Chapter 54
"Your Majesty, please speak."
Seeing his serious expression, Yu Xi suddenly chuckled, "You are helping me by being by my side."
"Your Majesty..." He knew that Yu Xi didn't want to make him worry.
Yu Xi was the same as always, as if everything in Youcheng had been isolated from the palace. When facing Ling Huanchen, he felt only warmth. "I'm serious. If I could see you every day, I wouldn't be afraid of anything."
"Is there ever a time when Your Majesty is afraid?" Ling Huanchen couldn't help but ask when he thought of the past.
"Of course. Everyone has weaknesses and will be afraid." Yu Xi pulled him into her arms and said softly, "If one day Huanchen disappeared, he would definitely be afraid."
The Yu Xi before the age of eleven had long since sunk into the sea. Ling Huanchen was the beginning of his new life. If this beginning were completely lost, he didn't know what he would do.
Since it has been sent to him, there is no reason to take it back.
Ling Huanchen gently patted his back, as if comforting a child. "I won't disappear. Your Majesty, do you remember the first words I said when I entered the palace? I wish to always be by your side. This promise will last until death."
Yu Xi's heart sank when she heard that word. "Don't talk nonsense. What's with all that talk about life and death? Mermaids have long lifespans, so they must live a long time."
"Yes, Your Majesty is right." Ling Huanchen said readily.
Mermaids live in water for a long time, so they are not in danger of leaving the water. After all, they need to bathe, drink water, and absorb moisture from the edge of the pond. If these places dry up, the mermaids will lose their moisture supply, which will affect their lifespan in the long run.
But this is all a story for the future. Ling Huanchen didn't say a word to Yu Xi. It didn't matter if he lost a little lifespan. Maybe he could go to accompany Yu Xi a hundred years later.
"Your Highness, the little princess is crying again."
Hearing the news from outside the room, Ling Huanchen stepped out of Yu Xi's arms and said, "Let the nurse comfort him first."
At times like this, he still has to take care of the big things first.
However, the person who usually competed with Qi Xian for favor was particularly generous this time and took the initiative to let the nanny bring Qi Xian over.
In the past, even if Qi Xian cried, she would stop crying when she saw Ling Huanchen, especially after her first birthday, the number of times she cried had become less and less. But today, Qi Xian was hugged by Ling Huanchen and she still couldn't stop crying.
"I don't know what's wrong with the little princess. She's crying so hard." The nanny said worriedly, "I didn't want to disturb the king and his highness, but..."
"It's okay." Yu Xi waved her hand, and the nanny understood and left.
"What's wrong with Xian'er? Is she sick?" Ling Huanchen touched Qi Xian's forehead and found that the temperature was normal.
She wasn't sick, the nurse was helpless, and it wasn't something as simple as being hungry. She still cried when she saw him, and it didn't seem like she wanted to play with him.
Just when Ling Huanchen was at a loss, Yu Xi took Qi Xian from his arms.
"Xian'er, be good. Father will hold you."
Yu Xi's big hand gently stroked her forehead, and actually succeeded in soothing Qi Xian. She blinked, hiccuped, and gradually stopped crying, her little head tilted and rested on Yu Xi.
Ling Huanchen was stunned for a while. It was the first time he saw Yu Xi exuding such kindness from head to toe.
Perhaps because she felt it was new and fresh, Qi Xian stopped crying and began to look left and right in Yu Xi's arms, her eyes very busy.
Ling Huanchen suddenly had an idea, "Could Xian'er be having a nightmare?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Xi patted little Qi Xian on the back and said, "Don't be afraid, Xian'er. Father will protect you."
It was unknown how much Qi Xian understood, but after a while she started laughing heartily. Yu Xi hugged Qi Xian with one hand and Ling Huanchen with the other.
"Your Majesty?" He raised his eyes and saw Yu Xi's angular profile.
Yu Xi was a little strange today. Although he was still smiling at him, Ling Huanchen still noticed that he was different, and was afraid that something had happened.
In order to prevent Yu Xi from having any worries, Ling Huanchen took the initiative to take charge of the management of the harem. All food, clothing and expenses had to be recorded under his approval, no matter how big or small, to ensure that there were no mistakes.
He always wanted to know what happened when Yu Xi came to Yuluan Palace that day, but he could not find out the reason after asking around. All the palace servants in Ziyi Palace were silent at the same time, which made Ling Huanchen even more worried.
"Master! Master!" Xiao Qi rushed into the inner hall and almost fell to the ground.
Ling Huanchen put down the account book and asked, "Why are you so flustered?"
Xiao Qi scratched his head embarrassedly. "It's not a matter of the harem, but a big matter in the court. The royal decree was issued this morning, ordering Ji Yunlou to be the high priest of Youcheng."
Ling Huanchen paused after hearing this, "Where is the original high priest?"
"The former high priest suddenly suffered a relapse of his old illness and died suddenly at home. The king just made a new appointment at the morning court."
Ling Huanchen pondered this carefully; it was completely beyond his comprehension. There had been no drought in his previous life, nor had the High Priest suddenly developed an old illness. Furthermore, he remembered the High Priest had always been in good health, with no signs of any previous illness.
