Upon hearing the completion of the reconstruction of coastal defense works in Jiangnan for the nth time, no one anticipated that the emperor would choose to embark on another southern tour. After all, during the last southern tour, he had come perilously close to losing his life at the hands of Japanese pirates.
Upon receiving this news, ministers in the court fervently offered advice to dissuade the emperor. However, it seemed that no one could shake the emperor’s determination to embark on another southern tour. Ultimately, left with no other option, they had to strengthen the accompanying escort team and redirect the planned route to avoid the sea areas where Japanese pirates were likely to appear.
Setting foot once again on this fertile land, Wen Liangyu became acutely aware that a whole month had passed since that incident.
He went to the tea house that He Heng had originally intended to take him to but couldn’t. They spent the whole day listening to storytelling. In the evening, amidst the dazzling lights, they visited the renowned snack street.
Despite the passage of time, the beauty of the Jiangnan region remained as bustling as ever, or perhaps even more so than in the past.
In the nighttime market, vibrant and dazzling lanterns adorned the streets. The air was filled with the shouts of vendors and the subdued laughter of people strolling in pairs or groups.
However, Wen Liangyu’s state of mind during this visit seemed markedly different. When he laid eyes on those novel things once again, his heart felt like stagnant water. No matter how lively the surroundings were, he couldn’t seem to stir up any ripples.
On this journey, Wen Liangyu only brought Xie Chong as his companion, without any of his usual shadow guards or anyone else by his side.
He had grown tired of the feeling of having a large group of people trailing behind him. Wen Liangyu felt truly exhausted, and at this moment, he just wanted to take a casual stroll.
As for why he brought Xie Chong, it was because He Heng had previously mentioned the man inadvertently. He emphasized that in the event of a crisis, Xie Chong must ensure the Emperor’s safety. Xie Chong took He Heng’s words to heart, and for this southern tour, he paid extra attention, determined to closely follow Wen Liangyu at all times, preventing any unforeseen incidents.
The secret affair was accidentally discovered by Xie Chong, and Wen Liangyu had no choice but to reluctantly agree to let him accompany. The condition, however, was to maintain the distance of a street between them.
The roads on the snack street were square and straight, all paved with square bricks. Xie Chong had even specifically counted that the distance of a street was exactly two bricks. Therefore, with every step he took, he counted the bricks beneath his feet to ensure he maintained the precise distance of a street from Wen Liangyu.
Unconsciously, Wen Liangyu walked to the street corner.
There, he saw the familiar sugar figure stall, with the same master as last time, and even the patterns of the sugar figures remained unchanged.
In that moment, Wen Liangyu felt a bit dazed. He instinctively stopped in his tracks, standing in front of the sugar figure stall. His gaze lingered on the sugar figures, but his eyes seemed vacant.
Seeing Wen Liangyu suddenly stop, Xie Chong, who was about to take another step, immediately panicked.
Oh no.
If he crossed this space now and turned around, it wouldn’t be the distance of a street anymore.
Thinking of this, he abruptly withdrew the foot he had just moved forward. However, because his eyes weren’t on the path and he collided straight into a roadside stall.
“Hey, how are the eyes of this young lad?”
The stall owner, a somewhat embarrassed and angry uncle, grabbed Xie Chong by the collar, starting to interrogate him.
“Ah, this…,” Xie Chong nervously scratched his head, “I… I didn’t mean to.”
The uncle clearly wasn’t letting him off easily. “Speak up, how are you going to compensate?”
“I’ll give you all the silver I have!” Xie Chong, wanting to avoid further trouble, took out all the silver he had on him.
While dealing with the stall owner, he hurriedly turned his head to keep an eye on Wen Liangyu. However, when he looked again, there was no sign of Wen Liangyu ahead.
Now, Xie Chong was even more flustered. What happened? In the blink of an eye, where did the Emperor, such a prominent figure, disappear to?
In fact, just in the corner a moment ago, there were two sneaky figures hidden in an inconspicuous alley where others wouldn’t easily notice.
Following the shaman’s instructions a few days ago, they came to this small town in Jiangnan, tasked with finding a wife for the Sea God.
After consulting with the villagers on the island, it was decided that the sacrificial offering definitely wouldn’t come from their village. Therefore, they set their sights on the Jiangnan region, the nearest to the island.
