The emerging aristocracy engaged in land reclamation?
It sounds oddly like a love-hate relationship between a mermaid version of the relocation team and stubborn residents.
However, as He Heng watched humans in the video continue to dump waste into the sea, his expression became serious.
“All of this is being carried out under ‘my’ instructions?”
996: [Yes.]
He Heng: “…”
“So, considering this, how influential is my official position?”
996: [In this world, you were born in humble circumstances, originally a poor scholar in a rural village in Mingcheng. However, during a trip to the capital for the imperial examination, you won all three top honors in a row, becoming the first talent in Great Liang’s history to simultaneously achieve the titles of Jieyuan1Jieyuan (解元): This title is awarded to the candidate who achieves the highest score in the first level of the imperial examination, known as the “provincial examination” or “preliminary examination.”, Huiyuan2Huiyuan (會元): Huiyuan is the title given to the candidate who achieves the highest overall score in the second level of the imperial examination, often referred to as the “metropolitan examination” or “qualifying examination.” This level involves more advanced testing and is conducted at the capital city., and Zhuangyuan3Zhuangyuan (狀元): The highest honor, Zhuangyuan, is awarded to the candidate who tops the list in the final round of imperial examinations, known as the “palace examination” or “final examination.” This phase typically took place in the capital and was attended by a select group of scholars who had already passed the lower-level exams.. As a result, you gained the Emperor’s favor and were appointed as a third-ranking local official, transferred to oversee maritime projects in Mingcheng.]
[Alright, now that you have a general understanding of the background, we can prepare to enter this world.]
After hearing 996’s explanation, He Heng unusually fell silent for a moment. Although the background introduction seemed unremarkable at first, he wasn’t dressed in the attire of a scholarly examination candidate but rather in a full-fledged script for chasing after a wife and a crematorium. The crucial part of this script should be the intersection between him and the little merman in this world.
However, 996 completely avoided providing information on this aspect in the introduction just now. It’s likely that the plot in this world is not as straightforward as he initially thought.
Thinking about this, He Heng asked again, “What about the specific details of the crematorium?”
996: [Don’t worry. As the plot unfolds, you’ll soon find out about the subsequent details.]
With the sound of its words, the scene in front of He Heng began to change rapidly.
In the moment of his rapid descent and weightlessness, the surrounding temperature suddenly became cooler, and the scent of the sea breeze became more pronounced.
The next moment, the scene in front of He Heng suddenly froze. With a quick glance, he discovered that he was standing on a rock in front of a construction site for a dam, and right in front of him was the magnificent sea. Due to the sudden shift to this place, his balance was a bit unstable, and he swayed for a moment.
In the split second he tilted forward, a pair of hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back.
He Heng turned around and saw an elderly court official in official attire, frowning and looking at him with a worried expression.
“Lord He, please be more careful. Why are you standing in such a dangerous place? My heart almost jumped to my throat just now.”
“If you happen to hit or bump into something, we old bones won’t be able to bear the responsibility when the Grand Princess questions us.”
Upon hearing the words “Grand Princess”, He Heng instinctively furrowed his brow. His rich experience from the past in the crematorium told him that these suddenly appearing supporting characters were often not as simple as they seemed. They were either his exclusive hearse driver or an excellent assistant escorting him to the crematorium.
Sure enough, the next moment, a cold and mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[In this world, you are engaged to the Emperor’s eldest daughter, truly a son-in-law on the eastern bed.4The phrase “truly a son-in-law on the eastern bed” is a metaphorical expression that emphasizes a person’s elevated status or success, particularly in a marriage alliance with a powerful or influential family. In traditional Chinese culture, the eastern side of the bed is considered auspicious, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.]
He Heng: “…”
The top scholar from a humble background, in just a few months, not only became the husband of the Grand Princess but also rose to become a prominent and favored figure in the court. Following that, he was appointed by the Emperor to supervise crucial maritime projects. The script seemed to have all the essential elements, making He Heng feel a bit overwhelmed.