"Yunlou has already taken office?"
Xiao Qi nodded rapidly, "As soon as the king issued the order, Chief Attendant Fu immediately went to the Imperial Hospital to convey it. I heard that Ji Yunlou has already been summoned by the king to discuss matters."
Such swift action clearly wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. If Yu Xi had intended to replace the original High Priest and promote Ji Yunlou to the position, there must be something hidden behind this.
"Wait until Yunlou comes out of Ziyi Palace, and let him come to see me. Don't let anyone else see him." It is extremely difficult to get the news right now, and only this person can be the starting point.
Xiao Qi didn't know what this meant, but he had to obey his master's words, so he immediately took the order and went to wait outside Ziyi Palace.
Ling Huanchen waited in Yuluan Palace for several hours before finally meeting Ji Yunlou. He had already sent the palace attendants elsewhere, and then Xiao Qi led Ji Yunlou into the palace through the side door.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
"No need to be so polite, Yunlou." Ling Huanchen gestured for him to take a seat. "I haven't congratulated Yunlou yet on his appointment as high priest."
Ji Yunlou pulled the corner of his mouth and said helplessly, "Your Highness, please don't be so polite with me. Under the current circumstances, the position of high priest is a hot potato."
Ling Huanchen laughed. In the event of a natural disaster, as a high priest, he must shoulder the responsibility of praying to the heavens for blessings. If the king ordered the opening of the altar to pray for rain, the high priest must obey the king's order. If he failed, not to mention his official position, he might even lose his life.
This is why the former high priest used the offering of sacrifices as an excuse after failing to pray for rain several times, which coincided with the queen's desire to get rid of the two brothers Yu Xi.
"Okay, let's not be polite." Ling Huanchen got straight to the point. "I called you here because I want to know what the king is planning and why he suddenly appointed you as the high priest. I believe the king should have already told you."
"I can't hide it from Your Highness." Ji Yunlou showed a rare look of sorrow. "Why don't you just ask the King directly?"
"Since he kept it from me, he naturally didn't want to tell me. He didn't want to tell me because he was afraid that I would worry. Similarly, I am also worried about the king. So I want to know the whole story, but I don't want him to know that I already know it." As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion. If they didn't care about each other, they wouldn't be so cautious.
"You and the King are truly a loving couple. Surprisingly, the arguments you put forward are exactly the same." Ji Yunlou sighed softly. This kind of care for each other but not wanting to let the other know is something that a lonely man like him will never be able to experience in his lifetime.
After sighing, Ji Yunlou suddenly said seriously, "The king has ordered that the matters discussed must not be disclosed to outsiders. However, as I have said, I am solely loyal to Your Highness. I will only serve whoever Your Highness supports. The king appointed me as high priest because he wants me to use the magic of the Fengming Clan to summon rain."
He had already thought of this, "Does Yunlou have any solution?"
"That method does exist." Ji Yunlou pondered for a moment, "But I've been immersed in studying medicine and am a little unfamiliar with magic. It will take time to study."
Since the Fengming tribe has a way to confuse people's minds, it seems that praying for rain is not impossible.
"If Yunlou needs anything, please feel free to ask. Things are developing rapidly and time is running out."
Ji Yunlou pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "In fact, in my opinion, this drought is caused by something strange."
Ling Huanchen heard the hidden meaning in his words and asked, "What do you mean?"
"If it were an ordinary natural disaster, even if the drought was at its worst, the rivers wouldn't dry up and the earth wouldn't crack so quickly. If the drought had lasted ten years, it would be understandable. But now, in just a month, even the flowers and trees in the palace have withered. Don't you think this is a bit excessive, Your Highness?"
The incident happened suddenly, and there was an example from more than ten years ago. They really didn't think in other directions. Now, after hearing Ji Yunlou mention it, it really didn't seem like an ordinary drought.
"What Yunlou means is... someone is casting evil spells?" If it was done by the Fengming clan, everything would be explainable.
"This is just my guess, but it's likely to happen. I'll have to research it further. If it's the influence of a forbidden technique, then it's easier to deal with."
Ling Huanchen nodded, glanced at Ji Yunlou, and said hesitantly, "Yunlou, do you know why the previous high priest died?"
"I don't know about that. The king didn't tell me. I only heard that he suddenly fell ill with an old illness and passed away the night before."
Ling Huanchen smiled slightly and didn't mention it again. He was afraid that no one except Yu Xi could help him solve this problem.
Before leaving, Ji Yunlou suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Ling Huanchen, opened his mouth, and obviously had something to say.
"What does Yunlou want to say?"
Ji Yunlou hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "I remember that there are records in the ancient books of the Fengming Clan about the method of opening an altar to pray for rain, but it requires the preparation of some sacrifices. I have not yet mentioned this to the king, so I need to confirm it."
"What is needed as a sacrifice?" Although he didn't know much about the Fengming clan's spells, he had to try it as long as there was a glimmer of hope, just in case it could solve the urgent problem.
Ji Yunlou stared at him and said seriously, "There is more than one kind of sacrifice. One of them... is the blood of the mermaid."
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