Chapter 077 – This Miserable Young Master – “This damn man” (08/08)
After spending over a month on sea, the great ship finally reached the docks of Meial City at the border of the Kingdom of Leisen.
As soon as the ship docked, the pier was filled with enthusiastic people holding assorted trinkets—shell-carved ornaments, items crafted from animal scales, and more—held high in the air.
“The young prince has returned!”
“Your Highness, was the Great Cloud Kingdom fun~?”
“Welcome back, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness…”
Listening to the lively voices outside, Ai Xiu pulled Xie Chenyang toward the crowd. Raising their clasped hands high, he smiled and announced, “Not only have I returned, but I’ve brought back my princess consort!”
“What? Your Highness has a princess consort?”
“She must be from the Great Cloud Kingdom, right? She doesn’t look like a Leisen.”
“Goodness, all these years the prince rejected so many warriors. Could it be he actually prefers someone like those from the Great Cloud Kingdom?”
“I knew it! Whether it was male or female warriors, His Highness wouldn’t take any. Turns out he likes the fragile type from the Great Cloud Kingdom.”
“Congratulations to His Royal Highness~”
The crowd gathered at the dock chattered excitedly, their unguarded gazes scrutinizing Xie Chenyang.
[Dad, am I fragile?]
You Huang remarked delicately, “Even their physician seems more robust than you.”
As for Ai Xiu, he looked like a delicate boy, but his physique was rock-solid—just look at those abs.
Xie Chenyang: “…” Feeling a bit withdrawn.
Undeniably, Ai Xiu’s physique was indeed lean and muscular.
As for the original host, Yang Zhou, even though he’d helped out at the family food stall since childhood and had decent strength, he certainly didn’t have any visible muscle definition.
His appearance was undeniably frail.
Yang Fushui had been studying the Resen language with Asa for over a month. She mostly understood what those people were saying now and was somewhat surprised. “People in your country can actually discuss the royal family like this in public?”
You see, back home, even mentioning the royal family in private was considered taboo.
Asa replied, “Yes. Here, nothing is off-limits. Everyone enjoys freedom of speech. If members of the royal family make mistakes, people can criticize them, and those who err will face appropriate punishment.”
Watching the men and women mingling freely on the dock, Yang Fushio murmured, “How wonderful.”
Ai Xiu led Xie Chenyang off the ship by hand.
Two attendants had already stepped forward briskly to receive the gifts from everyone.
“This is for His Royal Highness.”
“This was meant for the young prince, but since the Princess Consort is here, it’s for her instead!”
“This is…”
Eyes sparkling with amusement, Ai Xiu guided Xie Chenyang into the carriage, squeezing his hand. “You’ll love it here.”
Xie Chenyang returned the gesture. “Wherever you are, of course I’ll love it.”
They settled into a grand mansion.
Servants had already prepared hot water and were cooking their meal.
Xie Chenyang and Ai Xiu luxuriated in a spacious bathtub, soaking comfortably.
Ai Xiu leaned back against the tub’s edge, legs stretched out, eyes half-closed. “I bought this house long ago as a reserve. We’ll rest here tonight and head to the imperial city tomorrow.”
Xie Chenyang grasped his ankle. His voice was slightly hoarse. “You’ve been through a lot. Let me give you a full-body massage to relax.”
His hands moved steadily upward.
Yang Fusui and Asa sat together drinking coconut juice.
“Doctor Asa, my brother is a man. Would your emperor approve of him being with His Royal Highness?”
Asa: “We call him the King here. In Resen, partners are not restricted by gender. His Majesty would certainly approve.”
Yang Fusui smiled. “Then can women here also work independently and support themselves?”
She had noticed it earlier at the dock. Women lived openly and confidently, running shops and street stalls.
Asa replied matter-of-factly, “Of course they can. Positions go to the capable, regardless of gender. Our last king was a woman.”
“Thank you, Doctor Asa.”
“It’s nothing.”
The roads of Resen were smooth, allowing the carriage to travel swiftly.
A week later, they arrived at the imperial capital, Ledu City.
The royal palace shone with golden splendor.
Unlike the solemn and austere palaces of the Great Cloud Kingdom, the royal palace of the Kingdom of Raisen was also resplendent in gold and splendor, but adorned with numerous pearls, shells, and various exotic plants and flowers that Yang Fusui couldn’t name.
Yang Fusui whispered, “What is that?”
Asa replied, “Coral. It’s fake, just for display.”
Yang Fusui was slightly startled. “It looks so real.”
Asa smiled. “Someday I’ll take you to see real coral.”
A crowd awaited inside the palace.
Ai Xiu released Xie Chenyang’s hand and trotted forward. “Dear family, I’m back~”
Xie Chenyang: “…” He’d been fretting about how to greet everyone individually, but ”family” handled it all. Brilliant.
After greeting everyone intimately, Ai Xiu returned to Xie Chenyang’s side, took his hand, and announced, “This is my consort, Yang Zhou.”
Xie Chenyang met their gazes and smiled. “Hello.”
Ai Xiu continued, “This is my father, Aifuren. This is…”
He introduced each person in turn, and Xie Chenyang nodded and greeted them one by one.
Yang Fushui felt deeply embarrassed.
Could Brother possibly remember all of them? Every single person? Wouldn’t it be terribly awkward if he encountered someone later and couldn’t recall their name?
Ai Xiu’s parents saw no issue with him bringing a consort back from the Great Cloud Kingdom. They welcomed the siblings warmly and promptly set a wedding date.
To their delight, both siblings spoke the Leisen language, making communication completely seamless.