What a guy, undoubtedly the second coming of Chen Shimei.5Chen Shimei (陳世美) is a character from Chinese folklore. In the story of Chen Shimei, he is portrayed as a scholar from a humble background who passes the imperial examination and becomes a high-ranking official. However, despite being married to a woman from his hometown, he abandons her to marry a wealthy woman in the capital. This act of betrayal and disregard for his first wife is often used as an example of unfaithfulness and moral misconduct.
The reputation of being a “heartless and unfaithful man” was something he probably couldn’t escape.
In the brief moment just now, He Heng swiftly ran through these thoughts in his mind, but on his face, he merely responded with a calm nod.
“I understand. You don’t need to worry; I know how to handle things appropriately.”
Having said that, he casually bent down and brushed off the dust on his robe, perfectly balancing the demeanor of a powerful official.
Following the gaze of others, he gracefully stepped onto the nearby dam, walking back to the shore with an air of tranquility.
The moist and salty sea breeze gently touched He Heng’s cheeks, lifting the hem of his crimson court robe. Under the respectful attention of accompanying officials, he proceeded forward.
However, just as he reached halfway, his adjutant, who had been following him all along, suddenly rushed over with an urgent expression.
At the moment he caught sight of He Heng, he disregarded everything, leaping onto the dam from the shore and swiftly running to He Heng.
“Lord He, just a moment ago, as our ships were excavating the waterway, they suddenly encountered resistance. It seems like something is blocking the passage, and now we can’t proceed at all. If our transport ships remain blocked and unable to pass, there’s a high chance they’ll be stranded on the shore at low tide. Those are our main transport vessels for dredging the sea route. Once stranded, it could lead to a paralysis of the entire land reclamation project, rendering it impossible to continue.”
“And if the maritime project is delayed for too long, the court might hold us accountable.”
Upon hearing this, He Heng followed the direction pointed by the adjutant. He saw the area resembling an oil spill, corroded into blackness by a highly adhesive pollutant.
In his mind, he pondered, ‘It would be strange if it wasn’t blocked.’
“I understand.” He Heng replied calmly, then gestured to the ministers accompanying him. “Come with me to assess the situation.”
“Yes, Lord He.” The ministers immediately nodded and briskly followed him.
As He Heng approached the coast near the anchored giant wheel, a stifling and nauseating stench hit him, forcing him to cover his nose and mouth with his sleeve.
Observing the hellish scene in front of him, He Heng could almost discern the selfish and self-serving thoughts of the original owner.
As the husband of the princess, he knew that being sent to supervise the maritime project was just a temporary stepping stone in his promotion. His sole objective was to complete the maritime project in the shortest possible time, regardless of the consequences. After that, he would go to the capital for the wedding and further advancement. The fate of Mingcheng and this sea area afterward was of no concern to him.
In the midst of He Heng’s distraction,
“Lord He! Lord He!”
His adjutant suddenly pointed to a spot under the oars and shouted:
“There seems to be something there, and it looks like a person!”
The adjutant’s unexpected shout abruptly brought He Heng back to attention.
In that instant, a certain uneasy premonition surged within He Heng. His right eyelid also started twitching rapidly.
Driven by this strong intuition, he almost didn’t hesitate, quickly covering the distance with three quick steps.
Upon seeing the scene under the oars, He Heng’s pupils abruptly contracted. He felt as if his heart had been pierced by a sharp weapon, causing intense pain.
Beneath the oars,
The little merman, with closed eyes, lay lifeless. His fish tail was entangled with sharp net ropes, covered in numerous fine cuts. The fresh blood from the small merman mixed with the murky black water around him.
His upper body and fish tail were covered in deep and shallow wounds, a sight that deeply disturbed He Heng’s visual senses.
His hand, hanging by his side, instinctively clenched into a fist. He felt an anger he had never experienced before in his life.
For the first time, a strong thought surged in his mind – if he could find the scum original owner who did this to him, he would spare no effort to make them suffer in hell.
