Chapter 28
To give Yu Xi a surprise, Ling Huanchen deliberately kept it a secret from him, frequently visiting the Sizhen Room, leaving the Yuluan Hall empty. Even after court, Yu Xi couldn't find him, and out of sheer diligence and concern for the people, he stayed behind in the Ziyi Hall to handle government affairs.
Curiosity and resentment at not being able to see him grew day by day, but Yu Xi had promised Ling Huanchen not to ask, and she knew her little merman was trying to surprise her, so she couldn't react. So, to divert attention, the dignified King of Youcheng summoned his ministers to discuss matters more frequently, which made life difficult for those summoned.
Over time, a number of commissioned palace attendants began to appear before the Jade Luan Palace, daily inquiring about Ling Huanchen's availability to accompany the king. Yun He stopped one of them and, upon questioning, discovered that he was a palace attendant bribed by a court minister, simply to learn when these daily summonses would cease.
Although Ling Huanchen sympathized with their situation, the gift was not yet finished. The jade pendant was precious and needed to be treated with caution. Slow work produces fine results and one cannot be impatient, otherwise all the previous efforts would be wasted. He had no choice but to let them bear it first.
Yu Xi's resentment gradually shifted to the court officials, but the officials dared not speak out. After all, Yu Xi summoned them for political affairs. Although there were not so many political affairs that needed to be discussed at the moment, the banner was there, and they not only had to cooperate, but also had to shout that the king was diligent in governing the people.
As a result, similar scenes often appeared in Ziyi Palace: Prince Youcheng sat at the desk, staring at his ministers. The scene was weird and the atmosphere was gloomy.
"Lord Feng, how is the flood in Lizhou being handled?"
Minister Feng was startled. Not only did he hear Yu Xi calling his name, but he also received almost caring looks from other colleagues.
He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the flood in Lizhou has been effectively controlled, and disaster relief funds have been distributed. I have specially assigned people to oversee this."
Yu Xi nodded and said, "Let's come up with some flood prevention measures as soon as possible and report them in two days. They should focus on practical effectiveness and introduce new things while eliminating the old. It would be best if they can save manpower and material resources."
"As you command!" Minister Feng didn't dare to say anything more. He accepted the order and hurriedly withdrew, hoping that King You would ignore him. He had already come up with five or six plans to prevent flooding, and now he was asked to come up with new ones. He was probably going to be exhausted.
Yu Xi turned his head and glanced at the Minister of Personnel. "My dear, how is the progress of your last proposal to re-investigate county-level officials?"
The Minister of Personnel hurriedly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it has been put on the agenda. I believe the investigation will be completed by the end of summer."
Yu Xi murmured, "Until the end of summer?"
"Once you're there, just fall into the ambush. I will focus on this matter." The Minister of Personnel wiped the cold sweat from his palms. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
"The king has always been optimistic about your efficiency. You have served in the court for many years and should be familiar with the king's habits. Once you raise a question, it cannot be delayed."
The Minister of Personnel sank to his knees and said, "Yes, I will arrange it immediately and report the results soon!"
Yu Xi raised his hand and said, "Just do your best, my dear. There is no need to do this. I believe in your ability."
"yes……"
While the court officials were in dire straits, Ling Huanchen finally received a satisfactory gift. He couldn't wait to inform Yu Xi, so he brought the gift to Ziyi Palace himself.
The guards and palace servants of Ziyi Palace were already accustomed to his arrival. There was no need to stop him or inform him. Ling Huanchen passed through freely as if he were returning to his own bedroom.
"Your Majesty."
As soon as Ling Huanchen entered the room, he saw everyone looking at him, with different expressions that were hard to understand.
The ministers didn't care about etiquette at this moment. They just knew that the prince had come and their hard days were about to end. Relief appeared on their haggard faces.
Yu Xi remained calm until Ling Huanchen came to her side, then she waved to the loyal minister, "Everyone, leave."
"yes!"
After everyone had left, Yu Xi formally looked at the person he had been thinking about and waiting for for many days, but his tone changed.
"Huanchen finally remembered me?"
Ling Huanchen felt guilty when he looked at her with resentful eyes. "I've always remembered it."
Yu Xi glanced down and saw that he was empty-handed. She muttered, "Where's my gift?"
Ling Huanchen then carefully took the thing out from his lapel, and it was the jade pendant that Yu Xi carried with him.
"I asked someone to inlay the orb. I wonder if the king likes it."
Yu Xi was slightly startled when he got the jade pendant. There was an extra red bead on the top of the jade pendant, right next to the word "Xi". He was very familiar with that bead.
"Why did you give it to me again?" He had originally planned to return the item to its original owner.
Ling Huanchen took back the jade pendant, squatted down, and tied it around his waist for him. "Your Majesty, do you know the meaning of this bead?"
"I remember it was the symbol of the royal family of the mermaid clan."
After fastening the jade pendant, Ling Huanchen raised his eyes and met Yu Xi's. "Your Majesty is right. This bead represents me."
When Yu Xi heard this, the resentment that had accumulated over the days was swept away. "Huan Chen, are you saying that you're giving yourself to me?"
Ling Huanchen smiled, "Hasn't I been given to the king a long time ago?"
"This is different. Being sent away by the mermaids is not what you want."
Ling Huanchen looked at Yu Xi seriously and said solemnly, "Yes, I am willing now."
The study was so quiet. The two looked at each other, their eyes intertwined. Yu Xi lowered her head, and their lips touched lightly, and then things got out of control.
