many shameful things in the past. If not for Zhu Yunxuan's forgiving nature, they wouldn't be where they were today. It was only natural for others to doubt or criticize him. There would be ample time and opportunities ahead; he would prove his sincerity to Zhu Yunxuan to everyone.

Zhu Yunjing and He Huailing: "…"

They had never seen someone so shameless or so quick to ingratiate himself. They really couldn't understand what Zhu Yunxuan saw in him...

Zhu Yunxuan awkwardly cleared his throat, secretly glancing at Liang Zhen, who smiled and urged him to eat more. At first, the four of them were a bit uneasy dining together, but after a few rounds of drinks, they relaxed. Liang Zhen even began addressing He Huailing as his brother, discussing military strategies with great rapport.

Zhu Yunxuan kept a close eye on Liang Zhen, making sure he didn't drink too much. Eventually, he called for tea to replace the alcohol.

Zhu Yunjing observed everything, sighing inwardly but unable to say anything. His younger brother, even as an emperor with real power, was still completely captivated by Liang Zhen. It seemed this would never change. If one was willing to strike, the other was willing to endure; what could outsiders say?

As Liang Zhen and He Huailing discussed tactics, Zhu Yunxuan whispered to his brother, "Brother, don't always give him the cold shoulder. He's changed a lot since before and truly has my best interests at heart. Give him a chance to prove himself."

Frustrated, Zhu Yunjing tapped Zhu Yunxuan's forehead, just like when they were children. "You, growing older is pointless, as is being an emperor if you can't see this."

Zhu Yunxuan covered his forehead, laughing foolishly. "Without him, my life would truly be meaningless."

The dinner lasted until almost midnight before dispersing. While Zhu Yunxuan had prevented Liang Zhen from overindulging, he himself had drunk quite a bit.

Back in their room, after consuming a hangover soup, he gradually regained clarity. Holding Liang Zhen's hand, he asked, "Where's Rong'er?"

"He's already been taken by the nanny to sleep."

Zhu Yunxuan nodded hastily, and Liang Zhen took a warm cloth to wipe his face. Seeing Zhu Yunxuan staring blankly at him, he chuckled and pinched his chin. "What are you looking at?"

"… You'd better behave yourself in the future, or else Brother will really cleanse the court of your influences."

Liang Zhen raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried about me? Touched by my departure?"

Zhu Yunxuan muttered softly, "Don't get too complacent. If you dare, I'll deal with you myself, no need for Brother to intervene."

Liang Zhen pulled Zhu Yunxuan into his embrace and kissed his forehead. "I wouldn't dare, nor could I bear to."

Zhu Yunxuan's fingers traced circles on his shoulder. "Don't take Brother's words too seriously. His opinion doesn't count – only mine does."

Liang Zhen suppressed a laugh and agreed, "Yes, I only heed A Xuan's words."

"I see that you and Duke Ding get along quite well. You should interact more with him in the future."

"Duke Ding is a truly capable individual. Even without his connection to the Emperor and Brother, it would be wise to cultivate a relationship with him. I've known him longer than I've known His Majesty, so there's no need for you to worry about that. But yesterday, Rong'er, that little one, actually said he'd choose Duke Ding over me – ha, that really angered me."

Zhu Yunxuan laughed upon hearing this. "You deserved it. He's been raising Rong'er for three years; what do you, as a father who suddenly appeared from nowhere, have to compete with?"

Liang Zhen sighed, "Indeed, it's a shame."

Zhu Yunxuan closed his eyes and nestled against his neck, "Don't be sad, Rong'er is still young. In another two or three years, he'll definitely be closer to us."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly, "Your Majesty seems much more optimistic now than before, even comforting me in return."

"I was afraid you'd really take offense to it."

"Do you think I'm that petty? To hold a grudge against a three-year-old child?" Liang Zhen shook his head with a helpless smile, "If I were truly angry, I'd just give him a good spanking later on."

Zhu Yunxuan pondered seriously before nodding, "Hmm, that could work too."

Chapter 87: Departure for the Capital

The following morning, before dawn, the entourage was already assembled and ready to depart.

Rong'er, being a child who disliked waking up early, rubbed his eyes relentlessly, refusing to step down from his bed as he was pulled awake by his nanny. It wasn't until he was drowsily carried onto the imperial litter and saw Zhu Yunjing and He Huailing waving goodbye to him with his two elder brothers that he finally realized what was happening. At that instant, he burst into tears.

His cries were so loud that officials in the trailing carriages all craned their necks to look ahead. Zhu Yunxuan was at a loss, so he asked someone to take the child down and let Zhu Yunjing and company comfort him again.

Zhu Yunjing and He Huailing took turns holding the baby, eventually managing to soothe his tears. Yuan Bao tapped the child's forehead playfully, "Silly little one, you cried for your papa before, and now that your papa has come to fetch you home, you're still crying."

Upon hearing this, Rong'er's just-stopped tears threatened to flow once more. Ming'er promptly stuffed all his candies into the child's hand, "They're all yours, don't cry anymore, okay?"