They say Jiangnan is abundant with beautiful women, so the two of them, representing the entire village, came to Jiangnan to take a look, hoping to find a beautiful wife for the Sea God.
However, the streets were bustling with people, making it nearly impossible for the two to keep track of everything around them.
The sturdy and honest-looking person in the corner was named Big Pao.
Big Pao looked around, then nudged the tall, skinny man beside him.
“Old Li, with so many people, how do we find her?”
Old Li, with a pipe in his mouth, blew a smoke ring and disdainfully said, “Simple, first, target the ones who are alone, then pick the most beautiful one. Got it?”
Hearing this, Big Pao nodded knowingly, “Oh.”
The location they chose happened to be at the corner of a small street, dimly lit and sparsely populated. Many people would pass by this alley, making it an ideal spot for their plan.
Just as Big Pao finished speaking, someone stopped in front of them, right in front of the sugar figure stall.
The two could only see the person’s back, and with the dim light, they could vaguely make out that this person had a tall figure, an outstanding temperament, and long, black hair cascading down, revealing a glimpse of a white, jade-like neck. The skin was as fair and flawless as good-quality sheep fat jade. The hand resting behind revealed delicate and slender fingers, with clearly defined joints. Just by looking at the back, it was evident that this was an exquisite beauty, someone that could be described as breathtaking even from behind.
In that instant, Big Pao felt his heart pounding fiercely.
Without much hesitation, taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, he reached out and stunned Wen Liangyu. Then, he picked up the brown sack in his hand and swiftly pulled it over Wen Liangyu.
Securing the gaps in the sack with a rope, Big Pao chuckled with some infatuation.
He didn’t care whether the beauty liked the color of this sack or not.
Seeing that his companion had swiftly captured someone, Old Li didn’t voice any objections.
To capitalize on the momentum, the two quietly carried the sack, making their way to a small fishing boat at the harbor under the cover of darkness.
Once the small boat sailed away from the dock, Old Li finally uncovered the sack on the captive’s body.
The moment Old Li saw Wen Liangyu’s face, veins on his forehead seemed to throb. He immediately gave Big Pao a furious look.
“He’s a man! This fool!”
“Ah?” Hearing this, Big Pao covered his forehead, lifted the oil lamp in his hand, and leaned closer to look at Wen Liangyu’s face.
In the instant the lamp’s light reflected on Wen Liangyu’s face, he felt like his own heart was about to stop beating.
Isn’t he beautiful?
So, the next moment, Big Pao, somewhat annoyed, said to Old Li, “Didn’t you tell me to find a beautiful woman who’s alone?”
Old Li was initially confused but then replied, “Yes.”
Big Pao said, “Is he not alone?”
Old Li affirmed, “He is.”
Big Pao pushed him a bit and said, “Take a closer look. Isn’t he a beauty?”
Old Li hesitated.
In the end, Big Pao reached a conclusion, “If he’s a beauty, that’s enough. Who cares if it’s a man or a woman?”
Old Li: …
It seemed to make some sense.
When Wen Liangyu woke up again, the back of his neck was throbbing with pain. At this moment, his eyes and mouth were securely covered, and his hands and feet were bound.
He felt as if he were in an endless expanse of darkness. His perception of the surroundings was chaotic, unable to discern any direction; he only sensed the cold wall against his back.
However, Wen Liangyu wasn’t overly alarmed at this moment. He suddenly calmed down, realizing that whether the other party was an assassin or someone trying to manipulate him through this, at worst, it would be a repetition of the events the he had experienced.
In any case, he didn’t have many options in front of him now.
If he could escape, he would. Thinking of this, he pulled out the hidden dagger from his sleeve.
If escape wasn’t possible, he could at least end things on his own terms.
Just as he was preparing to use the dagger to cut the ropes binding his hands, the room suddenly echoed with approaching footsteps.
Seeing this, Wen Liangyu furrowed his brow, immediately alert. He discreetly tucked the dagger back into his sleeve, but his fingertips held onto the blade tightly, assuming a defensive posture…
He Heng found the idea of those people trying to find a wife for him utterly absurd. If it got out, Professor Luo Xiang would probably make a video about it.