Ling Huanchen was carried into the hot spring in a daze. When he came to his senses, the clothes on his body had left him without him knowing when. The mermaid tail appeared and slowly swept the water.
He looked up and saw that Yu Xi had put him down and was sitting by the pool, neatly dressed.
"Your Majesty?"
What is this guy up to?
Yu Xi stared at him for a while, but suddenly stood up and left. Ling Huanchen stood there alone, not knowing what to do.
After waiting for a while, Yu Xi returned the same way, with a plate of pastries and a fishing rod in his hand.
He put the cakes aside seriously, sat down by the pond again, picked up the fishing rod and cast the fishing line.
Ling Huanchen blinked, "What does your Majesty mean?"
"I'm fishing for my little mermaid." Yu Xi said seriously, "I wonder if the little mermaid is willing to take the bait?"
childish……
Ling Huanchen complained in his heart, but cooperated at the same time. He swam over with his shark tail twice and grabbed the fish hook with one hand, which had no hook at all.
"The king doesn't even put out any food when he fishes."
Yu Xi curled her lips slightly, then picked up a piece of peach blossom pastry, held it in her palm and handed it over.
Ling Huanchen knew at a glance that Yu Xi insisted on feeding him, and suddenly he changed his mind and came up with a plan.
He lowered his head and bit the peach blossom pastry on Yu Xi's palm, like a small animal licking it. After finishing the peach blossom pastry, he was about to look up and tease Yu Xi, but the next moment he was lifted up by a pair of arms and fell into a warm embrace.
Yu Xi didn't care whether her clothes were wet or not. She caught her naughty little mermaid and was gentle with her. Her eyes slid across the smooth back and fixed on the ice-blue mermaid tail.
Ever since Ling Huanchen entered the palace, he had seen the appearance of the Mermaid Tail, but he had only seen it and had never actually touched it.
A broad palm covered the shark tail, and Ling Huanchen immediately stiffened his body and climbed onto Yu Xi's shoulders with both hands, "Your Majesty, let go."
However, Yu Xi was already addicted to the feeling under his palm and had no intention of letting go.
Even though the water in the hot spring was warm, the shark's tail was still slightly cool, and it felt smooth when touched along the scales.
The shark tail was once a sharp weapon for the mermaids, but now it has lost its original purpose and has become an ornamental object. However, it is still the most sensitive part of the mermaids' sense of touch. Slowly caressing it like Yu Xi did, however, has changed the feeling.
Yu Xi couldn't let go of the person in her arms after the first touch, and she didn't notice the reaction of the person in her arms at all, until she was splashed all over by the sudden waves and the person in her arms slipped away.
Ling Huanchen swam to the other side of the hot spring pool, turned around, and looked a little embarrassed.
When Yu Xi saw the man running away, she realized what she had just done and immediately coaxed him with a gentle smile, "Huanchen, come here. I won't do anything else."
Ling Huanchen disagreed. Looking at the man opposite him, he looked like a trickster.
"I have something serious to tell you." Yu Xi put on a serious expression, "It's about the Fengming Clan."
As expected, Ling Huanchen's vigilance dropped a lot when the Fengming clan was mentioned. When he took out a book, Ling Huanchen completely gave up his hesitation and swam back to Yu Xi.
The book states that the mark on the back of the Fengming people's necks is a mark of sin, a mark they can never escape for eternity. No matter how the Fengming people disguise themselves, this mark will reveal their identity.
The Fengming clan once brought disaster to the world, and the world could not tolerate the Fengming clan, and there was no solution for a hundred years.
After reading it, Ling Huanchen couldn't help but think of the plight of the mermaids. "If the leader of the Fengming tribe knew that his own carelessness had caused his people to be exposed to the light, I wonder if he would regret his actions."
Yu Xi finally got his wish and touched the mermaid's tail again. In order to prevent the little mermaid from running away again, he did not act too recklessly this time. He just covered it lightly without moving.
"Since he dared to do it, he won't regret it. As for the future generations shunning his people like the plague, I'm afraid that's not within his consideration."
Ling Huanchen had to agree with what Yu Xi said. If those people were given another chance to choose, they would still do the same. Their ambitions would not be extinguished because of the safety of their tribesmen.
"Your Majesty."
As Ling Huanchen raised his head, Yu Xibian subconsciously looked towards him, "Hmm?"
"I've been bored in the palace lately."
Yu Xi pondered for a moment and thought the little mermaid was bored. "Does Huanchen want to go out of the palace for a walk?"
Ling Huanchen shook his head and said, "I'm tired of staying in the harem and want to serve as an official in the court."
If he talks about regrets, he still has one thing unfinished.
"Official?" Yu Xi merely raised an eyebrow at the words, then whispered softly, "With Huanchen's talent, it won't be a problem for him to get a government position. I'll have someone present all the vacant positions to Huanchen someday for him to choose from."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Considering that Yu Xi agreed without even asking, he relaxed his body and let her touch his shark tail without hiding anymore.
Since many things have changed in this life, it would be better for him to take the initiative. However, it takes an opportunity for the old things to be exposed, and he is always inconvenient to act within the palace walls. Once he can leave the palace with a legitimate reason, it will be much easier.
The author has something to say:
Ling Huanchen: Since you are so good, Sharktail will give you a rub
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Thank you "You" for the encouragement!
Thank you "半世浮生", "49458882", "35324978", and "28860315" for the nutrient solution encouragement~
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