Looking down at the bag of sweets in his hands, the child swallowed his sobs and sniffled pitifully, "Please come visit Rong'er, I'm a good boy, don't abandon Rong'er."

Both fathers, along with their elder brothers, laughed and nodded in agreement. The child finally managed a smile through his tears, waving his tiny hand, "Goodbye, Papa, Father, goodbye, Elder Brother Yuan Bao, Elder Brother Ming, Rong'er will miss you all. You must miss Rong'er too."

Zhu Yunxuan personally got out of the carriage to pick up the child, wiping away the remaining tears on his face, "Good baby, don't cry. We're going home now."

Before the procession started moving, Yuan Bao turned and ran to the back, stopping beside another carriage positioned behind the imperial litter. He tapped on the carriage door, and Zhu Yunqiong, who was inside, pushed open the window, looking at him with a conflicted expression.

Yuan Bao chuckled and took off the short sword at his waist, handing it to him. "Here, I got this sword from the Northern Yi. It's very sharp. It'll protect you. Farewell for now."

Zhu Yunqiong rubbed the ruby-encrusted scabbard in his hand, then smiled back at Yuan Bao after a moment. He took off a jade pendant around his neck and gave it to him. "I don't have anything else valuable. This is all I have. It's for you. Farewell."

Yuan Bao accepted the gift with a cheerful nod. "Alright, safe travels."

As the sun began to rise, the convoy finally set off. Rong'er watched the retreating figures from the carriage window, tears starting to fall again. Liang Zhen pulled the child into his arms and squeezed his hand. "If Little Treasure keeps crying, you'll become a crying mess. People will laugh at you."

Rong'er blinked away his tears. "Who would laugh at Rong'er?"

Liang Zhen chuckled. "Those old fellows you've met—some are fierce, some are sly, and others are flattering. Now that you're the Crown Prince, many people are watching our Little Treasure, waiting to see your mistakes. Don't let them have their way."

Zhu Yunxuan, who was sipping tea, couldn't help but frown at these words. "Rong'er is just a child. Why are you telling him such things? He won't understand."

Liang Zhen disagreed. "He has to listen even if he doesn't understand now. He'll get it eventually."

Indeed, the child didn't understand. He asked blankly, "What are 'old fellows'? Does Father mean lots of uncles?"

Liang Zhen smiled, teaching his son, "They aren't qualified to be called uncles by our esteemed Crown Prince. Be good, and if you ever dislike someone, tell Father. I'll teach them a lesson for you."

Rong'er nodded, not quite understanding but still delighted, clapping his hands cheerfully. "Great!"

Zhu Yunxuan: "…" Was there such a way to teach one's son?

After departing from Quanzhou, the royal entourage returned to the southern palace after over ten days of travel. They would stay for two more days before heading northward back to the capital.

Zhu Yunxuan had already issued an imperial edict, conferring a title on Zhu Yunqiong as a prince. He chose a territory in a county under Jingzhou for his fief, allowing him to remain there instead of returning to the capital.

Princess Shu He's residence in the south had also begun construction. Zhu Yunxuan was initially worried that she would be uncomfortable with the climate and food in the south. Surprisingly, she adapted to everything within a few short months and decided to stay put, dedicating her old age to cherishing the memories with her late husband here.

Meeting his great-aunt for the first time, Rong'er, with his sweet tongue, quickly won the princess's affection with a few flattering words, making her beam with joy as she hugged and kissed him endlessly.

Princess Shu He treated Liang Zhen similarly to how Zhu Yunjing did – cool and distant on the surface, but not giving him a cold shoulder. She merely nodded calmly when Liang Zhen greeted her respectfully, softly reminding him, "Live well with His Majesty and the Crown Prince from now on."

Liang Zhen naturally agreed, omitting the need to reiterate his loyalty to Zhu Yunxuan's family again.

After dinner, sensing that Princess Shu He wanted to speak privately with Zhu Yunxuan, Liang Zhen tactfully took Rong'er and retreated to their quarters.

Once they were alone, the princess held Zhu Yunxuan's hand and sighed softly. "I never imagined you'd end up together after all the twists and turns, and that you already have a child. Yet, you kept it from me all this while… you…"

Zhu Yunxuan was well aware that he had been in the wrong. He indeed had never mentioned Rong'er to the Grand Princess. He hurriedly apologized and took full responsibility for his mistake. The Grand Princess shook her head. "Forget it, I won't dwell on that. From my perspective, that Liang... Xiao Nian, right? He seems to have changed significantly. Perhaps he truly is a suitable match."

Zhu Yunxuan smiled in agreement. "Yes, he will be."

Seeing Zhu Yunxuan's infatuated expression, the Grand Princess saw a reflection of herself decades ago. She couldn't bring herself to spoil the moment and chuckled. "That's good too. Otherwise, being an emperor would be too lonely for you. It's nice to have someone by your side."