At the same time, the mechanical voice sounded once again:
[What you see now is the protagonist, Qiao Ran. In this world, merfolk are extremely rare mythical creatures. It is rumored that their tears can fulfill a simple human wish, and their eyes are treasures with the power to ward off disasters, bring blessings, heal all ailments, and even revive the dead. The reason why the original owner was able to rise to prominence is not solely due to his own abilities.]
[Because his grandfather, out of compassion for life in extremely harsh weather, risked his life to rescue the trapped little merman among the reefs. When his grandfather, stricken with a severe illness, was on the brink of death, the little merman wanted to repay the kindness with his tears. However, the greedy original owner saw it as an opportunity for promotion and wealth. He cunningly took away the merman’s eyes, using this to climb the ranks to his current position.]
This time, the system finally finished narrating the complete story of this world.
[And now, Qiao Ran has lost his eyes. He cannot see your appearance, but due to the rules of the little world’s mission, if he hears your voice, he will remember your identity as the “original owner”. Additionally, once he regains his sight, in his eyes, your appearance will be that of the original owner.]
At this moment, He Heng didn’t care about the irregularities of the mission rules. He hurriedly walked to the shore, bending down to check Qiao Ran’s condition.
Just then, his adjutant spoke up, “Lord He, how should we handle this? Shall I get someone to take him away?”
The next second, He Heng felt a piercing, icy gaze directed towards him.
Ignoring the shocked gazes of everyone present, He Heng drew the dagger he carried and cut the net ropes entwined around the merman’s tail. Disregarding the oil pollution in the water, he lifted the merman out of the pool, then loudly commanded, “Go and find a doctor.”
The adjutant stared at his newly soiled official attire, speechless for a moment.
“Can’t you hear me?” At this point, He Heng had already briskly walked towards the residential area near the shore, carrying the merman.
“I said, have someone fetch a doctor!”
“Oh, yes!”
The adjutant, snapping out of his daze, immediately sprinted towards the nearby military camp to find a physician.
He Heng arrived at an unoccupied civilian house, cradling the merman in his arms. Along the way, he could keenly feel the warmth emanating from the person in his arms and hear the faint sound of breathing.
Qiao Ran’s face still looked familiar, but now his eyes were tightly shut, his pallid complexion devoid of any trace of color. The almost transparent, long eyelashes quivered gently.
Upon entering the room, He Heng immediately ordered someone to fill the bath with warm water.
He then entered the bath with the little merman, carefully washing the wounds on his body.
Perhaps due to the pain, the moment the little merman was carried into the bath by He Heng, his fish tail couldn’t help but tremble. Even though Qiao Ran was still unconscious, his entire body struggled intensely. His pale, thin lips trembled, and his whole body shivered continuously.
“It’s okay, just endure it for a little while.” Even though He Heng knew that the other person was not conscious at the moment, seeing the distressed appearance of the little merman, he could only continuously soothe him in a soft voice.
“Just endure it for a little while.”
“Be good, just endure it.”
Whether or not he could sense the other’s emotions, after hearing He Heng’s words, Qiao Ran indeed quieted down and nestled quietly in his embrace.
In the bath, He Heng soaked a clean piece of cloth and used it to gently wipe away the residual dirt on the little merman’s body due to the contaminated water.
“Ugh~”
The small merman, seemingly uncomfortable, uttered a murmured sound in his unconscious state, and his large tail flicked twice, splashing water onto He Heng’s face.
He Heng wiped his face with his hand, then continued using the damp cloth to clean the wounds.
After finishing cleaning the merman’s wounds, he took a thick blanket and carefully wrapped him up. He then carried him to the bed.
At this point, the adjutant had already brought the physician into the room.
The doctor quickly examined Qiao Ran’s condition and prescribed a set of medicines for fever reduction and wound healing, including both internal and external applications.
Wang Shu, the old servant who followed He Heng, immediately ordered someone to take the prescriptions to the medicine room and prepare the medications.