As a gift from her brother-in-law, Ai Xiu presented Yang Fusui with a large mansion, not far from the busiest streets. Yang Fusui accepted it cheerfully, without any hesitation.
The Leisen wedding ceremony differed from that of Dayun’s.
On the day Xie Chenyang and Ai Xiu married, they wore Leisen attire, stood before family and guests, exchanged vows before the heavens, hosted a banquet, registered their marriage at the Marriage Bureau the next day, and then updated their household records at the Civil Registry.
From that day forward, they were husband and husband, bound to share life’s fortunes and misfortunes.
After much consideration in the imperial city, Yang Fushui ultimately chose to study medicine, enrolling as a student at a medical academy. Upon learning this, Asa would often guide her or bring her along during house calls, allowing her to observe up close.
When they developed feelings for each other and decided to marry, Xie Chenyang was not surprised.
Ai Xiu, however, was somewhat puzzled:.“I recall Asa once mentioning he preferred women with ‘rolling waves’.”
Xie Chenyang replied, “People change.”
Ai Xiu fell silent for a moment. “True. Lately, my brothers and sisters keep saying I’ve grown distant, that I don’t act spoiled with them anymore. But I have a partner now. How could I still act spoiled with them?”
Xie Chenyang chuckled. “So, do you want to act spoiled?”
Ai Xiu tugged at his clothes. “I only want to act spoiled with you.”
“Are you hot?”
“A little.”
“You’re all sweaty. Let me help you undress.”
Once undressed, things spiraled out of hand.
Just as the system had predicted.
As time passed, Ai Xiu’s personality grew increasingly familiar to Xie Chenyang. Outwardly stern and aloof, yet inwardly gentle.
So much so that the other princes and princesses assumed he was unhappy, no longer the arrogant, naive, and lively figure he once was.
To this, Ai Xiu simply remarked, “I’ve grown up.”
Satisfied he wasn’t being mistreated, his siblings stopped worrying. They quickly accepted his change and took great delight in teasing him.
Unable to bear the constant disturbance, Ai Xiu slipped away with Xie Chenyang.
They returned to the Great Cloud Kingdom.
—— —– —–
Yizhou City. The Bai residence.
After giving birth to her youngest son, Bai Yusheng, Mother Bai longed to visit Xie Chenyang in the Kingdom of Leisen. But the child was too young for such a long journey, so she planned to wait until he was older.
That wait lasted three years.
“Xiao Sheng is three now and in good health. Shall we prepare to visit Xiao Zhou? I wonder how he’s faring over there.”
Bai Father pondered for a moment. “Very well. Let me arrange our affairs, and we’ll depart in a couple of days.”
Mother Bai’s face lit up with joy. “Xiao Sheng looks so much like Xiao Zhou. He’ll adore him.”
Father Bai corrected, “He looks like me.” Both of them.
“Master, Mistress, Young Master has returned with your son-in-law!” the servant bellowed from outside before even entering the gate.
No one blamed him for his haste. Father and Mother Bai hurried out to greet them.
Xie Chenyang, now much more mature and with a well-toned physique, smiled at them. “Father, Mother, your son has returned as promised.”
“Good, good boy. Your younger brother is asleep. I’ll go wake him…”
“No need…”
“He’ll be so excited to meet you!”
Xie Chenyang watched as Mother Bai, wiping away tears, hurried back to her room. His gaze softened.
Watching the scene, You Huang felt a profound sense of his son’s maturity. He clearly remembered when they first bonded, Xie Chenyang’s temper had been a ticking time bomb, always on edge and lacking patience. Now he was much steadier.
You Huang thought, This is all thanks to my influence.
Like a meticulously cultivated flower, he had grown into… cough.
A chill touched Xie Chenyang’s forehead, and he instinctively covered it.
Strange. What’s going on?
Ai Xiu: “What’s wrong?”
They stayed in Yizhou City for two months, then traveled around Dayun for a while. Only two years later did they leisurely return to Leisen Kingdom.
Yang Fushui had given birth to two children and had even quietly asked Xie Chenyang if he wanted to adopt one. Xie Chenyang refused without hesitation.
Ai Xiu had also been hinted at multiple times by his older siblings about sending one of their children to them to raise. Of course, Ai Xiu also refused.
Just as they had sworn on their wedding day, they would grow old together, share life and death.
And depart on the same day.
—- —- —-
Xie Chenyang returned to You Huang’s space, gazing at the ocean. “Dad, a whole world has passed. Has the seafood in the sea increased~?”
You Huang: “No.”
Xie Chenyang: Sigh.
The next moment, You Huang materialized in human form. With a wave of his hand, a teppanyaki grill and a bucket of seafood appeared.
You Huang tilted his head at him. “Teppanyaki. Want some?”
“Yes! Thanks, Dad!”
You Huang’s cooking was superb. Xie Chenyang nearly ate his own tongue.
You Huang: “Finished eating?”
“Finished? Then let’s go and do our next mission.”
“Aren’t you eating?”
“No.”
…… Bad move.
Thought I could see his true face while he ate!
This damn man hides too well.
After sending him to the next world, You Huang sat in his original spot, removed his mask, picked up a piece of squid with his chopsticks, and popped it into his mouth. A warm smile flickered across his otherwise expressionless features.
~~~~
Krone: I’m wondering about who he(You Huang) really is xD it’s making me extremely curious
Shiotamari: I’m thinking it’s gotta be his lover’s natal weapon. His form is a bamboo flute right? And maybe shaped/acts similar to his master because… reasons…
Or, part of his lover’s soul that he split off to help guide him?
~~~~
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