But he didn’t expect those people to act so quickly. In just two days, they had actually captured someone and forced him into a vibrant red wedding gown. On the same night, they compelled him to change into the wedding attire and go through the marriage ceremony before entering the bridal chamber.
He Heng lowered his head to look at the bright red wedding gown he was currently wearing and couldn’t help but think, Isn’t this absurd?
Hearing that the person was now confined in the bridal chamber prepared by the villagers, He Heng picked up a lantern, preparing to go in and check the situation.
He planned to first explain the situation to the other person and then release her. If she could contact someone on the outside, that would be even better.
However, the moment He Heng pushed open the wooden door, the room appeared eerily quiet. It didn’t feel like there was anyone inside, only the occasional sound of the chilling wind blowing through.
He Heng placed the lantern on the table in the room, feeling somewhat puzzled. Was this the normal reaction of someone who had been tied up? Why wasn’t there any response at all?
They better not have accidentally suffocated the person, causing her to pass out.
With that thought, he quickly walked into the bedroom.
The instant he entered the room, He Heng froze. His pupils contracted sharply, and somewhere in his heart, it felt like someone had struck him hard.
Because he realized that the person these people had brought was none other than his Little Emperor.
The warm orange light illuminated Wen Liangyu’s figure. He seemed to have lost some weight. The soft flesh on his cheeks, which used to have a hint of baby fat and felt comfortable to touch, as if pinching a hamster, was now gone.
His eyes were covered by a thick black cloth, revealing only a handsome, straight nose and tightly pursed thin lips. There was no hint of a curve at the corners of his mouth.
Even though half of Wen Liangyu’s face was covered by the black cloth, He Heng could still sense the lifelessness beneath it.
He Heng didn’t pause for a moment. He slowed his steps and approached Wen Liangyu. When he got close, he could clearly feel the tension in Wen Liangyu’s entire body. It seemed like he was in a highly alert state, like a small animal ready to defend itself against an intruder in its territory.
He even felt that, at this moment, Wen Liangyu had the determination to go down with him.
Seeing Wen Liangyu in this state made He Heng couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.
So, he half-knelt down and softly called out, “Ayu.”
The next moment, there was a sound of “clang!” as a concealed weapon fell to the ground.
Wen Liangyu’s expression changed in an instant when he heard that voice. He trembled, struggling to sit up from the ground.
“Ayu.” He Heng called him again, reaching out to remove the black cloth covering his eyes.
As he lifted the cloth, he clearly saw sparkling tears streaming down Wen Liangyu’s cheeks.
Wen Liangyu’s thin lips quivered, and his body shivered intensely, as if he were trembling.
“Ayu.”
He Heng kept calling his name, wanting to wipe away the tears on his cheeks.
But in that moment, Wen Liangyu suddenly threw himself into He Heng’s arms.
“He Heng…”
“I searched for so long.”
His voice sounded shaky, with a touch of a sob.
He Heng extended his arms to embrace him, then picked up the fallen concealed weapon and cut off the ropes binding Wen Liangyu.
As the ropes fell away,
Wen Liangyu reached out, climbing onto He Heng’s neck, burying his head in the crook of He Heng’s neck, and began to cry helplessly.
“I… I thought I would never see you again.”
“No, I’m here.” He Heng hugged him tightly. “I came back.”
He gently patted Wen Liangyu’s back, trying to soothe his emotions.
As He Heng’s hands touched the protruding shoulder blades on Wen Liangyu’s back, he truly felt how much weight Wen Liangyu had lost during this period. The flesh he had painstakingly put on earlier was all gone.
The system had also mentioned that Wen Liangyu’s level of blackening had remained consistently high during this time, even reverting to the level it was at when he first entered this world.
At this moment, He Heng felt a wave of heartache. How did Ayu become like this during the time he was away?
But fortunately, both were safe, and they still had a chance to start anew in the rest of their lives.
Thinking about this, He Heng cradled Wen Liangyu’s face and leaned in to kiss his cheeks.
Wen Liangyu had cried too hard earlier, and his speech was still a bit choked. He clung tightly to He Heng’s clothes.
“How did you end up here?”
“I was washed ashore by the waves.”
As for the specific details, He Heng didn’t know how to respond.
Hearing this answer, Wen Liangyu suddenly remembered something, and his expression became anxious. He reached out to pull at He Heng’s clothes.