Zhu Yunxuan nodded, feeling reassured. "Aunt, please stay here comfortably. If you ever get tired of it, I'll send for you to return to the capital. If you feel bored, you can call Yunqiong over for company. His fief is just below Jingzhou, only half a day's journey away. I've already given him special permission to visit Jingzhou anytime to see you."

"I understand your intentions," the Grand Princess patted his hand. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him for you. Nothing bad will happen."

Zhu Yunxuan chuckled. "There's no need to be too strict with him. That child has a good nature. As long as he doesn't stray from the right path, I don't wish to mistreat him."

"Alright, it's up to you."

In the sleeping chamber, Rong'er lay naked on the bed, engrossed in playing with a bamboo-woven rabbit. Liang Zhen held a warm cloth, wiping his face and body.

This wasn't Liang Zhen's first time personally attending to his son; he had grown accustomed to doing so on the island. He didn't entrust this task to anyone else. The child had gained some weight recently, his arms resembling tender lotus stems, and his body plump with baby fat. It was hard to imagine that when he was born prematurely, he nearly didn't make it.

Liang Zhen found it amusing and intentionally tickled him, causing the child to giggle and squirm, dodging left and right. "Daddy's mean! Stop tickling Rong'er, I'll tell Father!"

"You've even learned to tattle on your father? Impressive, my little one, your tricks are growing more abundant by the day!" Liang Zhen teased his child, tickling until the youngster giggled uncontrollably, tears welling up in their eyes.

Upon entering the grand palace hall, Zhu Yunxuan could hear the mirthful laughter of a father and son. He paused, listening silently for a moment. With a gentle smile gracing his lips, he strode forward resolutely.

Upon seeing Zhu Yunxuan's return, Rong'er felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He struggled free from Liang Zhen's grasp and, with his bottom bare, climbed out of bed, crashing into Zhu Yunxuan's embrace. "Father, Father! Mother is being mean, Mother is tickling Rong'er, it's itchy!"

Zhu Yunxuan scooped up the child, laughing warmly. "Yes, Father is bad. Daddy will help you scratch him later."

With someone supporting him, the child was ecstatic. He wriggled onto Zhu Yunxuan's shoulder and clung to his neck, not forgetting to make a face at Liang Zhen.

Liang Zhen chuckled and pinched Rong'er's nose. "Little one, just you wait."

Zhu Yunxuan sat down by the bed with his son in his arms, gesturing at Liang Zhen with a quirk of his lips. "What are you up to? Having a wrestling match with our son? That's quite ambitious."

Liang Zhen's fingers playfully prodded Rong'er's chubby cheeks as he stretched lazily. "I was just teasing him. This kid is becoming more and more spoiled by the day."

"…You're no different yourself," Zhu Yunxuan murmured with a smile, leaving it at that. He gently patted his son's bottom. "Be good, stop fussing. It's time for bed."

But Rong'er was not ready to comply. He lifted a tiny foot towards Liang Zhen. "Wash, feet."

Liang Zhen playfully pinched his plump little foot, amused yet exasperated. "You're getting more and more disrespectful, huh? You dare to ask your old man to wash your feet?"

Rong'er couldn't break free and, with his ticklish soles scratched, he laughed uncontrollably, tumbling into Zhu Yunxuan's arms.

Zhu Yunxuan helplessly swatted Liang Zhen's hand away. "Enough, teasing our son every day. Don't you feel ashamed?"

Liang Zhen clicked his tongue. "A Xuan, you're playing favorites."

"…Do you still have any sense of shame?"

Rong'er reached up to scratch his own face, giggling. "Daddy is blushing."

Liang Zhen: "…"

In the end, they both helped their son wash his feet, frolicking for almost an hour before finally settling Rong'er down to sleep. Zhu Yunxuan called for hot water to be brought in as he prepared to freshen up.

Liang Zhen leaned against the bedside, silently watching him remove his jade hairpin, his long hair cascading down, and his lithe form clad only in sheer, gauzy robes swaying before him. His gaze gradually darkened.

After a moment, he dismissed all the attendants in the chamber. Zhu Yunxuan was puzzled. "What are you doing? I haven't finished washing yet, and you haven't changed clothes…"

His words were interrupted as Liang Zhen pressed against him, embracing his waist. Zhu Yunxuan gasped softly as their flesh touched at his sensitive side. "What are you doing?"

Liang Zhen's lips brushed against his earlobe, chuckling lowly. "Your Majesty mentioned earlier that you would help Rong'er scratch me?"

"What do you think?"

Liang Zhen held his hand and placed it on a certain part of himself that had already reacted. His voice turned hoarse. "Would you scratch here, please?"

Zhu Yunxuan was speechless. "Is this how you set an example? Rong'er is still here."

Ever since leaving Quanzhou, they had been sleeping with their son at night to ease his adjustment. Their father-son relationship had become more harmonious, but at times... it was indeed quite inconvenient.

Liang Zhen's eyes rolled slightly. "Let's go to the outer couch. We'll come back after we're done."

Zhu Yunxuan: "..."

Why had they, as emperor and empress, descended to the point of having secret trysts?