He Heng stayed by the merman’s bedside, watching as the doctor carefully treated the injuries.
After the physician finished tending to Qiao Ran’s wounds, He Heng noticed the scales on the merman’s fish tail gradually shedding, revealing a pair of legs indistinguishable from those of a regular person.
Before long, a servant entered the room with the prepared medicine.
Wang Shu thought it would be appropriate for the servants to administer the medicine, and he was about to suggest that He Heng change into clean clothes. However, he saw He Heng had already picked up the medicine bowl, spooning the medicine to Qiao Ran’s lips.
Qiao Ran seemed uncooperative, keeping his teeth tightly closed even when the medicine was brought to his lips. Even if some medicine managed to be fed, he would spit out most of it.
He Heng struggled for a long time, ending up with medicine stains all over his clothes. His originally new official attire now looked quite crumpled.
However, he remained extremely patient, soothingly coaxing Qiao Ran to drink the medicine without a hint of impatience.
The old servant accompanying them couldn’t bear watching any longer and couldn’t help but advise, “Lord He, you’ve been tired all day. Why not take a rest? Let this old servant handle these matters.”
“No need.”
He Heng shook his head, delivering a spoonful of medicine to Qiao Ran’s mouth. Then, he took a handkerchief and carefully wiped the corners of Qiao Ran’s mouth.
“You can go down first; I can handle it myself.”
“Yes, Lord He.”
The old servant sighed softly, placing a set of clean clothes at the bedside.
“Lord He, your clothes are soaked. I’ve placed clean clothes here for you. Remember to change into them later; don’t catch a cold.”
“I understand.” He Heng glanced indifferently at the clothes on the cabinet, instructing further:
“Arrange for some light and warm food. If he wakes up, have it brought in.”
“Yes.” The old servant nodded and then respectfully bowed as he exited the room.
He had joined He Heng’s service after He Heng entered officialdom, and he had heard some rumors about He Heng’s past.
Some people said that the current son-in-law, who was currently enjoying the emperor’s favor, had a cold and unfeeling nature. He had climbed to his current position using ruthless means.
However, observing the son-in-law’s behavior today, it seemed like the term “cold and unfeeling” didn’t quite fit. Seeing how much he cared for the merman, it was as if he wanted to go above and beyond for the other.
The old servant had seen countless people throughout his life, and there were times when he misjudged someone. However, he always believed in one principle: there was no such thing as a “prodigal son turning over a new leaf.” Never expect someone who has harmed you to change fundamentally.
People could make mistakes, but they shouldn’t make principled mistakes.
Just by observing the scene before him, he knew that He Heng could never commit an act like taking the eyes of the merman in exchange for wealth and fame.
Inside the room, after feeding the merman with the medicine, the sky had already darkened.
He Heng took off his wet clothes, replacing them with the clean attire provided by the old servant. Checking on Jiao Ran’s forehead, he noticed that the fever had not subsided. Afraid that the condition might worsen during the night, he couldn’t leave the merman alone.
Therefore, He Heng lay on the bed fully clothed, carefully avoiding the wounds on the merman’s body. He embraced him, listening to the gradually steady rhythm of his breathing, finding solace in the serenity of sleep.
Qiao Ran felt like he had experienced a long dream, where he was trapped in an uncontrollable corridor that seemed endless, unable to reach its conclusion no matter how hard he tried. Exhausted and drained, he remained unable to escape.
Amidst a sense of despair, his consciousness slowly awakened.
The wounds on his body still throbbed, but there were gentle arms lightly draped across his back, and it seemed like he was lying in someone’s embrace.
Qiao Ran couldn’t open his eyes to see the person’s face, but he could vaguely sense the warm and powerful hug. There was also a faint scent of sandalwood lingering around his nose.
This feeling of being held by the other person was so familiar and comforting, yet he couldn’t recall when or where he had experienced this scene before.
