Chapter 076 – This Miserable Young Master – “Set Sail” (07/08)
When the butler sent someone to fetch Bai Yutao, he did not inform him of the events unfolding at home.
Since the young masters of prominent families had initiated the gathering, they naturally would not depart before it began. Thus, Bai Yutao lingered for a long time, only returning home with the butler after the event concluded.
Seeing the butler wait so patiently, he assumed it was nothing of great consequence.
But upon entering the parlor and seeing Xie Chenyang, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Bai Zhuang, the memory of being cast out of his home in his previous life flashed before his eyes.
His face instantly drained of color, his mind consumed by a single thought: It’s over.
Xie Chenyang offered a faint smile. “I didn’t die. Are you disappointed?”
In Bai Yutao’s calculations, there was no way Yang Zhou could’ve returned alive. That’s why he’d made no effort to conceal his dealings with Li Chengwang.
He knew that the matter wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny.
In his previous life, merely displeasing Yang Zhou had been enough to get him kicked out of the family. This time, he’d even gone so far as to attack…
Bai Yutao snapped back to reality and immediately tried to turn and run.
Guards stationed outside blocked his path. His guilty, fleeing demeanor left no need for Bai’s parents to ask questions.
Xie Chenyang rose, pacing step by step toward Bai Yutao, who was pinned by guards at the doorway. Leaning slightly, he murmured, “Killing demands retribution. You’re as good as dead.”
Bai Yutao’s pupils contracted.
Xie Chenyang took a step back. “Then we’ll expunge his name from the family registry, banish him from the household, and make his deeds public. Father, Mother, do you have any objections?”
Naturally, the Bai parents had none.
Bai Yutao was thus cast out of the family. Soon after, the Bai family publicly announced the matter.
Ai Xiu asked in confusion, “Just let him go like that?”
In their country of Leisen, such a person would never escape the death penalty.
Xie Chenyang replied, “Of course not.”
Bai Yutao had killed Yang’s parents and forced Yang Fusui into a brothel. Merely expelling him from the family was hardly enough.
The Bai family was the foremost noble house in Yizhou City.
Soon, the entire city learned the truth: Bai Yutao, the Bai family’s only son, was not biologically theirs at all—he’d been switched at birth.
Upon learning his true origins, Bai Yutao sent men to slaughter the biological son of the Bai family and his biological parents. The original Yang Zhou, now known as Bai Zhou, had narrowly escaped death and returned.
Yet Bai Zhou proved to be soft-hearted. Though his adoptive parents were murdered, he merely banished the mastermind from the family estate. While people lamented Bai Zhou’s lack of discernment, their contempt for Bai Yutao—or rather, Yang Yutao—was unmistakable.
The Bai family had raised him in luxury and privilege. He had occupied Bai Zhou’s position for years. Knowing the truth, he showed no gratitude or compensation—worse still, he even killed to cover it up. It was utterly despicable!
Bai Yutao had frequently appeared in public, and most people in Yizhou City recognized him. Now, wherever he went, he was pointed at and spat on. His inner world became deeply twisted.
He was driven from the Bai household penniless, carrying nothing, with no servants by his side. Suddenly, even basic necessities like food and shelter became a struggle. Former friends avoided him one by one. With nowhere else to turn, he sought out Li Chengwang.
“Didn’t you say you’d thrown him into the sea? How did he come back?”
Li Chengwang had also heard that Yang Zhou had been recognized as a Bai family member and renamed Bai Zhou. He had already sent his mother back to the countryside and was packing his valuables to leave Yizhou City.
Now Bai Yutao had come knocking, hurling bitter accusations at him. He couldn’t help but sneer coldly: “You could’ve killed him outright. Instead, you made me toy with his emotions, then cast him into the sea to drown. Now he’s managed to crawl out of the water alive—what business is that of mine?”