“How’s your injury?”
His tone was urgent.
Wen Liangyu remembered clearly how deep the wound from that feathered arrow was. Considering He Heng was swept into the sea, he didn’t know if He Heng had received proper medical treatment on this primitive island. He didn’t know if the wound had healed, if there were scars, or if there were any lingering effects…
“Why did you take off my clothes as soon as you came up?” He Heng originally wanted to tease him a bit, but after seeing the anxious expression on Wen Liangyu’s face, he stopped playing around and let Wen Liangyu take off his clothes.
The Little Emperor’s actions were urgent. He directly tossed the clothes aside. In the dim light, he could clearly see the scar near He Heng’s heart.
Once a terrifying wound, now just a shallow brown scar.
Wen Liangyu reached out to touch that faint scar, his voice filled with helplessness and concern.
“Does it still hurt?”
“No, it doesn’t,”
He Heng reached out and captured his fingertips, then bent down to gently kiss his lips.
“No more pain.”
Wen Liangyu’s lips were soft, with a slight coolness. He was like a gentle little rabbit, tilting his neck to meet He Heng’s kiss.
At this moment, the room was filled only with the “sizzle” sound of the burning candle.
He Heng lifted the person in his arms and laid him gently on the large bed nearby. He then walked over to pull down the curtain in front of the window, cutting off any connection between this room and the outside world.
At the moment the curtain was pulled down, Xiu Sheng, who was crouching in the room, withdrew his gaze. He said to Ah Ming, who was squatting on the ground, “It seems that the Sea God is quite satisfied with this wife. Let’s go and inform the village. We shouldn’t disturb other people’s good things.”
Ah Ming rolled his eyes at him, “…Mind your own business with the Sea God.”
Midnight,
The candle in the room was almost burned out.
He Heng lay on the bed, supporting his head with one hand, quietly watching the person lying in front of him.
He Heng’s fingertips traced over the fair and delicate skin of the other, outlining the graceful curves of his body.
Wen Liangyu lay face down on a soft pillow, his face half-hidden by his flowing dark hair, exhibiting an indescribable weariness. However, he persevered and didn’t succumb to sleep.
“Ayu, not tired?” He Heng smiled, gently brushing aside the strands of hair covering his face and massaging the corners of his eyes,
“If you’re tired, go to sleep. I’m here, nothing will happen.”
“Mm~”
Wen Liangyu emitted a soft hum and snuggled into He Heng’s embrace.
“Don’t want… to sleep.”
His voice held a hint of stubbornness.
“Ah?” He Heng hugged him, kissed his forehead,
“Why don’t you want to sleep?”
“I’m afraid…” At this point, Wen Liangyu suddenly lowered his eyes, and his voice became quieter,
“I’m afraid that when I wake up, you’ll be gone again.”
At this moment, He Heng heart was filled with helplessness and tenderness. He continued to gently stroke Wen Liangyu’s smooth hair.
“I won’t go anywhere,” he assured.
Seeing the stubborn expression on the Little Emperor’s face, he suggested with some helplessness, “How about I keep you company and chat a bit? You can sleep when you feel tired.”
Wen Liangyu softly agreed, “Okay.”
So, He Heng initiated a topic, “How is the palace now? Are those old men causing trouble for the successor?”
“No,” the Little Emperor’s voice was muffled, even though his eyelids were barely lifting, he still pretended to have a fierce expression.
“They dare not.”
The next moment, he suddenly remembered something and murmured softly:
“Rabbit… Rabbit…”
Seeing the other struggling to articulate a complete sentence, He Heng chuckled.
“What happened to the rabbit?”
Wen Liangyu used his fingertips to play with He Heng’s hair, mustering some strength and said, “The rabbit gave birth… gave birth to many little rabbits.”
He Heng: “Then Your Majesty will have little rabbits to play with.”
“Wu~” In that moment, Wen Liangyu had already closed his eyes. The next moment, his eyelashes trembled and he opened his eyes slightly. Suddenly changing the topic, he said, “When we return… when we return, I will grant…”
He Heng embraced him, couldn’t help but curl his lips, “Grant me what?”
Wen Liangyu closed his eyes,
“Grant the title of Empress.”
After saying these words, he finally couldn’t hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep.
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