In that moment, Qiao Ran felt that the memories in his mind were fragmented, as if a crucial piece was missing, causing his brain to ache when he tried to piece them together.
Eventually, amidst a haze of consciousness, he drifted back to sleep.
When Qiao Ran woke up again, the bed beside him was empty, showing no signs of anyone having lain there. His fever seemed to have subsided, but he still felt a bit weak.
Qiao Ran struggled to sit up in bed, and at that moment, a gentle and elderly female voice sounded nearby.
“Are you awake? Hungry? Would you like something to eat?”
Hearing the voice of another person, he immediately recoiled toward the wall, his past painful experiences instilling a strong sense of wariness toward humans.
“Who are you?”
In the moment of asking, he suddenly realized that despite his long slumber, his voice hadn’t become hoarse, and he felt no discomfort. It seemed someone had given him water while he was unconscious.
Qiao Ran instinctively reached out and found himself wearing clean clothes, and all the wounds on his body had been tended to.
“You can call me Aunt Li. I live in the room next door.”
Seeing his wary expression, the elderly woman didn’t pursue the previous topic but slowly introduced her identity.
In fact, she was not a native of this place but one of the attendants who accompanied He Heng. When He Heng confirmed the reduction of Qiao Ran’s fever that morning, he had to leave temporarily due to official affairs. He entrusted Aunt Li to take care of the young merman, bringing along a few servants to assist.
Before leaving, He Heng specifically instructed her that if Qiao Ran asked about who saved him, she should say she didn’t know and should never reveal any information about her identity.
Aunt Li couldn’t fathom the reasons behind it, but since it was something He Heng instructed her to do, she followed through.
As expected, just as anticipated, the young merman asked about who saved him the next moment.
Although the memories from the half-awake state were blurry, Qiao Ran could still sense clearly that the person holding him was a man.
“I don’t know either,” Aunt Li sighed. “In the morning, I heard some commotion outside, so I took a look. I found you unconscious in this room, with no one else in sight.”
Upon hearing this, Qiao Ran lowered his head and remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.
The bed beneath him felt clean and tidy, and there was a warm fire burning in the room. He distinctly remembered the person sleeping beside him in the morning; how could there be no one now?
Seeing the young merman remain silent, Aunt Li brought out a container of porridge and placed it on the table in front of Qiao Ran. “I made some porridge. Your body isn’t in great shape right now, so you should eat something light. Drink it while it’s still hot.”
Qiao Ran was initially taken aback but then lowered his head in thought.
Now, as a blind individual with no practical use, he couldn’t go anywhere, and the route back to the sea had been blocked by that cargo ship.
The eyeless merman, deemed worthless in the eyes of humans, had scales on his body that were no more valuable than those of ordinary fish. If someone had malicious intentions toward him, they wouldn’t need to wait for him to wake up.
After contemplating for a while, Qiao Ran managed to find the bowl of porridge on the table and began to eat. The temperature of the porridge was just right, neither too cold nor too hot, and the rice was well-cooked and soft.
Qiao Ran finished two bowls in no time. Seeing that he seemed genuinely hungry, Aunt Li asked if he wanted more. Qiao Ran pushed the bowl forward slightly, shaking his head and saying, “Thank you, no need.”
Having lived for so long, he had never fully understood this particular species called humans.
When he was fourteen, the fisherman who risked his life to rescue him from the rocks was a human. At the age of twenty, the person who blinded him for selfish reasons was also a human. Qiao Ran harbored hatred in his heart, despising that particular individual, but he didn’t want to irrationally transfer that hatred onto others.
Aunt Li noticed a slight blink in Qiao Ran’s eyes as he expressed his gratitude. It dawned on her that the merman did have eyes, albeit with a dull, lifeless appearance. She recalled the folklore that claimed merfolk could regrow eye-like structures after losing their original eyes. However, the new eyes were said to be mere decorations, devoid of the magical properties of their original ones.
After the merman’s unfocused gaze met Aunt Li’s eyes, she snapped back to reality and added, “I’ll leave for now and come back later in the evening. If you need anything or have any concerns, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’m here to help.”
Qiao Ran nodded slightly in acknowledgment, thanking Aunt Li once again. However, in his heart, he continued to ponder who could have been the one to save him. For some reason, Aunt Li gave him a sense of someone fulfilling a duty.
Over these days, Aunt Li consistently brought him necessities at regular intervals, visiting three times a day, more punctual than an early-morning rooster.
Of course, Qiao Ran realized that this couldn’t go on indefinitely. So, he asked Aunt Li to find him some work and keep him informed about the activities at the seaside. As soon as the stranded transport ship left the bay, he planned to search for a way back.
Aunt Li was a straightforward person and readily found him several bundles of bamboo, teaching him some basic weaving skills. Qiao Ran wove these bamboo pieces every day and took them to the market to sell.
Initially, Aunt Li helped him with the sales, but every time she returned, she would inform him that the goods were sold out and then hand him a pile of silver coins and daily necessities. Over time, this raised suspicions in Qiao Ran’s mind.
Qiao Ran was puzzled about what kind of town or city attracted so many people to buy these seemingly ugly woven crafts. As for the “ugly” judgment, Qiao Ran deduced it himself. Even though he was blind, he wasn’t foolish, and he was certain that the woven items he created weren’t particularly attractive.
After selling out the woven products for a week, he finally couldn’t resist taking a basket of these seemingly unattractive items to the market himself. Surprisingly, the people there were extremely friendly towards him. It seemed like they wanted to take care of him as if he were their own child. They helped him carry things, cleared the way for him, and were overly cautious, as if afraid he might stumble or bump into something.
The “simple folk customs” could explain the kindness of the people, but it couldn’t justify the peculiar behavior of treating him like an emperor. Moreover, Qiao Ran found that as soon as he set up his stall at the market, the woven crafts he displayed would be quickly sold out within a short time, and people were always eager to put money into his basket.
Qiao Ran used to be a carefree and happy little merman in the sea, but even during that time, he never experienced this kind of “making money effortlessly” treatment.
Driven by a determination to unravel the mystery, one day, while setting up his stall, he placed a basket full of silver coins on the counter. Then, he discreetly slipped away to the back hill, planning to return after half an hour to see what would happen.
Qiao Ran couldn’t believe it. Would the basket of silver coins placed so conspicuously in the middle of the road actually increase in value when he returned?
However, just as he stepped into the back hill, he heard a robust voice from behind,
“Big brother, finally caught someone coming down the mountain alone today.”
The person spoke with a heavy local accent. Even though Qiao Ran couldn’t fully understand, he had a rough idea that he might have encountered mountain bandits.
Indeed, Qiao Ran’s guess was correct. Standing in front of him were the three brothers from the Wang family bandits. Today, they had the rare opportunity to come down the mountain, and encountering a lone blind person made their mood exceptionally good. They were contemplating whether to plunder all the silver coins from him or to sell Qiao Ran by the pound when suddenly, a loud bang echoed, and someone foolishly bumped into their backs.
“Who’s the fool who dares to mess with your granddaddy?”
The three brothers from the Wang family turned angrily, only to see a tall man in a majestic official uniform standing behind them.
Just by looking at the man’s handsome and refined appearance, along with the dazzling official attire, the Wang brothers already saw him as a walking ATM.
On the other hand, when He Heng glanced at the three bandits and noticed Qiao Ran beside them, he was also taken aback. He had been dealing with government affairs in the office, and during the midday break, as usual, He Heng planned to take a stroll and “investigate the local sentiments.” As he walked halfway, his deputy hurriedly came to report that Qiao Ran was missing and seemed to have gone to the back hill.
He Heng was immediately rendered speechless. He promptly dispatched people to search for Qiao Ran, but ironically, he himself got lost in the back hills. Cursing his misfortune, He Heng aimlessly wandered in circles until he accidentally bumped into the group of bandits with a loud “thud!”
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