Bai Yutao saw his bundle and said, eyes reddened, “You’re leaving? Take me with you!“
Li Chengwang pushed him away, disgusted. ”You’re a stray dog now. It’s one thing that you can’t keep your promises to me, but now you want me to carry you along while I’m running for my life? Dream on!“
Bai Yutao roared, ”If you don’t take me, you won’t step out that door!“
Li Chengwang, fearing Bai Yutao might throw caution to the wind, flashed a glimpse of ruthlessness in his eyes and agreed to take him along.
Some time after leaving the city, while Bai Yutao slept, Li Chengwang ruthlessly killed him and abandoned the body in the wilderness.
Just as he thought changing locations would bring him peace, his carriage was stopped. Lifting the curtain to see who had come, Li Chengwang paled.
Xie Chenyang rode up with Ai Xiu on a horse, smiling warmly at him. “Long time no see, Chengwang.”
Li Chengwang forced himself to steady, his eyes reddening as he spoke with feigned emotion, “Xiao Zhou, I’ve finally seen you again! I was just heading to Dongle City to find you. Listen to me, my servant took it upon himself–”
“Don’t say another word. I don’t want to hear it.”
Xie Chenyang shook his head and glanced toward the rear of the carriage. Li Chengwang heard the rhythmic clatter of hooves and a sense of dread washed over him. The hoofbeats halted beside the carriage.
“Young Master!”
Xie Chenyang tilted his chin, his gaze tender yet his voice icy. “Tie him to a stone and sink him in the pond. Let him taste the agony of drowning.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The coachman was pushed aside, trembling in fear.
Li Chengwang, bound by guards, cried out in desperation, “Xiaozhou, you must believe me! I didn’t know you’d be thrown into the sea! I loved you so much…”
Ai Xiu’s voice was icy. “Gag him.”
Li Chengwang’s mouth was stuffed shut, and he was dragged down.
Xie Chenyang slipped his arms around Ai Xiu’s waist, gripping the reins as he dug his heels into the horse’s flanks. “Hup!”
The horse’s pace was kept steady, neither too fast nor too slow.
Xie Chenyang’s lips brushed against Ai Xiu’s ear. “Angry?”
Ai Xiu nestled into his embrace, his voice cool. “Just kill him. Why bother with all this nonsense?”
Xie Chenyang looked innocent. “I didn’t say anything to him.”
Ai Xiu pressed his lips tightly together, falling silent.
Xie Chenyang kissed his ear. “In my heart and eyes, there’s only you.”
Ai Xiu closed his eyes, his ears flushing slightly. “I know.”
It was Li Chengwang’s gaze and his words that made him uncomfortable. “I really want to gouge out his eyes.”
Xie Chenyang: “Then I’ll turn around and take you back to do it? He probably hasn’t drowned in the pond yet.”
Ai Xiu: “…No need.”
“Are you sure?”
“No need!”
Xie Chenyang chuckled softly and sped up as they entered the city.
The great vengeance had been exacted.
Xie Chenyang found Yang Fusui. “What do you want to do now?”
In this world, she had no blood relatives left. Only Xie Chenyang remained, her brother of many years.
Yang Fusui gathered her courage. “I want to go with Brother.” Nervous, she added, “May… may I still call you Brother?”
“Of course you may.”
“Can I follow Brother?”
Xie Chenyang sighed helplessly. “But I’m heading to the Kingdom of Leisen with Ai Xiu. Leaving our homeland for a foreign land—are you truly prepared for that?”
“With Brother, His Royal Highness the Prince, and Doctor Asa by my side, going to the Kingdom of Leisen with you all is far better than remaining alone and helpless in Central Plains,” Yang Fusui whispered softly. “Brother, I won’t be a burden. Please take me with you, okay?”
But simply leaving like this still felt unsettling.
Xie Chenyang exchanged a Fertility Pill and discreetly administered it to Mother Bai. A month later, Mother Bai confirmed she was pregnant.
Only then did Xie Chenyang broach the subject of traveling to the Kingdom of Leisen with Father and Mother Bai.
Mother Bai struggled to accept it. “The Kingdom of Leisen… Your mother has never even heard of it. How far away must it be? Are you truly determined to go? Couldn’t… Couldn’t you let Xiao Xiu stay with you in Yizhou?”
Xie Chenyang replied, “Mother, Xiao Xiu is the prince of the Kingdom of Leisen. He must return.”
Mother Bai’s eyes welled with tears. “But… our family has only been reunited for a month.”
Xie Chenyang’s voice softened. “Now that our Great Yun Kingdom has opened its ports and trade routes are interconnected, travel will only become more convenient. If you two have time, you can take my younger brother… or sister to visit the Kingdom of Leisen. Ah-Xiu and I can also return often to see you.”
Mother Bai: “It takes a swift horse half a month from Yizhou to Dongle City, then a ship to the Kingdom of Leisen… Who knows how long that would take? How is that convenient?”
“I’ve already taken advantage of the prince. If I break my promise and refuse to return with him to marry, it might provoke war between the two nations.” Xie Chenyang’s expression turned serious.
Mother Bai froze. “How could war break out between nations?”
“Prince Ah-Xiu remains with me despite his royal status. If I betray him, wouldn’t that be slapping Leisen Kingdom in the face?” Xie Chenyang spoke with solemn conviction, “Mother, you may not know this, but Leisen Kingdom is no smaller than our Great Cloud. It was merely hidden by vast oceans before. Their armies are formidable, and their naval fleet is truly astonishing…”
Mother Bai’s brows knitted tightly.
“Mother, I will return to see you.”
Xie Chenyang’s resolve was firm, and his words had now reached the level of diplomatic concerns between nations. In the end, Father and Mother Bai could not refuse.
With Mother Bai carrying a child, Father Bai personally escorted them to Dongle City.
Representatives from the Kingdom of Leisen had been waiting there for several days for Ai Xiu and the others.
As Father Bai helped them aboard, he said solemnly, “Xiao Zhou, once your younger sibling is born, I’ll bring them to see you. And if you have time, come back often.”
“I will, Father. Don’t worry—I won’t let myself be disadvantaged.”
The great ship pulled away from the dock.
Xie Chenyang stood on the deck, watching Father Bai’s figure grow smaller and smaller against the pier. He finally averted his gaze.
[Though I only spent a short time with them, I didn’t expect their affection for me to run so deep.]
You Huang: “That’s the bond of blood, I suppose.”
[Sadly, I’m not their real son.]
You Huang: “They’ll have new children. You needn’t worry too much.”
[Though my memories are faulty, the fact that I’m an orphan is undoubtedly true.]
You Huang murmured softly, “But you’re not alone.” You have your master’s family.
[True. Now I have you as my father. Even if I’m not biologically yours, once a father, always a father. You must cherish me forever~]
You Huang: “…Mm.”
“Husband.” Xie Chenyang turned his head.
Ai Xiu waved at him. “Stop looking, you can’t see it anymore.”
Xie Chenyang acknowledged with a nod, walked over to stand beside him, and entered the cabin.
It was Yang Fusui’s first time at sea. She wasn’t in a hurry to go inside, standing outside watching the shimmering waves, her eyes filled with wonder and delight.
Asa stood beside her. “I’ve always wanted to ask. Your brother’s name is clearly Yang Zhou, so why did he ask His Highness to call him ‘husband’?”
Yang Fusui was also puzzled. “I don’t know either. Brother doesn’t have that nickname.”
Asa: “He even forbade me from using it, saying it’s a term of endearment reserved solely for His Highness. I thought it was how you Midlands people address your beloved.”
Having heard Ai Xiu call Xie Chenyang “husband” so often, he assumed it was his nickname. Once he tried it himself and got scolded for ages.
Yang Fusui covered her mouth and giggled softly. “Then it must be a term of endearment my brother created just for His Royal Highness. Doctor Asa, your midlander tongue has improved greatly.”
Asa: “All thanks to your excellent teaching.”
“You’re the clever one. You learn fast. Doctor Asa, how long until we reach the Kingdom of Leisen?”
“A little over a month.”
“That’s so long.”
“It’ll pass quickly. Now, shall I teach you Leisian?”
Yang Fusui withdrew her gaze from the sea and followed Asa back into the ship.
——–
Author’s Note: Better late than never.
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux