From this chapter onward, I'll put system's name as "Tong Tian" instead of Heaven.

Inside the hall of Yong Yan Palace, imperial physicians and palace maids bustled around. Ye Zhizhou stood away from the crowd, standing crouched between the hall and the corridor. Looking at the corner of the room, he analysed the black-robed imperial guards that were stationed there. Madly poking the system, he spoke. "Tong Tian! Are you sure you didn't overlook any information? How could the eighth prince have the Zijin Imperial Guards?"

{T/N: Name of the residence of the eighth prince.}

These were the personal soldiers of the emperor, who had the privilege of standing outside the imperial system. They only recognised one master in their lifetime, and were the best swordsmen utilised by the Emperor.

In the original plot, the seventh prince wanted to subdue them after he ascended to the throne. Unfortunately, the group of soldiers resisted; committing suicide by poison to protect the emperor in the afterlife.

[System has given all the necessary information.]

In his heart, Ye Zhizhou rolled his eyes – accepting his misfortune. Information on the sickly and short-lived eighth prince was not much in the original plot – and his existence seemed to only be there as a springboard to launch An Chengjie into the imperial circle. Particularly because of his physical state and age, he seemed very plain among the many outstanding princes; only having few lines of description before he died.

In the original, only the emperor had grieved for the death of his eighth son – causing his body to be sick for a month. The seventh prince, following An Chengjie's advice, took the opportunity to gain the emperor's favour – polishing his solid foundation in the imperial court.

Turning off the data, Ye Zhizhou frowned; in the morning, An Chengsheng had said that the eighth prince was not a simple person. Afterwards, the eighth prince had mentioned information not recorded in the system data – and in addition to the presence of the Zijin Imperial Guards… the eighth prince he met and the eighth prince he was meant to meet were completely different! Ah, it really was suspicious!

"The emperor has arrived!"

The sharp voice alerted everyone to the presence of their monarch. Ye Zhizhou looked toward the source, spying upon a bright yellow figure within a group of people; the crowd quickly rushed forward, anxious to greet the emperor. All the servants and guards began to kneel in a show of respect.

He had almost forgotten that there were these kinds of ancient ceremonies in this world… and to minimalise his presence, he had no choice but to bow his head and kneel to the ground with the crowd. However, heaven was not willing, and the yellow-dressed figure suddenly stopped in front of him. A majestic but heavy voice sounded from not far above his head, "You are An Chengle?"

Ye Zhizhou moved – wanting to look up, but being afraid of provoking the taboo of 'no eye contact with the emperor'. As such, he only straightened his back, and answered the question. "Answering the emperor, An Chengle is indeed this humble servant."

"Get up, and follow me in." Without a second glance, the monarch continued to walk forward.

A small eunuch stepped out from behind the emperor, bending over to make a gesture of sincere respect. Ye Zhizhou, unable to refuse, straightened his back and stared after the emperor who had rushed into the inner palace, sighing in his heart. The ancient times were not good – the imperial power too great, and no human rights for the civilians. Kneeling down was so annoying, and though he wanted to resist this type of imperial decree, it was completely oppressive.

Entering the palace, Emperor Yan Di first went to see the unconscious Yan Mingyong. After sitting for a while, he called the imperial doctor to ask of his son's current situation. He learnt that Yan Mingyong had suddenly collapsed due to his emotional excitement, causing him to cough up blood. After hearing of this, the emperor's expression changed – and a thoughtful stare focused itself on Ye Zhizhou, who was standing in the corner.

Ye Zhizhou's hair stood straight, and he slowly swallowed a mouthful of saliva. One couldn't blame him – it was already scary seeing the eighth prince vomit blood while smiling, and now he had to worry about the intention of this Yan Di.

Fortunately, Emperor Yan quickly withdrew his gaze, choosing to sit down with a contemplating expression on his face. Suddenly, he got up and retreated with his people out of the hall, speaking over his shoulder. "Be good to Mingyong."

Not long after, a large reward was gifted to Yongyan Palace – containing many valuable medicines; and it seemed that there were also many rewards being sent to the Zhenguo Gong Fu.

Ye Zhizhou, scanning over the gifts list, thought that the emperor was indeed wealthy.

The next morning, he woke up dazed in a side chamber of Yong Yan palace. Realising that his body felt heavier than usual – he confusedly looked down, and was subsequently shocked by what he saw.

A young man clothed in white was sleeping in his arms – hands and feet wrapped tight around him. His face leaned on Ye Zhizhou's chest, black hair scattered on top of the both of them, mixing with his own loose hair. Such an intimate scene, ah!

His mind blanked out for a minute, then it suddenly hit him: how could someone, who was lying unconscious in the main hall yesterday, appear in his bed? And Ye Zhizhou didn't even notice that someone had climbed into his bed – it was simply bizarre! His spiritual power wouldn't have allowed him to be so unguarded!

Wait, a second…

A metaphorical lightbulb suddenly flicked on, and a surprising yet frightening guess came to mind. There was only one person in this world who could make him so unguarded like this – and it was that faulty-brained lover of his. Looking back at the eighth prince's mental case yesterday, it seemed likely that….

But then, why didn't his spirit force react when near this person? In the previous worlds, it was always stirred up when in proximity… could it be that in this lifetime, that man's already weak spiritual force had completely disappeared?

Various theories and thoughts ran across his mind. Ye Zhihzou's spiritual force hesitantly lingered on the side of the other person's head, wanting to explore, but anxious at the possible results. If the other party was his lover, then naturally – it would be everyone's delight and satisfaction. But if he was not… well, this eighth prince who already bore a weak body and defective brain might not be able to survive the spiritual scans…

Reason and emotions fighting a chaotic battle, he looked down at the youth in his arms with a completed gaze. Trying to endure without much success, Ye Zhizhou gathered his courage and reached out to the youth's pants. Spiritual scans were temporarily out of question – but there was still one more method that he could always try… and though he wasn't sure whether the birthmark would always exist in every world, it was at least something. A guilty feeling of indecency rose in his heart as he leaned towards the minor. Fingers trembling, he held the other person's clothes and lifted them up. Then, he reached out for the waistband of the… he prayed to God to forgive him of his crime.

"What are you doing?"

There was a cold feeling on the back of his hand – and all of a sudden, it was tightly held in another's vice-like grip.

! ! !

Ye Zhizhou eyes widened, and held his breath.

Yan Mingyong slowly got up, gradually tightening his grip around the wrist. Pulling his body forward, the wide collar slipped slightly open, exposing a white and frail looking chest. And probably because he had just been woken up, there was a tinge of red on his pale face, making it appear even more alluring. "Do you like my body?"

"Ha?" Ye Zhizhou felt dumbfounded; the youth's reaction was completely different to expectations. Where were the words of interrogation? The punishment?

Where was the denouncement of his 'pervertedness'?

There was a smile on the youth's pale face, and his eyes were full of delight. With a trace of huskiness in the pre-pubescent voice, he said, "That's good." With these bold words, Yan Mingyong pulled down on Ye Zhizhou's collar, placing his own hand on the other's neck. "Do you want me to teach you?"

Save me, ah! There's a pervert!

Ye Zhizhou retracted his hand as if he had gotten an electric shock. Climbing away from the side of the bed, he stiffly changed the subject. "Good morning, your highness. You must be hungry – and so, I'll serve you after getting ready, alright?"

The question was left unanswered as the smile on the eighth prince's face slowly disappeared. Yan Mingyong straightened, staring at Ye Zhizhou; switching his gaze front the latter's face, to baby fat, to 3cm down the navel. After quite some time, he spoke: "Haven't you grown up yet? Oh right, you are only 16 years old this year."

Child – you too have yet to mature! Only 13 years old this year, ah! Aren't you too abnormal?

"It doesn't matter." Yan Mingyong lifted his hand to tidy up his collar. A smiled, once again, appeared on his face. A strange light flashed through his black eyes. "After all, I have grown up."

That was even worse!

For a whole morning, Ye Zhizhou was in a state of numbness due to his emotional overstimulation. Yan Mingyong kept close, but did not harass him – opting instead to quietly read a book. The emperor arrived at lunchtime, and after eating, took a walk with them. Before leaving, he had also rewarded Ye Zhizhou with many items. After his father's departure, Yan Mingyong took to sleep after consuming the medicine. Ye Zhizhou, slowly pulling away the hand that held his body, called out to De An in a low voice. When De An had settled down the prince, he stealthily snuck out from the study room with a few pieces of paper. Writing a few lines of words in a dog-like crawl, he ran out from the Yong Yan Palace.

The palaces belonging to the princes were not far apart from each other. Avoiding the patrolling guards, he approached the seventh prince's residence, Deyang Palace. And quickly after arriving, he dispersed his spirit power over his body in order to conceal himself. With some effort, he finally reached the outside of the bedroom window. Pushing it slightly open, he flicked the note to the edge of the seventh prince's pillow with a finger – then quickly closed the window and left.

The next morning, Ye Zhihou wasn't all that surprised at the extra body in his bed – but his level two spiritual force, as if it was an ornament, had once again failed to sense the other's approach. Silently wiping his face, he nervously shifted – unwilling to wake the other, but too entangled to move. But the very next second, his wrist was grasped; the youth, head tilted to one side, drowsily whispered in the older's ears. "Le Er, did you miss me?"

"No." Thinking of the fear he had felt when his shameful act was caught yesterday, he decided that he want to be a bully today. Deliberately, in a firm manner, he said: "You're too thin – I don't have any interest in you. Also, don't call me Le Er, call me Gong Zi!"

[T/N: Le Er is an affectionate name for An Chengle; whereas Gong Zi is a title used to address a son of nobility]

The grip on his wrist tightened, only releasing after some time. Yan Mingyong, who was previously in Ye Zhizhou's arms, slowly got up – looking at him with an expressionless face; not speaking nor moving. Looking at the scene, Ye Zhizhou's heartbeat slightly sped up.

"Le Er." For a long time, Ye Zizhou felt that the air in the bedchamber had become a lot thinner. He swallowed the saliva that was pooling in his mouth, and just as he was about to admit defeat, the other person spoke – thin fingers leaning over to touch his cheek gently. "I suddenly remember that you have a very annoying brother named An Chengjie."

Ye Zhizhou stiffened, and his heartbeat quickened – not understanding why the other party had suddenly raised the protagonist's name.

"After you ruined the reputation of his Treasure Pavilion, he closed the shop." Slowly, the fingers dropped to his neck, firm but still gentle. "Xi Zi Gui, this is the name of his newly opened restaurant."

The protagonist actually opened the restaurant so quickly?

"Le Er." The amount of force applied on the neck increased slightly – the thin youth leaning forward, bringing with him a medicinal scent. "You can't escape." Gently, Yan Mingyong dropped down, rubbing the other's neck with his check. Long hair was scattered over his arm in a devilish manner, calling forth a chill. He whispered, quietly, but viciously – as if he himself was the devil's call. "Your enemy can fall to hell; or I can bring you down with me to that same blazing place of sins. What do you choose?"

Ye Zhizhou frowned – and his spirit quickly spread out, wrapping around the two people. Face set in a cold expression, he pushed the youth away, sneering all the while. "Trying to deceive people? Trying to trick people into falling to hell?" He pushed the other down, slightly pressing his leg down on the top of the pale body to restrict Mingyong's movements. Suddenly, Ye Zhizhou lifted his hand – bringing it firmly down to slap the youth on the butt. "Age is not important; after all it is but a number; so let this senior teach you what hell truly feels like!" The *pa pa pa* sound that rang after these words were heard clearly. Ah, finally! Ye Zhizhou had really wanted to do this long ago! This child who had kept on getting on his nerves, could finally be disciplined!

The sound of the slaps was loud and crisp. Yan Mingyong's shocked face trembled, attempting to stand up without prevail. In a sloppy manner, his arms reached out to grab the back of Ye Zhizhou's neck – and in a cold manner, he ruthlessly said: "An! Cheng! Le!"

"Oh, so you do know how to address me by my name." Ye Zhizhou was not scared by the vicious expression and the youth's face – and he also didn't care about the feeble amount of strength that was in the arms around his neck. His right hand quickly stretched outwards, pulling the youth's pants down. Pulling Yan Mingyong into his arms, Ye Zhizhou look down at the two globes of fat.

A red, bird-shaped birthmark was present on the buttock, brightly lit.

"You…" The expression on Ye Zhizhou's face stiffened, and then slowly grew blank; the hand pulling on the pair of trousers also losing strength. He absentmindedly looked down at Yan Mingyong, who was angry to the point that his face had grown red. "So, it really is you… the you in this lifetime… how did you become this weak?"

Yan Mingyong didn't speak, only staring at the other with an indiscernible expression on his face. His bloodshot eyes widened, and the tight grip on Ye Zhizhou's neck loosened; chest swelling violently, the younger of the two swallowed the words he wanted to say, and instead leaned over to the side of the bed – vomiting out a mouthful of blood.

"Mingyong!" The red stain on the cyan silk sheets began to grow without pause. Ye Zhizhou was scared – scared to the point that his soul had begun to tremble. Quickly rushing over, he gently grabbed hold of the other – panicking at the sight of blood stained lips. With a fearful cry, he said: "You, you cannot die right now!"

The imperial physicians returned to Yongyan Palace once more. Fortunately, Yan Mingyong hadn't fainted this time. The younger had firmly pulled on Ye Zhizhou's hand, looking at him with bloodshot eyes – silent but clear-headed.

Already familiar with the series of events, the imperial physicians quickly checked his pulse and prescribed the correct medicine. They did not know how many times they had already said it, but they had to say the same repetitive words every time they came. "Your highness, please avoid anything that can cause disruptive emotions; you must stay in bed for the rest of the month. The food consumed should be light, and it would be best if…"

"Shut up." Yan Mingyong finally opened his mouth, if only to chase the people out. "Everyone get out. No one is allowed to stay. De An, shut the palace door – I won't see anyone!"

The physicians were silent as they hurriedly packed their medical equipment and left.

Only Yan Mingyong and Ye Zhizhou were left in the palace. Ye Zhizhou, seeing the younger's pale and weak look, couldn't help but feel worried. Stepping forward, he helped pull up the quilt and held out his hand. "I won't leave. Just get a good rest – don't think about it too much." Seeing his lover nearly die from excessive anger just as he found him, Zhizhou was secretly panicked in his heart.

Yan Mingyong continued to stare at him, lips pale and blue. The distorted expression on his face emitted an evil aura. "An Chengle! This prince can ignore your previous impudent actions, but remember that you'll live here for a lifetime! If you dare to leave, I will take you to hell!"

This was the first time that Yan Mingyong had used his imperial title in front of Ye Zhizhou. After finding out that the younger was his lover, Ye Zhizhou couldn't feel any fear or jealousy towards him. He couldn't help but reveal a smile at the threat. "So? You will surely follow, and you will certainly recognize me at first glance." Although his lover did not retain his past memories – it seemed that at first sight, he could recognise him with his own instincts. He believed that if there was a next life, this person would be able to recognize him once more.

Yan Mingyong was stunned by the gentle and intimate response. But soon after, his face darkened and he continued on with his threat. "Then, it won't only be you; your brother, parents, and family as well. You may not be afraid to go to hell, but what about your family? If you don't want them to come to harm, just stay with me!"

"Yes, yes – I know you're powerful. Now, just rest." Ye Zhizhou patted his head as if he was a puppy, stroking the long hair soon after. "The imperial physician said that you have to recuperate; sleep, ok?"

Yan Mingyong stiffened with a frown, secretly liking the intimacy. He wanted to open his mouth to continue his ruthless words – however, Ye Zhizhou quickly covered his mouth with a hand. "Your eyes are clearly red and bloodshot, yet you're still not going to sleep?" He helplessly pinched his lover's overly beautiful face. Seeing a glare form on the younger's face, Zhizhou simply took off his shoes and climbed into the bed – quickly taking off his outer robes to open up the quilt and take the other person into his embrace. "Sleep, I'll guarding you."

"You!" Yan Mingyong spoke in an anger, but stopped halfway – entangling himself in the other's body in reflex. His face turned blank and gloomy, and his mouth gaped in shock – but he didn't utter a single word.

Ye Zizhou found the younger's ridiculous actions cute, kissing Mingyong's forehead then raising his hand to cover the other's eyes. "Let's sleep. It's late."

His eyes covered, Yan Mingyong's instincts tensed – only relaxing gradually due to the warmth of the person beside him. He couldn't help but tightly cling on to the other's body, burying his head in the other's neck. The young prince – in a show of weakness, albeit in an evil tone – said, "This time, you took the initiative to come, then refused to leave. So, you can't leave me now."

"Yes, yes. I won't leave." He patted his lover, sighing in his heart; in the end, just how lacking was the amount of love the youth received in his childhood to develop this kind of personality. Furthermore, this terrible physical ailment… He poked the system and questioned it – then easing his heart, he held his lover and fell into a deep sleep.

The relationship between Yan Mingyong and Ye Zhizhou grew with time. Although Yan Mingyong was still quick to anger, Ye Zhizhou had also been quick to suppress it. As the relationship between the two grew closer, the number of imperial physicians coming to Yongyan Palace gradually lessened, Yan Mingyong's improved health shocking everyone. The Dragon Emperor Yan was very pleased, rewarding An Chengle and the Zhenguo Gongfu with a pile of treasures – as well as giving An Chengsheng the top score in the court examinations and continuously praising the Zhenguo Gong's educated children in court.

The Zhenguo Gong husband and wife duo felt relief at the turn of events. An Chengseng also gradually calmed his heart, but he was still afraid of the eighth prince's words that day. From time to time, he would find an excuse to go to the palace to 'accidently' meet with his younger brother; he didn't have any time to pay attention to An Chengjie.

The two sons of the An Family were held in high esteem by the emperor, filling the Zhenguo Gongfu with delight. An Chengjie, who had yet to be targeted by An Chengle, finally had enough time to prepare for the opening of his restaurant. On the day, he finally reconciled with Lei Baofei, intending to take the other to taste the hot pot and wine he made as a way to redeem their friendship. Since the day the 'Treasure Pavillion' was wrecked by An Chengle, the other person had begun to disassociate with him. Although Baofei didn't refuse his requests for help with the shop, they were not as close as before. Chengjie vaguely felt that after he finished helping, Lei Baofei would draw a clear line between them. If this was the case, his situation in the Zhenguo Gongfu – which had yet to be established and stabilised – would be in serious danger.

Opening a shop did not just need novel ideas and excellent merchandise – it also required a strong network of contacts and a good backing. Lei Baofei's father was the Great General, and Lei Baofei himself was also a promising young general. The reason the 'Treasure Pavilion' could grow so quickly before was because it borrowed the other's contacts. As this new restaurant was about to open, it was natural that he wanted the support of the other party. Additionally, he needed the other person's protection to avoid people from Zenguo Gongfu finding out about his businesses too early.

All sorts of ideas and plans swirled in his mind, and though it was not time for the restaurant's grand opening, a complete plan to reconcile Lei Baofei and develop his business had taken shape – awaiting its execution today.

Lei Baofei had yet to arrive. The shopkeeper hanging up the shop sign in front at the entrance saw An Chengjie and hurriedly rushed over to greet him. "Boss, the ingredients and medicinal herbs you requested have been processed – the wine has also been prepared in the kitchen. Now, it is just the customers we lack."

An Chengjie was very satisfied with the shopkeeper that was hired by his broker. Smiling, he patted the other on the shoulder and praised his efforts. "I feel relieved at the way you handle things. Let's go – first, take me to the kitchen."

The shopkeeper's eyes flashed as he leaned forward to lead the way.

In a private room on the second floor of the teahouse across the street, Ye Zhizhou put down his teacup and smiled at the Yan Mingyong who was reading a book in front of him. Grinning, he said: "Mingyong, I'm going out to take care of a few things. I'll be back soon, so just continue reading your book – I'll take you with me to eat some delicious food later!"

Yan Mingyong stopped turning the page, looking up with a frown on his face. "Half an hour at the very most."

After calculating the time needed for the restaurant to open, Zhizhou nodded his head in assent. "Ok, I'll be back in half an hour."

After the other had left, Yan Mingyong put down his book and gently knocked his knuckles on the table. De An opened the door and quickly walked to the window, blowing into a whistle-like thing. Outside the teahouse, a hooded figure flashed out from the shadows and chased Ye Zhizhou.

In one of the best areas on the South Street – a new restaurant, Chuan Yue, was opened; the signature dish being something called a hotpot. Several days before the opening, the shopkeeper held a free taste stall at the entrance of the restaurant. The stall itself was very simple; there was only a table, a stove, and a pot. A variety of processed ingredients were on the table, and on the stove was a large pot with two different soup bases. When the stove was lit, the soup bases began to boil – emitting an alluring scent that quickly spread out.

{Ed. Note: Quick clarification – Chuan Yue is not the protagonist's restaurant; Xi Zi is. Chuan Yue is just another restaurant that has opened.}

In just three days, the Chuan Yue restaurant that had still yet to open gained fame in the South Street. The nearby residents were tempted by the smell of the hotpot every day, and they craved for it to the point that they were unable to eat or sleep; looking forward to the day that this restaurant would open.

The Great General Lei's residence was just around the corner of South Street, and also needed to endure the enticing fragrance of the hotpot. That day, Lei Baofei went out to meet An Chengjie – and when he walked through South Street, he was surprised to find that the Chuan Yue restaurant had opened in a quiet manner. They didn't invite a lion dance group, nor did they beat the drums; they just hung up a red silk cloth and opened the shop.

The people who heard the news rushed over to visit – lining up, they were welcomed in by a passionate waiter. Lei Baofei stopped momentarily in curiosity, and was quickly noticed by the waiter inside. "Honorable guest, our restaurant just opened today – and in celebration, the first 100 guests are free. Would you like to come in and have a taste?

Remembering the appointment with An Chengjie, he shook his head in regret. "Maybe next time – today, I have already made prior commitments; though, thank you for the warm welcome."

Hearing this, the waiter also expressed his regret. He turned into the store and signalled another waiter to run out with a small basket in hand. Handing it over to Lei Baofei, he said: "A small gift for our guest. We look forward to your next visit." Then, the two waiters quickly walked back into the building – not giving Lei Baofei the chance to refuse.

Lei Baofei laughed and shook his head – his good opinion of the store deepening. With this kind of event, his not-so-bright mood improved slightly. He reached into the bamboo basket and looked at its contents; inside was a small pot and a letter. Lifting up the pot's lid, he could see red ointment-like pastes inside; and not understanding its usage, he closed the lid and took out the letter.

He thought that the letter would contain words of blessings – but unexpectedly, it was actually a detailed recipe; specifying the procedure and ways to use ingredients to better the taste. At the end, it stated that the small pot was filled with the base ingredient to make a hotpot – allowing the guest to bring it back home with them to eat it with their family.

Really… he had never seen such a generous restaurant before.

By the time he put away the letter, An Chengjie's restaurant, Xi Zi, was in front. Remembering the frequent appointments that An Chenjie had organised between them, his relaxed and happy expression disappeared – a frown in its place.

Although he was very grateful to the other for their efforts in rescuing him, their character and attitude was…. he shook his head and pressed down on the negative emotions rising in his heart. He looked at the gorgeous gates of Xi Zi, and made a decision in his heart: After helping the other gain a foothold in the capital, he would sever their relationship. Two people with differing and opposing principles – it really was impossible for them to work together.

[The probability of Lei Baofei falling in love with the protagonist has dropped to 50%. Please persist in your actions, host.]

Not far behind Lei Baofei – Ye Zhizhou, who was buying candied fruit – looked sideways to the direction of Xi Zi Restaurant. He squinted his eyes and smiled. Even before the man had even entered the restaurant, his love probability had dropped by 20%. Lei Baofei, an honest man, could really surprise people, ah!

On the second floor of the teahouse, Yan Mingyong put down his book and looked at Lei Baofei, who was standing in front of the restaurant. Then, he took a look at Ye Zhizhou – who was staring at Lei Baofei from a distance. He clenched his fist and coughed, taking out a pill to swallow.

Did Le Er like tall men like the Lei youth? He touched his own thin and weak legs, expression slightly distorted.

No! He wouldn't allow Le Er to like anyone other than himself!

Lei Baofei left with a dark face; not touching any of the dishes, and leaving the wine spilt. Before his abrupt departure however, he strictly urged An Chengjie to conduct himself appropriately. An Chengjie was confused – not knowing why Lei Baofei had left like that when he all he had wanted to do was introduce a new dish, and chat about the restaurant's future.

The shopkeeper seemed to be scared by the guest's sudden departure. He probed outside, cautiously asking some questions. "Boss, those dishes in the kitchen… do you still need them?"

Annoyance was laced in his voice as he spoke. "No need!" He frowned as he glanced at the various ingredients on the table, depressed and puzzled. Lei Baofei's attitude today was really strange; and the sentence he said before he left didn't make any sense. Were all ancient people this temperamental?

He debated on whether he should try to talk to Lei Baofei again when a waiter suddenly rushed into the room; with him, was a familiar bamboo basket. "This isn't good! There's another hotpot restaurant that just opened on the South Street. They're selling it at half the price we are, and they also openly share their recipe! This… this is the hotpot they are selling today."

An Chengjie's face warped, and he snatched the basket away – quickly looking inside to take out the note. His hands gradually crumbled the paper – his brain feeling as if it was smashed by a hammer. Without thinking, he asked, "Where is that store? What's its name? Who opened it?"

"It's in the middle of South Street, and it's called Chuan Yue. But I don't know who the owner is, and the person in charge today has unknown origins." The shopkeeper, after saying this, saw An Chengjie's lost look and grew even more panicked. "Boss, what should we do?" The restaurant was about to open, but their signature dish was already taken by another; this certainly could not be good.

Chuan Yue, Chuan Yue…

An Chengjie's hand trembled – his heart sinking and hands faltering. There was a sense of excitement that ran through him at the notion that there was another transmigrator; yet, there was also fear. Fear that his advantage as a transmigrated person would be taken away. A hotpot restaurant called Chuan Yue… was this name just a coincidence, or a hint from the other party?

[T/N: 穿越 – Chuan Yue – means to transmigrate.]

Ye Zhizhou returned to Zhenguo Gong Fu with Yan Mingyong, ready to eat some hotpot at home. While waiting for Chang Shun and Chang Fu to prepare the ingredients – he pushed Yan Mingyong to the dining room, and stuffed his book into his hands. "Mingyong, just wait here for a while. My big brother is at home today, so I'm going to call him over so he can taste the hotpot as well."

Yan Mingyong's smile on his face faltered, eyes sinking. "Do you like your brother?"

Ye Zhizhou helplessly looked over at the gloomy kid – bending over to kiss the other's face, and pat his hair. "Be obedient. After dinner, I'll show you a new game that you haven't played before. For now, just read the book."

Yan Mingyong couldn't control the red on his cheeks – his black eyes brightening up as quickly as they darkened. But, he refrained from showing his excitement on his face – speaking with a still expression. "I'll listen to you this once, go."

Ye Zhizhou chuckled at his lover's serious face – leaning over to kiss the youth. His lover had turned into a young boy, and he got the chance to see him gradually grow up – this was really great!

The hotpot was ready by the time Ye Zhizhou returned with An Chengsheng. Yan Mingyong put the book down, wheeling himself towards the door – and while ignoring An Chengsheng's face of shock, he reached out to Ye Zhizhou. "Le Er, my chest hurts."

Ye Zhizhou grew panicked, hurriedly walking over to rub the youth's chest. Anxiously, he asked, "Where's your pill? Didn't I say that you had to take one every time you felt pain?" His lover's body was too weak, but all the system-provided pills had too fast of a healing rate. Fearing that a sudden recovery would be too eye catching, he diluted it to make weaker pill for Mingyong to eat whenever he was feeling sick.

"Without De An here, I forgot to take it." Yan Mingyong really enjoyed the concern and care shown by the older; and taking advantage of De An's absence, he lied without batting an eyelid. Eyes shining, his lips were hooked up as he took a glance at An Chengsheng. "It's only a bit painful, nothing really. Let's eat first, don't let big brother wait."

At this blatant provocation, An Chengsheng clenched his hand; seeing the eighth prince follow his little brother, and being called big brother as if they were close, made his heart sour and feel unwell. However, remembering the other's status and power, he steadied his heart – cupping his hands and reluctantly replying to the prince's greeting. "I apologise; I did not expect your highness' presence here today – I've troubled you with my brother's wilful temper."

Yan Mingyong smiled – not showing that crazy expression he had worn in their last encounter. With a refined and noble air, he said, "Le Er is very good to me – you must be happy to have such a good younger brother."

An Chengsheng also put on a fake smile. "Your highness' brothers are also very good."

A crackling sound could be heard in the tense silence between the two people; an invisible bomb waiting to detonate at any second.

Seeing them like this, Ye Zhizhou – who had just realised that he had been tricked – took back his hands and rolled his eyes. He walked towards the dining table and took a seat, fishing out a piece of meat from the hotpot using a pair of chopsticks. "Both of you can just talk slowly over there. I'm starving, so I won't be able to accompany you."

Seeing Ye Zhizhou get angry, they hurriedly retracted their glares and restrained their mood. Yan Mingyong quickly occupied the seat beside Ye Zhizhou and pulled on his sleeve. "How do you eat this?"

Ye Zhizhou squinted at him, sneering. It's only now that you know how to behave yourself? Didn't you just feign an illness a moment ago?

An Chengsheng was one step late, and he could only sit on the seat opposite of his brother. He picked up the chopsticks and smiled, "This food is quite interesting – Le Er always manages to find something new."

"Right." Ye Zhizhou ignored the flattery – pulling down his sleeves to check the young prince's temperature. Seeing that he was not too cold, he got up to pick up the hotpot. "I stumbled upon a collection of ancient poetry, and I wanted to give it to big brother; but, it seems that it is not necessary now."

Poetry collection? And an ancient one at that? An Chengsheng, who was madly in love with poetry, immediately caught on to this crucial part in his little brother's words. He immediately put down his chopsticks. "Le Er, it was big brother's mistake. So, please lend that poetry collection to big brother."

This kind of small bait, I knew you'd take it. Ye Zhizhou smirked and laughed inside his head, all the while maintaining a cool facade. He got up and walked towards the cloth bag, taking out the mixed version of 《Three Hundred Tang Poems》 and 《Best Lyrics of Song Dynasty》 – stuffing them into An Chengsheng's arms. "The book is old to the point that it's no longer suitable for reading. Since I already made a copy of it, you can take it."

An Chengsheng held the book as if it was a precious treasure. He didn't care about the dog-scrawl writing in it, and immediately stopped eating to read the book.

[The probability of An Chengsheng falling in love with the protagonist has dropped to 50%. Please persist in your actions, host.]

As the system notification appeared, Ye Zhizhou thanked the heavens in his heart: An Chengsheng's feelings towards An Chengjie was more like that of a fan's obsession towards their idol. Now that An Chengjie's 'talent' was gone, the love probability had decreased all by itself.

If they wanted to start 'something' between them, it would be very difficult!

Yan Mingyong silently put down his chopsticks, and merely stared at Ye Zhizhou.

When Ye Zhihou looked back at him, he knew that the kid would be moody again. "It's a collection of poetry. What, do you also want a copy? Or do you want another gift? Well, whatever it is that you want, I'll give it to you. So, quickly eat; your body is still ill."

"You'll truly give me anything I want?" Yang Mingyong picked up his chopsticks, carefully asking.

Ye Zhizhou, whose attention had been distracted by the system notification, carelessly nodded. Yan Mingyong looked deeply at the older boy, then smiled: the only thing that he wanted was this person.

In the middle of the night, Yan Mingyong woke up in Ye Zhizhou's arms – staring at him for a while before getting up. Taking a bead from the bedside table, he crushed it under the older's nose – ensuring that he would not wake for quite some time. The eighth prince pulled on a string that hung next to the bed; and after a while, De An gently walked in, standing silently in front.

"Have you captured that person yet?"

De An stepped forward to help him dress, whispering back whilst his hands were moving. "Captured. He has already been finished in the secret prison."

Yan Mingyong gripped his hands, showing a slightly gloomy smile. "Very good. The palace really is too dirty – and I for one, think it's time to clean it up." He looked at the peacefully sleeping Ye Zhihzou, pulling up the quilt to cover the other's exposed shoulders. A flash of light flashed through his eyes as he continued speaking. "I must let Le Er live a comfortable life."

An Chengjie had not left his room ever since the collapse of his restaurant. Seeing that the young master of the Lei Family had never come to visit their boss again, as well as the lack of the usual generous bonuses – the servants gradually grew to ignore him. Though angry, he couldn't do anything about it.

For the past few days, he had been hiding in his room – examining the dish in the small basket. He had hesitated; all kinds of possibilities were lined up all over the place – but he couldn't make up his mind as to who was the possible transmigrator. Nowadays, he had adapted to this ancient society, and had made a general plan for his future. The sudden appearance of another party made him bitter and full of loathing, his instincts going haywire.

Xiao Si Da Zhu saw the boss being absent minded for several days, and thinking that it was due to the failed business, he suggested a form of entertainment. "Three days later, there is going to be a literary meeting held by the Yingtian Academy under Yuan Si Mountain just outside the city. How about Gong Zi attends to relive yourself of the boredom? I have heard that the great imperial scholar will also be present – and with Gong Zi's literary talent, you'll be able to gain great achievements for sure!"

[Ed. Note: First reminder, Gong Zi is just an informal title for a noble's son.]

To face the great scholar? An Chengjie's heart was slightly moved, his troubled mind calming down. The more he thought about it, the more he knew it was a good idea; it was useless to just randomly guess things while shutting himself in like this. Since making money didn't work, how about making a name for himself? Recalling the disdain he felt for those from the Zhenguo Gongfu, and the disappointment that was shown on Lei Baofei's face, his heart suddenly rose in excitement.

[Ed. Note: Second reminder, Zhenguo Gongfu is the town government.]

What bastard child?! He would definitely be better than those official sons! It didn't matter if Lei Baofei wasn't backing him anymore; with the advanced knowledge he had from the future in his mind, those nobles would soon line up to bow down at his feet!

His expression gradually grew firm, his stare on the small basket on the table darkening as time went past.

This Chuan Yue restaurant had better just be a coincidence; if not… well, this world only needed one transmigrated person.

Ye Zhizhou discovered that Yan Mingyong always sleepy these days. He often fell asleep with just a few pages of books after lunch. When his lover once fell asleep on a small couch, he finally couldn't bear it anymore and called the physician. Even after a long time, the physician still could not find anything wrong with him, but the emperor who was visiting his son was very scared.

"Is he really okay?"

"Answering the Emperor, His Highness is in no harm, his health is also improving. Maybe he could accompany Your Majesty in the ceremony* this year." He said in delight. In the past, every time the Eight Prince is sick, the imperial physician courtyard would suffer various scolding. Now that the prince's body became healthier, the Emperor was in a good mood. Not only he didn't scold them, he also sent them various reward occasionally.

(*to offer sacrifices to gods or ancestors)

"Hmm, not bad. Reward!" The emperor really pleased hearing this. He looked at the physician's old face then toward the young and handsome face beside him. He thought for a while and asked, "With Yong Er's current condition, could he attend the Autumn Hunting in the next two months?"

The physician considered this and answered, "If you made sure he won't exhaust himself, then he could go."

"Very good!" The Emperor laughed heartily. Just like all the ordinary father in the world, he was very delighted seeing this slight improvement of his sickly son.

Ye Zhizhou could only sighed seeing the Emperor like this. Even if he has many sons, but they are not just simply his son*, only Yan Mingyong is. His birth mother's status is low and has no relatives, his age also a lot younger than the Emperor. He does not pose a threat to the throne. He's the only one – that could make the emperor to rest assured while showing fatherly love. Besides, Yan Mingyong had indirectly saved his life… A misfortune concealed as blessing; a blessing concealed as misfortune. Yan Mingyong's sickness is also his own protection. When his body becomes better in the future, it's uncertain whether the Emperor will care about his son as he is now.

(*They also the son from their mothers' side, usually will involve in politic to obtain the throne or to get their people a position in court.)

The imperial physician couldn't find the reason why Yan Mingyon is always sleepy. Tong Tian* also couldn't detect any problems. Although Ye Zhizhou is worried, but he couldn't do anything. He could only convince himself that this is a normal condition for a child in puberty.

(*the system's name)

Yan Mingyong saw his worries and knew that he secretly invited the physician to check on him, but in order to enjoy the pleasure of being cared for and valued, he pretended to know nothing and continued to "sleep".

Three days later, the original plot said that An Cheng Jie will participate in the literary meeting held by Yingtian Academy. The academy's great scholar, Liu Qingfeng, will take notice of him and accept him as his disciple, then he'll officially embarks on the journey of conquering literature's world. When Ye Zhizhou opened Chuan Yue restaurant, he remembered about this plot. Originally he wanted to take Yan Mingyong with him to join the fun, but seeing that he became sleepy like this, he was so worried that he couldn't dare to take him out, so he dismissed the idea.

Therefore, the awake Yan Mingyong found that Ye Zhizhou had left the book and already left. The afternoon warm sunlight filled the room, dimming the edge of the pillow, which also blurred the instant gloomy expression on his face.

Spring turned into summer, the last batch of peach blossom bloomed under Yuansi Temple. Ye Zhizhou was nestled under a peach tree. He listened to the student reciting their poems while biting melon seeds and swaying a long grass leisurely.

An Chengsheng got out from the small circle and found his brother in the corner. He couldn't help but sighed, "Le Er, you're already 16 years old. Don't you want to set your heart to study and attend the academy?"

Since he gave him the poetry collection, An Chensheng's attitude toward him is getting better and better, and he became more and more tolerant. Ye Zhizhou is very satisfied with this. Listened to him, he shamelessly said, "I don't want to study ah. I'm not a suit for studying. I'm going to make big fortune! Mother gave me a dowry shop a while ago. I changed it into a restaurant and made a lot of money." A scholar and a businessman is far in comparison. Many aristocrat family's children who don't have the talent for studying will eventually choose to be a businessman through their family connection. It's a good way out, but it's not as noble as becoming a scholar or an official.

An Chengsheng couldn't bear to let his silly brother went through the up and down of merchant's life, he continued to persuade, "You don't have to study that well, you just need to pass the palace exam and graduate, and then you could be an idle small official in the Imperial Academy. Father and I could also protect you."

A palace entrance exam? As for the original host, he also won't take that test! Ye Zhizhou spit in his heart, but on the surface show a stupid willful look, "But becoming an official is terrifying. Big brother, you know my brain is not good enough. With business, if it come to worst, I'll only lose money. But becoming an official, if I'm not careful, I could directly lose my life. Anyway, I don't want to study or becoming an official."

He insisted on keeping the original host no-brain setting. He continued to bait on him, "And if I made a lot of money, I could find more classic poetry for Big brother. It seems the last book I gave you have a series. I want to collect them all for Big brother."

There's a pile of poetry book on his space, courtesy of Ouyang Zhi's charity buying. It's probably enough to make more than a dozen copy of "Ancient poetry collection". It's enough to win over An Chengsheng.

An Chengsheng was really excited and didn't persuade him anymore. He eagerly asked, "Is it really has series? How many other books can you have?"

"I couldn't tell yet." He glanced at his cheap brother who was about to take a green light and pointed toward the entrance, then said, "I saw Brother Chengjie just now. Big brother, did you invited him?"

This event is based on invitation. As the branch's champion, An Chengsheng invitation will have a big influenced, and now An Chengjie's invitation is a normal one. In the original plot, An Chengjie rely on An Chengsheng's victory to send his own poetry.

Unexpectedly, An Chengsheng frowned after hearing this and gave negative answer, "I didn't invite him. The second brother must have got it from another place." Before this, he admired this younger brother and thought that he's also a person who loves poetry. But seeing him always run around outside every day, without any sign or intention to read, the appreciation gradually faded. However, he still felt a bit pity for the other's talent and cleverness…

"Is that so…" Ye Zhizhou put away the melon seed into a cloth bag and ready to throw it away. He got up and clean the dust on his clothes, then said, "Brother Chengjie is smarter than me. He surely came with amazing lines, let's go cheer him on." He took An Chengsheng's arm and drag him over, unwilling to miss a good show.

An Chengsheng was lost in thought. He almost couldn't stand while being dragged over by the youth. After regaining his composure, he rubbed the youth's head while holding his laugh, "Before, whenever you see the second brother, you always act like an angry hedgehog. And now you could give him this treatment. What father said is right, our family Le Er has really grown up."

Yeah, yeah, grew up, he also had changed his core and grow for hundreds of years, he silently thought. He walked forward and looked for Liu Qingfeng in the crowd, wondering how to let the other party listen to An Chengjie's "masterpiece".

The meeting has begun not long ago. Most students just gathered to chat with each other. Most people around An Chengjie are people who love poetry. Originally, there are some students who stand not far away, but they suddenly left when he came.

Ye Zhizhou finally found the short figure of Liu Qinfeng. He deliberately glared at An Chengsheng and stood in a place where the other party could hear him. He said loudly, "Big Brother, why those people move away when they see Second Brother? Do they hate second Brother?"

"It's not like that… umm, they just have different circle." An Chengseng was troubled by this question and just gave a rather vague answer. Most of the dislike came from students who took part in the imperial examination, and the reason is because An Chengjie would only sell poems for "side job business". However, An Chengsheng didn't want his little brother to know about this mutual exclusion in literary circle, it was a bit shameful.

He (ACS) wanted to be vague about this matter, but as if Ye Zhizhou would follow his intention. Just like he suddenly realized about something, Ye Zhizhou exclaimed, "I know, they are the students of this year's examination, right? I heard people said that they seem to particularly hate Second Brother for not showing initiative. But I don't understand, Second Brother's poems are so good. Even if he's not studying hard, not taking the imperial examination, or not becoming a member of officials, he already produced some poems. Didn't we all should respect him?"

"Nonsense!"

An old voice suddenly sounded not far behind them. Ye Zhizhou turned around with amazement and frowned. "This old gentleman, how can you overhear our conversation, a gentleman should not do this."

An Chengsheng guessed his identity after hearing his voice. He hurriedly pulled the Ye Zhizhou's sleeve to signal him not to talk back. He respected the old man and gave a sigh of relief. "Liu Daren, please forgive me. My younger brother is insolent. This student will discipline him when we return."

Liu Qingfeng was very satisfied with An Chengsheng. His face was slightly relaxed. He said to Ye Zhizhou, "A gaudy knowledge can only obtain the world's brief approval. Literary is a lifetime matter, not seeking for the country. Diligence itself is essential. You must not be so frivolous in the future."

Ye Zhizhou was busy bowing his head and pretending to be shy. He took out another copy of the poetry book from his bosom and hand it over, "Thank you so much for this gentleman's advice. This is a little thank-you. Please accept it."

Liu Qingfeng was a book lover, and when he saw him handing a book over, his conditional reflex was to pick up and turn the page over. Only then did he realize that something was wrong and couldn't help but feel a bit confuse.

"It's a collection of ancient poems written by my younger brother. Please accept it, Sir." An Chengsheng quickly explained.

Liu Qingfeng then relaxed and continued to read the book. "Ah, so it turned out to be a copy made by the younger brother. The handwriting… cough, of course the most important thing is the content. This poem… hm?!"

An Chengsheng smiled and Ye Zhizhou was satisfied. Then suddenly, a loud noise come from An Chengjie direction. A student excitedly said, "Brother Cheng Jie's literary talent is so good. This poem that praises peach blossoms can only be described as an extraordinary level!

For whom the Heaven's Will would stay, walking through the deep dyed peach blossom,

I am not yet drunk, I'll remember when I woke up,

The passion dropped and the worry attacked.

Foolish moth…"

"Foolish moth flutter toward the flame, making a crackling light as the fire reject,

Within the snowy white peach blossom, making the color of spring lasted long."

(T/N : Sorry, I couldn't find the real translation. It's manual. The poem is 'Peach Blossom' [緋桃花 ] by Li Xianyong )

Liu Qingfeng uttered the next sentence, then he closed the book in his hands. He looked toward the students who just spoke earlier, and asked, "Who did you say writing this poem?"

That student looked at Liu Qingfeng who walked slowly toward him and stuttered, "It's Cheng, Brother Cheng Jie… How could you know the next sentences Teacher Liu, obviously this poem is just…"

Liu Qingfeng heard this and looked at An Cheng Jie, his face was ashen, "Obviously because it's written in the book of 'best collection of classic poems'. Besides, since when did it become this youngster's work? Let us make this clear up today!"

An Chengjie was shocked by the old man's severe insult eyes and he quickly panicked.

The students moved towards them noisily, while those who were previously stand beside An Chengjie moved away from him.

An Chengjie stood alone at the center of the crowd. He tried to suppress his panic and calmly said, "Teacher Liu, I do not understand what you mean."

"You don't understand?" Liu Qingfeng saw that he refused to admit his mistakes, which made him more incensed. His face was ashen as he turned the book in his hand to the first page and showed it directly to the youth. "Look at this thing that you've plagiarized, you truly make all scholars lose face!"

[The probability of An Chengsheng falling in love with the protagonist has dropped to 30%. Please persist in your actions, host.]

After receiving the system's notification, Ye Zhizhou glanced at An Chengsheng who had the same ashen look. He quickly decided to add oil to the fire. "Big brother, how did the poem written by second brother turned out the same as the one in my book? Did second brother really plagiarize? He obviously did not have to, his poems have been well done before, so he does not need to plagiarize at his level…."

An Chengsheng's face seemed to have changed as he thought of a possibility. He asked, "Le Er, where did you get this book? Is this collection really a series?"

"Why is Big Brother suddenly thinking about this?" He pretended to be ignorant and confused, and replied, "I bought this collection of poems from an old beggar in South Street. He said that his ancestors from the previous dynasty secretly saved these pieces from the huge literary inquisition. They have been hidden for hundreds of years, which is why they were a collection. The poems were divided into four chapters: spring, summer, autumn, and winter."

Various thoughts flashed over An Chengsheng's mind. As he recalled more of the amazing poems recited by An Chengjie, his doubts rose higher. He did not think of this before, but now that he was thinking about it, An Chengjie's style kept on changing. It was like his poems were made by different people…. Is it a coincidence that An Chengjie recited poems from the other chapters of the collection? Probably, when he found out that nobody knew of the collection, he wanted to take advantage of this and plagiarize…. When he thought of this, he gritted is teeth and walked beside Liu Qingfeng. He joined the people who were questioning An Chengjie.

[The probability of An Chengsheng falling in love with the protagonist has dropped to 15%. Please persist in your actions, host.]

A huge scholar battle against a plagiarizing dog started. The potential fan was so furious as he moved to join the circle and wage war. Ye Zhizhou felt pleased as he closed the notifications from the system. He then returned to his corner and cracked melon seeds open. He did not need to worry about An Chengsheng for the time being, while Lei Baofei's probability of falling in love with the protagonist has also dropped below the safety line. Now, only the seventh prince was left… If he remembered correctly, the note he sent last time was still not seen by the seventh prince…

The event could be said to have a bustling start, but it definitely would not end well.

An Chengjie was completely vulnerable in front of scholar Liu Qingfeng. After probing out and testing the limits of their decorum, An Chengjie was overwhelmed by pressure and fled. Due to this incident, the students did not have any interest on exchanging knowledge. After talking about this plagiarism problem, they all left.

An Chengsheng rushed back to the Zhen Guo Gongfu. He found out that An Chengjie did not return home, so he went to the study room and talked to his father. This time, what An Chengjie did was really unsightly. If it was not handled well then the reputation that Zhen Guo Gongfu accumulated over the years would all be gone!

Ye Zhizhou, who was prepared to go and add fuel to the fire, was stopped by Zijin Guard who suddenly appeared at the gate. He was forced to suddenly return to the palace. Ye Zhizhou was sitting in the carriage with a bag of melon seeds, thinking deeply. His bad-tempered lover is going crazy, what should he do to coax him…..

(He's the Eighth Prince's Secret Guard)

When he returned to Yong Yan Palace, people already had to hold lamps to light up the place. Yan Mingyong was sitting alone at a table filled with food, slowly flipping through a book.

Upon seeing this, Ye Zhizhou paused for a while then tried going inside nonchalantly. With a big smile on his face, "Mingyong, I am back! What's for dinner? It smells good."

"Le Er." Yan Mingyong closed his book, looked up at him with an expressionless face, and reached out. "My chest feels a bit heavy."

Hey, he actually didn't make trouble. He even took the initiative to reach out. It seems that his lover finally matured a little. Ye Zhizhou stepped forward, held his hand and supported his chest. "Maybe it is because you slept too long? I will take you to the garden tomorrow, you're not allowed to sleep for the whole afternoon."

Yan Mingyong leaned on him and slightly encircled his hands on Ye Zhizhou's neck and nodded, "En. I will listen to you."

Ye Zhizhou blinked and then smiled. He thought that such a well-behaved lover was very cute. He could not resist bowing his head and kissing his face, "I did a lot of fun things today, I am going to tell you about them after dinner!"

Yan Mingyong's eyes flashed, his hands which were placed around Ye Zhizhou's neck moved slightly, revealing a fine needle in his fingertips. He gently pricked him and smiled afterwards, "I just happened to have some fun things to tell you too."

Ye Zhizhou felt a seemingly familiar sensation at the back of his neck, his brain shutting down. His body got soft, involuntarily falling. Ye Zhizhou fought to hang onto consciousness to face his lover. He wanted to roll his eyes, but did not have the strength to do so. He was dumbfounded, "Mingyong, you don't have to do this…" His consciousness gradually left him as he finally closed his eyes.

Yan Mingyong looked at the person who turned silent after falling asleep in his arms. He bowed his head rubbed his cheek. Feeling satisfied, he held onto Ye Zhizhou tightly and sighed. "Le Er, you're not allowed to run away."

An Chengjie hid in Guiyuan Temple for two days. He finally had the so-called ancient poetry collection that supposedly came from a foreign traveler. After reading it, his heart sank. First of all, that Chuanyue restaurant popped up from nowhere, and now this 《Best of the Tang and Song Poems》. There is another transmigrator, and he is very unfriendly. Secretly sneaking behind his back! In anger, he threw the book away. He sat in the room with a sullen face. After a while, he made up his mind to find a pen and paper to write to Lei Baofei.

On the third day at midnight, he sneaked back into the Zheng Guo Gong Fu.

Da Zhu was waiting for him at the side door. When he saw him, he hurriedly went to him and said anxiously, "Gongzi, what do we do now? Everyone outside is scolding you. The Master also said that he would drive you out and make you return to Zhuangzi. Even the Madam is very angry. The other concubines are also asking to get rid of you. Eldest Young Master even more…"

(An Chengjie's servant/caretaker)

"Okay, shut up!" An Chengjie interrupted him impatiently. He took the cloak in his hand and wrapped it around himself. He carefully avoided the patrolling guards and quickly walked towards his yard. He asked as he walked, "Did you send the letter to Lei-gongzi?"

"I already sent it." Da Zhu saw that he was in a bad mood, so he stopped talking. He whispered, "This afternoon, Lei-gongzi said that things have been prepared for Gongzi, and he also said…"

When he heard that everything is prepared, An Chengjie's mood got better, so he asked: "What did he say? Stop mumbling. Don't worry, didn't you come with me from Zhuangzi to the capital? I won't leave you so you don't need to hesitate."

When Da Zhu saw him like this, he gritted his teeth and said: "The people that Lei-gongzi sent said that this would be the last time. The kindness has been returned, so he hoped that Gongzi would not bother him anymore. He also said that in addition to the things that you requested, he added some silver for Gongzi to live in the future. He hoped that Gongzi would be self-sufficient in the future, be able to wash his heart and renew his face, and conduct himself with integrity."

(wash his heart and renew his face – turn over a new leaf)

An Chengjie's footsteps stopped abruptly. After a few deep breaths, he pressed down his anger, flinged his sleeves and continued to walk forward. Kindness has been returned? Don't bother him anymore? Pei! What an ungrateful bastard! This ancient man sure enough was a bad man!

He packed up his valuables and banknotes in the dark room, and then walked out of the yard that he stayed in for a few months with Da Zhu. An Chengjie suddenly let out a cold laugh and created a fire with his accounts book. Since he decided to destroy the traces of his past, naturally, the place he lived in must also be ruined!

Da Zhu watched as his expression become sullener under the faint light of the fire. He could not help but shiver. Is the current gongzi still the same gongzi he was taking care of when he was a child? He always felt that ever since the gongzi fell in the lake, gongzi's temper has been more extreme…

Zhen Guo Gong Fu suddenly caught fire in the middle of the night. Several yards were burned. They heard that shameless bastard who plagiarized verses got burnt to death. As soon as the news spread, there seemed to be people clapping their hands, making conspiracy theories, and even angry sighs, but no one was sad. Those who once pursued An Chengjie turned against him and were calling him a liar. It was even more shameful for those who were once friends of An Chengjie. They did not even want to mention or hear the name An Chengjie.

Ye Zhizhou listened to Dean talking about the news with no emotion. He only felt a headache. "Well, I know that he is very miserable now. You don't have to come to report every day. How about your master?" "He has been in this comfortable and exquisite hot springs for three or four days. Whenever he wants to eat, wants to sleep, or anything else, someone send it to him immediately. He just couldn't get out or leave. He also hasn't see Yan Mingyong yet, only could see De An who is now standing in front of him.

"Something is delaying His Highness, but he will come back soon."

This answer again! I can hear cocoons in my ears! Also that little brat (bear child) actually assigned secret guards to encircle the villa so that it was completely sealed. He could run away, but who knew what that little brat would do after he ran! He really could not understand. His lover from the two previous worlds were so stable and mature, yet what happened in this life? Was it a genetic mutation from his reincarnation? Hold on… Is it possible that his lover not having the same personality/soul when he reincarnates…?

[ The person related to the task was scanned, and is verified to have no abnormalities. Asking host to set his mind to rest.]

He looked at the notification in front of him, and spoke in his mind, "So the reason why we meet every time is because of his unusual ability to reincarnate?" He already doubted at an earlier time. It is impossible to have so much coincidences that he would always come across his lover at the mission world. Furthermore, his lover was even a person related to his task. How suspicious!

Another notification popped up, [ The Heavenly Law cannot be violated. Directed reincarnation is harmful to the soul; it is not recommended.]

(A reincarnation where someone choose where he wants to reincarnate himself, i think)

He stopped ridiculing in his heart, and asked hurriedly, "What do you mean by directed reincarnation? So you can do this kind of thing?"

[ The host does not have enough authorization. The system is unable to answer.]

"…Hey!"

[ Asking the host to do his mission.]

"…" Why would you suddenly stop in the middle of your explanation!

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. This lover of his can come and follow him! However, the price of that was that he would get weaker and weaker? His soul force would also get worse… If the spiritual strength of his lover was weakening due to this directed reincarnation, then his soul force would soon disappear… He suddenly thought of something, and so he asked excitedly, "Tong Tian, is soul force considered a part of the soul?"

The system was quiet for a long time before eventually answering, [ Soul force can strengthen the soul.]

"Then tell me, is Mingyong's soul has worn out?"

[No abnormalities.]

He sighed and squatted in the chair. Fortunately, the soul of his lover was still intact. Holding on to his last hope, he continued to ask: "Could we change the directed reincarnation to use soul force instead rather than directly damaging the soul?"

The system paused for a while, like it was searching for data. Two minutes later, a new sentence popped up in the screen. [It could happen, but the other party needs to have special privileges.]

"What is the special privilege required?"

[ The host does not have enough authorization. The system is unable to answer. ]

….urk!

Another two days had passed. During these two days, the system had issued three prompts in total. The first time was when the Duke of Zhengguo's mansion announced that An Chengjie was not dead but missing. The system indicated that the likelihood of An Chengsheng and the protagonist falling in love had decreased to 5%. The second time was when news spread that An Chengjie was the mastermind behind the Treasure Pavilion, and the system prompted that the likelihood of An Chengsheng and the protagonist falling in love had dropped to zero, and the first soul flag had been removed. The third time was when news confirmed that An Chengjie had fled to the northwest, and the system indicated that Lei Baofei's likelihood of falling in love with the protagonist had decreased to 10%.

Ye Zhizhou was lazily flipping through information on the holographic screen, thinking about why Yan Mingyong hadn't arrived yet and feeling irritated by the Seventh Prince's lack of activity. He had written down a few names of the Seventh Prince's trusted subordinates on a note, mentioned that he had something valuable to offer, and left a somewhat vague device diagram and a clue pointing to himself. There was no reason for the Seventh Prince not to respond by now. Could it be that the Seventh Prince couldn't understand the device diagram? But in the original plot, didn't the protagonist also pique the Seventh Prince's interest with a device diagram?

Now that the possibility of An Chengjie meeting the Seventh Prince was close to zero, the likelihood of falling in love should have decreased. However, the darned likelihood of falling in love hadn't budged at all and remained at 100%. This was completely unscientific! Could it be that there was still a chance for the Seventh Prince and An Chengjie to meet? If that were true, then what about the autumn hunt more than a month from now?

He glanced at the weather outside, and his thoughts began to wander. Wasn't the Great Yan's autumn hunt a bit misnamed? It had only been a few days since the beginning of summer, so over a month from now, it would still be scorching hot. How could it be an autumn hunt? Shouldn't it be a summer hunt instead?

Lost in his thoughts, the day passed like this. He leaned against the railing of the corridor, gazing in the direction of the main gate of Biezhuang, sighing. What was that troublesome kid doing? When was he planning to come and take him back? The protagonist was currently missing, and he was starting to feel anxious.

Because he had something on his mind, he didn't sleep soundly that night. In a half-dreamy state, he suddenly felt a weight on his body. Instinctively, he struggled a few times but couldn't break free. He woke up and realized that someone was wrapped around him. The feeling of being entangled was both familiar and annoying. He used his instinctive strength to roll over and pinned the person beneath him. After seeing the beautiful face of the person below him, he sneered, "Oh, has our Eighth Prince finally remembered this commoner? Wasn't the nobleman busy?"

Yan Mingyong raised his hand to touch Ye Zhizhou's face. His expression was unclear in the shadows, but his voice was a bit hoarse, lacking its previous clear and melodious tone. "Are you angry? Don't be upset. I brought you a gift."

Ye Zhizhou quickly noticed that something was wrong with his lover. He moved back a bit, opened the bed curtains, and looked at Yan Mingyong's face in the moonlight. He also touched Yan Mingyong's body up and down, furrowing his brow. "What's wrong with you? Something's not right." Although his physical appearance seemed fine, his demeanor was too calm and composed, nothing like the mischievous child he used to be, and he even reminded Ye Zhizhou of his past life.

"It's just... I'm a bit tired." Yan Mingyong's body stiffened under his touch. He pulled down the bed curtains and wrapped his limbs around Ye Zhizhou, changing the subject. "Le'er, I've run out of medicine. My chest has been hurting again lately."

Ye Zhizhou was immediately agitated by the change in topic. He raised his hand and pinched Yan Mingyong's face angrily. "You little rascal! Didn't De'an bring you the medicine? Hasn't he delivered it to you?"

Yan Mingyong remained silent, lowered his head to nuzzle Ye Zhizhou's neck and shoulder, like an affectionate little dog.

This was completely different from before. He was not only not mischievous but also cute and obedient now. Ye Zhizhou didn't know whether to be angry or not. He patted his back and pinched his face fiercely, wanting to say something, but he found that the other had fallen asleep in his arms.

Feeling aggrieved... After sulking alone for a while, he decided to turn Yan Mingyong into a more comfortable position and held him tightly in his arms. He felt a bit relieved but still had doubts in his mind. He messaged the system in his head, "Tongtian, scan him again. Are you sure there's nothing wrong with his soul?"

Half a minute later, the screen lit up, displaying, "[Soul data is normal.]"

Taking a deep breath, he hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the other's. He extended a tiny thread of his spiritual power into the other's mind but didn't dare to delve too deeply. He merely grazed the surface, just as he suspected, and found no traces of spiritual power ever existing there. His mood grew tense as he withdrew and looked at the pale face before him, his eyes dimming considerably.

What should he do? The mission in this lifetime was about to be completed, but if in the next lifetime, his lover had to follow...

The next day, he sluggishly got out of bed and stared blankly at the exquisite breakfast laid out on the table.

Yan Mingyong furrowed his brow, reached out to hold his hand, and leaned closer, asking, "No appetite? Or you don't like these?"

Looking at the concern in his eyes, he suppressed the urge to sigh and held onto his hand, hesitating. "Mingyong, I mean if, if there's a next lifetime, you..."

"You are mine." Before he could finish his sentence, Yan Mingyong interrupted, gripping his hand tightly. The calm and obedient facade on his face quickly shattered, and he spoke with a stubborn and fervent tone, "In the next life, you won't escape. You can only be mine!"

...He's still that mischievous kid. Last night's obedience was just an illusion!

Ye Zhizhou glared at him, not knowing how to respond. As he pondered how to change this "mischievousness," his gaze inadvertently swept over the corner of the room where a guqin was placed. His eyes lit up, and he excitedly suggested, "Mingyong, how about I play a tune for you?"

Yan Mingyong, who was mentally playing out scenes of bondage and confinement from the previous night, quickly concealed his ferocious expression. He remembered the content of the original story and put on a docile look, nodding eagerly. "Sure, but you have to eat first."

Quickly finishing breakfast, Ye Zhizhou led Yan Mingyong to a small garden and settled him in a pavilion. He casually pulled out a mouth organ from his spatial storage, which he had bought in a previous life to relieve boredom. He shook it and said, "I had De'an move the small bed back. You can read for now, and when you feel tired, you can sleep."

Although Yan Mingyong was very curious about what Ye Zhizhou was holding, he suppressed his doubts, lowered his head, and began reading. As long as Le'er was with him, he was willing to go along with whatever the other wanted to do.

After two lifetimes, Ye Zhizhou's mouth organ skills had gone from unbearable to barely listenable. When the first note sounded, Yan Mingyong's hand, which was flipping through the book, paused briefly. He cast a slightly rigid glance at him but quickly lowered his head and continued reading. Although he knew that Le'er wasn't skilled in the traditional six arts, he couldn't help but appreciate... Well, he could teach him later.

The music went from being intermittent to smooth and coherent. Ye Zhizhou leaned against the pavilion's railing, carefully releasing his spiritual power, entwining it with the melody, and sending it towards Yan Mingyong. He tried to make the spiritual power gentle and slow under the influence of the music.

Yan Mingyong felt increasingly captivated by the strange tune, and his nerves involuntarily relaxed, causing his reading pace to slow down. After a quarter of an hour, he fell asleep in his wheelchair. De'an quietly entered the pavilion, placed the small bed, arranged blankets and pillows, and then retreated to guard outside.

The music paused and then stopped. Ye Zhizhou set aside the mouth organ, walked over, and gently lifted Yan Mingyong onto the small bed, adjusting his hair and covering him with a blanket. He retreated to the pavilion's railing again and resumed playing. To prevent his lover from continuing to follow him in future lives and depleting his soul, he had to nurture his spiritual power from today onwards.

The relaxed and sweet atmosphere between the two gave Ye Zhizhou the illusion that Yan Mingyong was in a good mood and that they would soon be able to return to the capital. However, reality delivered a crushing blow.

"Do you want to stay here for recuperation? Until the autumn hunt?"

"Yes," Yan Mingyong replied calmly, turning a page in his book without lifting his head. "I already sought Father Emperor's permission before coming out."

"What about my parents?"

"The Duke of Zhengguo knows this location; he will come for you when he wishes."

"But I want to return to the capital."

Yan Mingyong paused in his reading, looked closely at Ye Zhizhou's expression, lowered his eyes, and pinched his hand gently. In a calm but firm tone, he said, "Wait until the autumn hunt."

"But..."

"I know you're concerned about the current situation with An Chengjie." Yan Mingyong set the book aside, adjusted his wheelchair to face Ye Zhizhou, and continued, "I know he once falsely accused you of mistreating him when he first arrived at the Duke of Zhengguo's mansion. He even tried to tarnish your reputation and elevate himself. I also know he attempted to sow discord between you and your family, and even tried to discredit your mother with Old Lady An... You can rest assured, he won't get away with it. But you don't have to dirty your hands with these dirty matters; I'll take care of it for you, alright?"

Ye Zhizhou was left dumbfounded by his words. "Have you been monitoring me and him all along?"

"No, I've been protecting you." Yan Mingyong raised his hand to touch Ye Zhizhou's cheek, his gaze somewhat profound. "As for him, he's not to be feared." Even if he had developed some formidable things, it was nothing to be afraid of.

Realizing he couldn't escape from this, Ye Zhizhou gave in and decided to put aside thoughts of the mission. He focused on nurturing his lover's spiritual power. A month later, Yan Mingyong had cleared the remaining poison from his body, and his physical injuries were mostly healed. Finally, he looked like a normal teenager.

"Today, we're going back to the capital."

Ye Zhizhou, who was pondering whether to switch to a new tune to play after finishing lunch, didn't quite grasp the situation and asked in confusion, "Back?"

"Yes." Yan Mingyong, who was now gradually able to walk without relying on a wheelchair, held his hand steadily and walked towards the exit. "Last night, Chuan Yue Restaurant suddenly caught fire. The fire spread too quickly to be extinguished, and it burned down nearly half the street. Three people died, and eleven were injured. I need to go back and see the specific situation."

Ye Zhizhou was shocked and immediately denied, "How is that possible?" Before opening the restaurant, he had taken every possible fire prevention measure, especially since ancient buildings were mostly made of wood. Fire safety was of utmost importance. He had also given clear instructions to the staff, including the shop assistants and head chef. There were several large water tanks filled in the backyard. Even if a fire had broken out, it shouldn't have been impossible to contain!

By this time, they had reached the carriage. Yan Mingyong helped Ye Zhizhou into it and said expressionlessly, uttering a single name, "An Chengjie."

Ye Zhizhou slightly opened his mouth but remained silent, his brow furrowed deeply.

Throughout the journey to the restaurant, Ye Zhizhou remained very quiet. Yan Mingyong sat beside him, holding his hand in comforting silence. When the carriage reached South Street, Ye Zhizhou finally came to his senses. He tightened his grip on Yan Mingyong's hand and said, "Let's not rush to the restaurant. Where are the injured? I want to visit them first."

Yan Mingyong nodded and, with Ye Zhizhou in tow, descended from the carriage. After giving some instructions to the coachman, he led Ye Zhizhou towards a nearby pharmacy, not far from the Chuan Yue Restaurant. Ye Zhizhou gazed at the burnt-out wooden buildings along the street, now reduced to mere frames, and his grip on Yan Mingyong's hand tightened. Since the protagonist had transmigrated, he couldn't be unaware of the dangers of fires in ancient times. If he was upset about disrupted business due to Ye Zhizhou's interference with his plagiarism attempts, he could have simply hired someone to vandalize Chuan Yue. There was no need for this uncontrollable and cruel act of arson!

Suddenly, the sharp neigh of a horse resounded. Ye Zhizhou turned his head in response and saw the carriage they had ridden in earlier being spooked. It charged straight toward the burning Chuan Yue Restaurant!

"Damn! The coachman is still on board!" The wooden frame of the restaurant was already on the verge of collapsing due to the fire. If the carriage charged through, the coachman would be in grave danger!

In a critical moment, Yan Mingyong pulled a small whistle from his sleeve and blew it. In the next second, a shadow darted out from the darkness, rushed to the front of the carriage, grabbed the coachman by his collar, and threw him out. Then, the shadow quickly departed, disappearing into the shadows once again.

Ye Zhizhou breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to rush over to check on the coachman's condition when suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed through the air. He looked up in shock, feeling the ground beneath him tremble as if the whole earth was shaking. He couldn't believe it—was this an explosion? Had the protagonist already created explosives?

"Watch out!" Thinking it was an earthquake, Yan Mingyong quickly threw himself over Ye Zhizhou to protect him.

Ye Zhizhou lay on the ground, looking up at the rising smoke and the residents fleeing in panic on the street. He heard the panicked voices of the patients and doctors in the pharmacy. Gradually, anger twisted his expression. For the first time, he was genuinely angry, pounding the ground in frustration.

Setting fire and planting bombs—had An Chengjie gone mad?!

The explosion quickly drew the attention of the military. Lei Baofei arrived with his men on fast horses, wearing a serious and grave expression.

The streets were in chaos, scattered with broken wood and scattered rubble and dirt. Ye Zhizhou's forehead was covered in sweat as he crouched by the roadside, tending to a child injured by the explosion. Yan Mingyong stood behind him, giving orders to De'an.

"Eight Prince!" Lei Baofei dismounted and walked briskly over, bowing respectfully. "I kindly request Your Highness to leave this place quickly. Another earthquake could happen at any moment, and it is not safe here."

Yan Mingyong glanced at Ye Zhizhou, who was focused on helping the injured child. He shook his head. "No need. It's not an earthquake. Have the street cleared, and then surround Chuan Yue Restaurant. Place the injured and doctors in nearby inns. The medicinal herbs are on their way and will arrive soon."

Lei Baofei furrowed his brow in confusion. "Not an earthquake?"

"We'll discuss it later. First, tend to the injured," Yan Mingyong said as he wheeled his wheelchair closer to Ye Zhizhou. He reached out and touched Ye Zhizhou's hair gently. "Le, the doctor will be here soon. I'll have this child transferred to an inn. You rest for a while."

After tying the bandage securely, Ye Zhizhou stood up, wiped his sweat, and nodded. "Alright, then we'll go to the inn as well." He looked at Lei Baofei and added, "The situation here is now in Lord Lei's hands. His Highness and I will leave first."

Lei Baofei was seeing the Eight Prince's attendant for the first time and was surprised to find him composed and calm, quite different from what An Chengjie had described. He softened his tone and replied, "No need to be so polite, Young Master An. Take care."

[The chance of romance between Lei Baofei and the protagonist has dropped to 5%. Host, please try harder.]

Ye Zhizhou was momentarily stunned, then he couldn't help but look at Lei Baofei with a somewhat bemused expression. His heavy heart lightened a bit, and he smiled, "Farewell, Lord Lei."

"Le," Yan Mingyong grabbed his hand firmly and looked at Lei Baofei with a serious gaze. "We will return to the palace directly shortly. I'm afraid we won't see Lord Lei again."

It was just a casual farewell, but why did he have to act up again? Ye Zhizhou pinched his ear and grumbled, "You jealous little jar of vinegar. With your clumsy behavior, no one would want you if it weren't for me!"

Yan Mingyong pouted, "I don't want anyone else."

"But I'm sure someone else would want me."

"Who dares!" Yan Mingyong tightened his grip on the wheelchair's armrest, his face turning red. "We're going back to the Hot Spring Manor now, immediately! De'an, prepare a carriage! We'll get married as soon as we return!"

Who would want to go back to that Hot Spring Manor where he could only talk to Yan Mingyong? And getting married? Ye Zhizhou pinched his ear again and grumbled, "You haven't even matured yet after three days without any action. Are you sure you're ready?"

Yan Mingyong's face turned even redder, and he clamped down on the hand pinching his ear. He gritted his teeth, "I'm not a child anymore."

"Oh really?" Ye Zhizhou withdrew his hand with a smirk. "With your small frame, are you sure you can handle it?"

Yan Mingyong stiffened and fell silent. Ye Zhizhou, satisfied with his reaction, stopped teasing him and continued pushing the wheelchair forward. De'an, who had been silently following the two, glanced at Ye Zhizhou and lowered his head, his years of serving the Eighth Prince confirming that the Eighth Prince may have health issues, but he had indeed matured...

After arranging for the injured and their families at the inn, the two hurried back to the palace. Yan Mingyong went to see the Emperor, while Ye Zhizhou closed the door to his chamber and took out the small package of explosives he had made while staying at the Hot Spring Manor. He placed it gently on the table.

With no internet access and a limited range of his psychic abilities, it was difficult for him to locate where the protagonist was now. The fire targeted Chuan Yue Restaurant, but the subsequent explosion targeted the carriage he and Mingyong were riding in. The protagonist probably already knows that he's been tricked... This situation was not looking good. Originally, he had thought that if he could lure the protagonist out of the capital and prevent him from creating a bomb for the Seventh Prince, he could save this world. But now... with only two Soul Flags left and the bomb appearing in such a spectacular manner, An Chengjie hiding in the shadows, and the situation with the Seventh Prince uncertain...

Yan Mingyong, after meeting with Emperor Yan, returned and noticed that the inner palace doors were closed. He turned to De'an, who had been left behind to watch over Ye Zhizhou, and asked, "Has Le'er been inside all this time?"

"Lord An hasn't come out since he entered."

Furrowing his brows, Yan Mingyong stood up from his wheelchair and pushed open the door. His gaze scanned the room, and when he spotted the figure by the table, he felt some tension ease within him. He stepped forward, embraced the person from behind, and nuzzled his ear. "Are you still upset?" His eyes shifted to the small package on the table, and his expression changed. He quickly picked up the teapot from the table and poured it over the package. Holding Ye Zhizhou in his arms, he shouted, "Guards, seal off the Everlasting Hall and search it thoroughly! If you find any suspicious items, drench them immediately!"

Ye Zhizhou was startled by his actions and, upon seeing several royal guards swiftly appear and search the room, he anxiously exclaimed, "Wait! Leave the items; the formula is on it!"

One of the guards stopped in his tracks, holding the soaked explosives and looking at Yan Mingyong.

Yan Mingyong tightened his grip on Ye Zhizhou's hand, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

After the royal guards left, Ye Zhizhou broke free from Yan Mingyong's embrace and uncovered the soaked explosives. He retrieved a damp piece of paper with blurred handwriting from inside and handed it over. "Here, this is the formula for the explosives. The 'earthquake' this morning was caused by this."

Yan Mingyong looked at him with an uncertain expression. "You made this? For me?"

"Yes," Ye Zhizhou lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions. "The explosion this morning was caused by An Chengjie using this. We must catch him. Also, in a few days, there will be the Autumn Hunt, and he might appear there. We need to be vigilant." The chance of romance between the Seventh Prince and An Chengjie hadn't decreased at all, so it was likely that the plot of their meeting during the Autumn Hunt hadn't changed. If An Chengjie didn't show up, it would be fine, but if he did... he must make him pay!

Yan Mingyong accepted the damp paper and suddenly smiled, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Indeed, we should be vigilant."

Ye Zhizhou was puzzled by his reaction. "What's going on?"

"Le'er," he put the formula down, moved closer, and embraced him from behind. His smile grew even brighter and happier. "Did you already suspect that An Chengjie would collude with Seventh Brother? When you secretly left a note in Seventh Brother's room when you first entered the palace, it wasn't because you were interested in him, but because you wanted to get close to him and stop him from colluding with An Chengjie, right?"

What did one thing have to do with the other? Wait! Ye Zhizhou moved back slightly, looked at him in astonishment, and asked, "You knew I left a note in Seventh Prince's room?"

"I knew," Yan Mingyong's dark eyes glinted with a strange light. He then reached into his sleeve, pulled out a small wooden ball with the note inside, and shook it playfully. A twisted smile appeared on his face. "How could I allow someone else to receive the love letter you wrote before me?"

Ye Zhizhou glanced at the wooden ball filled with notes, then back at Yan Mingyong's twisted smile. He clutched his head in frustration. "Don't tell me you've been monitoring An Chengjie, and don't tell me that he's already colluding with Seventh Prince!"

"Le'er is indeed clever." Yan Mingyong put away the wooden ball, then embraced him once more and kissed his cheek. "The people An Chengjie gathered to develop explosives are mine. I was initially just curious about what he intended to do when he sneaked back to the capital, but I never expected him to create such a powerful explosive. It's quite a surprise."

Surprising? It exploded right on their heads, and it's surprising? This was beyond belief! No wonder the protagonist could create explosives so quickly even without the Seventh Prince's help. It turns out that aside from the Seventh Prince, there's also the Eighth Prince involved! This is unbearable!

Ye Zhizhou had lost his temper, slumping into a chair and tearing the person clinging to him away. "Explain everything you've been hiding from me about An Chengjie and the Seventh Prince! You're driving me crazy!"

Yan Mingyong clung tightly to him, refusing to let go. He nuzzled his neck and closed his eyes with satisfaction. "Le'er, let's get married."

"Has the Seventh Prince really colluded with An Chengjie? Explain everything clearly! When did they team up?"

"I'll ask Father the Emperor for permission tomorrow."

"Yan... Ming... Yong!"

"After we're married, you'll have to call me 'Your Highness.'"

"... Get lost!" They couldn't communicate at all! This little brat was definitely doing it on purpose!

That night, Yan Mingyong once again used the ** Pearl to make Ye Zhizhou dizzy. He left the Everlasting Hall with De'an, and they didn't return until dawn.

During the morning court session the next day, an official from the Ministry of Works excitedly presented an explosive weapon called "gunpowder" to the Emperor. He lavishly praised the Seventh Prince's intelligence and diligence, boldly claiming that this explosive was secretly developed by the Seventh Prince and was intended to be presented to the Emperor on his upcoming birthday. The official explained that the minor earthquake that occurred on South Street the day before was caused by this explosive, as the Seventh Prince was testing the power of this new weapon.

This revelation shocked the court, and the gazes of several princes turned cold as they looked at the Seventh Prince. Even the Seventh Prince's expression changed. While it was true that he had recently acquired knowledge of this secret weapon and had conducted some clandestine tests on South Street, presenting it to the Emperor was a clear setup by someone else!

A weapon capable of causing earthquakes would have tremendous destructive power. Princes exchanged meaningful glances, and the court officials' minds began to churn with various calculations. The praise for the Seventh Prince from the Ministry of Works official continued uninterrupted in the hall.

Before the Seventh Prince could figure out how to handle this situation, the Emperor swiftly acknowledged the official's words, accepted the explosive, and rewarded the Seventh Prince with a pile of gifts. He also instructed the Seventh Prince to bring the artisans responsible for creating the bombs to him on another day. The Emperor completely ignored the damage caused by the explosion in South Street, and his attitude was extremely ambiguous.

With the situation having progressed this far, the Seventh Prince could only kneel down and express his gratitude while feeling a heavy sense of foreboding. He kept assessing who might be betraying him in his mind.

[The chance of romance between Yan Mingli and the protagonist has dropped to 90%. Please continue to work on it, Host.]

Ye Zhizhou leaned against a small pavilion in the Everlasting Hall, playing the flute. His gaze swept over the projected screen, and a faint smile curved his lips. The protagonist wanted to hide in the shadows, but he was determined to bring him out into the open. As for the Seventh Prince, did he think he could act like a tiger in front of other princes who were deeply rooted in their positions? Dream on!

Yan Mingyong sensed the murderous intent in his music and flicked through the pages of a book, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Le'er was not in a good mood; he needed to do something... Should he expose An Chengjie's wrongdoing, unseat the Seventh Brother, or... get married?

The Seventh Prince, accompanied by an old craftsman, went to meet the Yan Emperor. The Yan Emperor didn't inquire much and simply rewarded the craftsman before sending him away. The next day, during the early morning court assembly, the Yan Emperor issued an imperial edict, proclaiming the Seventh Prince, Yan Mingli, as a king. The Yan Emperor had never appointed a Crown Prince, nor had he conferred a royal title upon any of his sons until now. With the Seventh Prince being the first, various speculations arose among the courtiers. Some believed that the Seventh Prince was being groomed for the throne, while others thought that the Emperor was wary of him, rendering him unfit for the throne.

Yan Mingli's face darkened as he gazed at the imperial edict on the table. He clenched and relaxed his hand, clearly in a foul mood. A trusted eunuch leaned in and whispered, "That person is causing trouble again. He claims to have come up with a new idea that will earn His Highness a fortune. He also says he has designed a device to greatly improve irrigation efficiency."

"Oh?" Yan Mingli curled his lips slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes. "He does come up with quite a few eccentric ideas. I wonder if this time, what he creates will end up in Father's hands again!" Initially, he had approached An Chengjie to secure evidence against the Duke of Zhenguo's estate for future use. He had not expected An Chengjie to possess such skills, providing numerous formulas and designs. Recently, he even developed explosives, an astonishing invention. Little did he know that this unexpected windfall came with its own set of complications.

The trusted eunuch poured him a cup of tea and advised cautiously, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry so much about a mere commoner. If he's useful, keep him. If not, dispose of him. Now that you've been granted the title of king, once you move to the king's residence after leaving the palace, you won't have to be so cautious anymore."

Yan Mingli toyed with the teacup, lost in thought. The windfall was indeed tempting, and he didn't want to let it go. He needed to come up with a plan.

The Seventh Prince's "gifts" continued to flow, including irrigation devices, military defense equipment, methods to increase crop yields, suitable foreign seeds for cultivation, and even more advanced military training techniques. The courtiers' reactions shifted from initial astonishment to numbness. The gazes from other princes toward the Seventh Prince grew increasingly strange, and the Seventh Prince's complexion worsened with each passing day. However, the Yan Emperor acted as if he were giving the Seventh Prince special attention, rewarding him repeatedly. Even the Empress Consort personally selected two items, and it was rumored that the Empress had asked the Empress Dowager for her opinion.

The system notifications kept popping up, and finally, two days before the autumn hunt, the likelihood of mutual love dropped to 50%. Ye Zhizhou turned off the screen and looked at Yan Mingyong, who was playing chess with himself at the desk, feeling conflicted. He had thought that his lover in this world, being so young and having a fierce temper, would require his care and protection. Little did he know that he was too naive. Royal children were never simple, and his casual mention of a plan had led to such results.

As the research results were repeatedly presented as "gifts" in court, the Seventh Prince's trust in An Chengjie gradually waned. He eventually locked An Chengjie in a small villa on the outskirts of the capital, under close surveillance. An Chengjie was currently immersed in creating one masterpiece after another, oblivious to his changing circumstances. He believed that he would support the Seventh Prince in ascending to power and then shatter the dreams of the Duke of Zhenguo's estate.

"The Chuan Yue Restaurant? Hah." An Chengjie flipped through the blueprints drawn by the craftsmen based on his ideas and smiled sinisterly. "We may both be transmigrators, but you've already descended into hell, while I am destined to rise above everyone else!"

A shadow flashed outside the room corner, then quickly disappeared into the darkness.

In the middle of the night, in a secret dungeon.

Yan Mingyong played with a delicate miniature throwing dart in his hand, his expression indifferent. "Are you sure he believes it?"

"I personally witnessed it," the subordinate replied.

"Go on then, continue monitoring him."

"Yes."

The elegant-looking man in the cell moved slightly but remained silent.

"You do have some backbone," Yan Mingyong remarked, then walked closer. "Do you know that your beloved is now a king, enjoying all the glory? The Emperor has even selected a few good concubines for him, and they're preparing for the wedding."

The restrained man finally reacted, lifting his head to look at Yan Mingyong with a face covered in blood, contorted with rage, despair, and a hint of madness.

"Do you resist? Do you suffer?" Yan Mingyong didn't pay any attention to the hatred in his eyes and returned to his chair, continuing, "You might not know, but besides you, my Seventh Brother has several 'confidants' like you. I heard there's a young man named Han Wen among them. Han Wen... is your friend, isn't he?"

The man's eyes widened, and he struggled wildly, his bloodstained face twisted in a grotesque manner, as he let out hoarse and desperate screams.

"Refusing to speak, huh? Suffering, aren't you?" Yan Mingyong showed no sympathy for the man's hatred, picked up the throwing dart again, and began to play with it slowly.

A quarter of an hour later, the composure of the elegant man finally calmed. After taking a deep breath, he spoke without emotion, "I'll tell you everything you want to know, but I have a condition. You must tell me who Mingli's 'confidants' are."

Yan Mingyong nodded in agreement, checked the time, and got up. He tossed the throwing dart aside and said, "De'an, you'll handle the interrogation." With that, he headed towards the exit. It had taken quite a while, and he needed to get back to spend time with Le'er. As he exited the concealed entrance from the fake mountain used to disguise the dungeon, a familiar voice emanated from the top of the fake mountain, sounding ominous.

"So, your daytime penchant for sleep is because you come here to 'enjoy the scenery' at night?"

Yan Mingyong's hand froze as he was about to put on his cloak and hat. He turned to look up at the person sitting on the fake mountain, pursing his lips. "Le'er."

Ye Zhizhou jumped down from the fake mountain, cracking his knuckles, and smirked. "You even went out of your way to knock me out, hmm? You'd better give me a reliable explanation, or else..." He gestured with his hand below Yan Mingyong's waist, making a slicing motion.

Yan Mingyong involuntarily clenched his thighs.

The day before the autumn hunt, the Minister of Justice suddenly submitted a self-criticism document during the morning court assembly, confessing to all the unjust and wrongful cases he had intentionally handled over the years. This incited the Yan Emperor's fury, leading to the execution of numerous officials mentioned in the self-criticism documents. At that moment, every courtier was on edge, hastily trying to please the Emperor. The princes, who had been making their own moves recently, also became obedient, fearing that their allies might be implicated.

After attending the court assembly, Yan Mingli stormed into his study and smashed everything he could find. He then hurriedly sent a letter to the Minister of Justice's youngest son. However, to his surprise, the man who had always been willing to help him now avoided meeting him and later left the capital with his family, citing illness as the reason. That night, the Minister of Justice committed suicide in the dungeon.

This incident finally set off alarm bells in Yan Mingli's mind. Everything had spiraled out of control since he obtained An Chengjie's explosives formula. Now, even his most significant hidden asset had betrayed him. Someone must be plotting against him. But who?

He sat down at his desk, contemplating. He considered the Crown Prince born to the Empress and the Fifth Prince born to a palace maid, but he couldn't find any leads. In the end, he focused his attention on An Chengjie. All the trouble began after his interaction with An Chengjie. Plus, there were those peculiar items that were "presented" to the Emperor. He didn't know who was behind it all, but An Chengjie was definitely involved.

Fueled by anger, he disguised himself and left the palace, heading for a remote villa in the outskirts of the capital.

An Chengjie, upon seeing him approach, eagerly greeted him with a small sword-like object in hand. Excitedly, he said, "Your Highness, you've come at the perfect time. I've designed a new concealed weapon that, when used in conjunction with Doctor Feng's poison, has astonishing effects! Take a look; this is a semi-finished product."

"Oh? A concealed weapon?" Yan Mingli received the semi-finished product from him, smiling inscrutably as he inspected it closely. "Has it been coated?"

An Chengjie had no reason to doubt him and nodded, saying, "Just a little coating. It won't kill, but it will paralyze the limbs. Your Highness, be careful not to get any on yourself."

"I'll certainly be careful." Yan Mingli patted his shoulder and suddenly leaned in, ruthlessly plunging the semi-finished weapon into his abdomen. He then held him in place, smiling. "Concealed weapons like this can't be presented to Father. Useless items should be given to you."

An Chengjie's eyes widened in disbelief. He lowered his head to look at the small sword lodged in his abdomen, raising his hand to cover the wound. Staggering back a few steps, he looked at the elegantly dressed man with a twisted expression. "Your Highness, why... why like this..."

The smile on Yan Mingli's face disappeared as he wiped his hands with a handkerchief. He sneered, "I've never had patience for traitors. Take him to the dungeon, and make sure the doctor keeps him alive. I still have questions!" Betrayal? What did Yan Mingli mean by that?

The wound throbbed with pain. He saw a few figures approaching in his blurred vision but struggled in vain. The substance that had spread on him left him powerless, and he eventually gave up, fading into unconsciousness.

[The probability of affection between Yan Mingli and the main character has dropped to 20%. Please continue to make efforts, host.]

Ye Zhizhou turned off the screen and continued to flip through the book, completely ignoring the intense gaze directed at him from across the room.

"Le'er." Yan Mingyong pitifully called him, his face displaying a pleading and aggrieved expression, which might have been quite endearing. Unfortunately, Ye Zhizhou, well aware of his true character, was immune to such tactics. He didn't even lift an eyelid.

Since the night at the fake mountain, Ye Zhizhou had initiated a one-sided cold war. No matter how Yan Mingyong tried to coax him, nothing seemed to work. Of course, in Ye Zhizhou's eyes, those attempts to change the subject didn't seem like coaxing at all; they were more like pouring oil on the fire!

Yan Mingyong pursed his lips, and seeing that the tactic of feigning vulnerability wasn't working, he lowered his head in silence for a while. Then, suddenly, he got up, closed all the doors of the hall, and stood in front of Ye Zhizhou, taking his book away.

Ye Zhizhou, who had been secretly observing his actions, raised an eyebrow and looked at him without saying a word.

Yan Mingyong put the book aside, raised his hand, and started undoing his own belt.

Huh? What is he doing? Ye Zhizhou was very puzzled but remembered that they were still in a cold war. He suppressed the urge to speak.

The black belt slid to the ground, followed by the golden crown for binding the hair. His slightly thicker arms were revealed from the wide sleeves, bathed in the warm afternoon sun, emitting a warm glow. Slim fingers hooked onto his clothing belt, and he slowly started to undo it.

Damn! Kid, what are you up to?!

The black robe slipped to the ground, and Yan Mingyong, who stood in the sun with his hair loose and a snow-white jacket, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Ye Zhizhou's eyes widened, he moved his butt uncomfortably, wanted to stop him but was unwilling to speak, his face turned red from holding back, and finally looked away angrily. How despicable! Actually using a honey trap! No, he won't compromise! The brat dared to carry him behind his back and go out to a night party with unknown people in the middle of the night, and refused to explain afterwards, it is unforgivable!

Yan Mingyong saw that he looked away and didn't want to look at her. He tightened his grip on the collar, his face sank, and he tore off his inner coat, then loosened the collar of the inner coat, and leaned forward and forcefully broke his hand. Face, kissed hard!

! ! !

"Yan... let go!" He quickly struggled and refused, his heart racing like crazy! My lover is still too young, he can't use his mouth or hands! He doesn't want to be a beast, he is a good law-abiding citizen!

Seeing him struggling, Yan Mingyong's sanity flew away in an instant. He also forgot the purpose of doing this in the first place. He kissed and bit him fiercely, and his hands touched his belt, pulled it off hard, and wrapped his body around it. Press hard, leaving no space.

"Yan...well, Yan Mingyong!"

"Leer, you are mine! Mine!"

One of the two struggled and the other suppressed them. During the struggle, all their clothes came apart and their hair got tangled together. They looked very ambiguous.

The closed door of the palace was suddenly pushed open, and Emperor Yan stepped in with a smile on his face. However, after seeing the situation in the palace clearly, he stopped in shock, then quickly darkened his face and shouted angrily, "Xiaoba, An Chengle , what are you doing!"

Ye Zhizhou's body froze, Yan Mingyong quickly picked up the robe on the ground to cover his exposed chest, frowned and looked at Emperor Yan with a rare childish look, "Father, why don't you tell me when you come in! Don't look at it!" Le'er! If you look at it again, I won't help you check Brother Qi!"

Emperor Yan was suffocated before venting his anger, and couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his chest, feeling a little dizzy, "You, you scoundrel, you, you, you... how do you want me to explain to An Qing! "

"There's nothing wrong with this." Yan Mingyong stood in front of Ye Zhizhou, and said as a matter of course, "I want to marry Le'er, Father, give us a marriage."

Emperor Yan held on to the doorframe.

Ye Zhizhou couldn't hold it back, stretched out his legs and kicked his lover's butt hard, and then covered himself with his clothes. This naughty kid will be pissed off by the other party sooner or later!

Emperor Yan was angry at Yan Mingyong and left. Before leaving, he looked at Ye Zhizhou and stopped talking, then sighed deeply.

Yan Mingyong, who didn't know how to live or die, turned around and hugged Ye Zhizhou, and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Leer, Father will agree to my marriage with you. When the autumn hunting is over, I will go to your house to propose marriage."

Ye Zhizhou exploded in anger, unceremoniously flipping the situation around. He pinned his opponent to the ground and delivered a few resounding slaps to their behind. Then, he grabbed a nearby belt and bound their hands. Finally, he let out a sigh of relief and sneered, "Marriage proposal? Sure, go ahead and propose. By the way, I forgot to tell you, it's not allowed for engaged couples to meet before the wedding. You stay here; I'm heading home. Goodbye!" With that, he got up, casually picked up his own belt, and left in a huff.

After confirming that the person had left, Yan Di emerged from the corner, entered the palace doors, and saw his beloved son, Xiong, tied up on the ground in a sorry state. His expression stiffened for a moment. "Do you really like him that much? Are you set on him?"

Yan Mingyong easily freed himself from the loosely tied belt on his wrist, sat up, and said, "Father, in this lifetime, I will only want him. Moreover, he is the most suitable." An obedient son with hidden strength and a healthy body wouldn't be favored by the emperor. But a son who possessed hidden strength, was captivated by love, and wouldn't have his own offspring was exactly what the emperor wanted. The Duke of Zhenguo was a staunch supporter of the emperor, so a marriage between him and the Duke's son was the perfect match. Although Yan Mingyong secretly wished for a marriage without political motives for Yue, the circumstances were beyond his control. To live freely and comfortably in the imperial city, he had to consider the ruler's intentions.

Yan Di looked at his son's calm expression and indifferent gaze, feeling a mix of emotions. He then became resolute and said, "After the autumn hunt, I will grant you two the marriage!" Afterward, he fell silent for a moment and cautiously asked, "Mingyong, do you really not want the position I hold?"

"I don't." Yan Mingyong decisively declined, getting up and leisurely dressing. "I want to live a carefree life with Yue, and Father, you might not truly want me to hold that position either."

Yan Di's thoughts had been pierced, and he felt a slight annoyance. However, when he thought about all the things his son had been doing for him, he softened a bit. "Well... take care of yourself," he said, then turned and left.

Yan Mingyong paused in the act of straightening his clothes, lifted his head to glance at the gradually receding figure in bright yellow, and smiled slightly. "Thank goodness I still have Yue... only Yue."

The autumn hunt began with great fanfare. From early morning, the carriages of officials and nobles formed long queues at the city gates, drawing the attention of many commoners.

An Chengsheng put down the poetry collection he had been reading and looked at Ye Zhizhou, who was sitting in a daze in the corner of the carriage. He sighed. "Yue, did you not sleep well last night? Why do you seem so listless?"

Ye Zhizhou lifted his eyelids to give him a glance, then pulled out an "Ancient Poetry Collection" from his pocket, tossed it over, and adjusted his posture to continue daydreaming. That mischievous child actually sent him back home... very suspicious. He had a feeling there was a conspiracy involved.

An Chengsheng caught the poetry collection and reflexively began to peruse it. After reading a couple of pages, he snapped back to reality, set the book down, and gave his younger brother a helpless look. He leaned over to pat his hair. "What's wrong? Did you have a falling out with the Eighth Prince?"

"Big brother," he shook off the hand on his head and looked at him seriously, "are you now affiliated with the Crown Prince's faction?"

"Yue, who told you all this?" An Chengsheng withdrew his hand, furrowing his brow slightly. "Was it the Eighth Prince?"

"No," he shook his head, sitting up straight and looking directly into his eyes. He spoke earnestly, "Big brother, the Crown Prince is not the future wise ruler to follow. The Queen's family has deep roots, intricate connections behind the scenes, and there's also the Empress Dowager lurking in the background... all the advantages he currently has will become constraints once he ascends the throne. Moreover, the Crown Prince himself is too indecisive. Even his consort's maternal family, the Wangs, is known for their narrow-mindedness. Big brother, please think carefully." In the original plot, the Crown Prince was removed from his position by the Third Prince, which led to significant pressure on An Chengsheng. Even Duke Zhenguo's days were difficult due to this. Later on, it was the Second Prince who extended an olive branch, allowing An Chengsheng to recover. Meanwhile, An Chengjie, who had already aligned himself with the Seventh Prince, didn't care about An Chengsheng's well-being at all and was happily involved with the Seventh Prince.

An Chengsheng's expression became serious. "Yue, did you hear something from the Eighth Prince?"

No, he had read the spoiler information in the system's data. He slumped back into the corner of the carriage, waving his hand with frustration. "Big brother, the future of the Duke of Zhenguo's residence rests on your shoulders. Think about Father's approach. Give it serious consideration." With the current turmoil in the court due to the Seventh Prince gaining favor and the plot completely derailing, he couldn't predict which prince would ultimately ascend the throne. Thus, maintaining neutrality was the wisest choice. Though he didn't want to admit it, with Yan Mingyong around, as long as the Duke of Zhenguo's residence didn't make any major mistakes, they could have a stable life in this lifetime.

An Chengsheng looked at his brother's back, deep in thought.

Upon arriving at the hunting grounds, the lively archery ceremony commenced. After arranging the offerings, the Emperor led everyone in paying respects to heaven and earth. Then, he shot the first arrow, officially declaring the start of the autumn hunt. The Crown Prince was the first to lead his group into the deep forest, followed closely by the Eighth Prince, who hadn't appeared much in front of the court officials. The other princes began to gather their teams as well. Only the Seventh Prince remained remarkably quiet, staying in his camp tent, claiming to be ill.

When Duke Zhenguo returned to his tent, he found both of his sons inside and was quite puzzled. "Why haven't you two gone hunting?" Although he hadn't directly asked, he was well aware of his eldest son's close relationship with the Crown Prince. Additionally, his youngest son had been so attached to him, and it had already been strange to send him back to the residence yesterday. Now, to not even go hunting was beyond comprehension.

An Chengsheng glanced at Ye Zhizhou and smiled, saying, "It's too hot today, and we don't feel like moving."

Ye Zhizhou, without any pressure, spoke the truth. "I had an argument with the Eighth Prince."

Duke Zhenguo looked at his youngest son, wordlessly shook his head, and left without asking for the details.

An hour later, a bloodied guard suddenly burst out of the woods and rushed into the camp, shouting for help as he ran. Startled, everyone intercepted him, and upon detailed questioning, they received shocking news.

"Sixth and Fourth Princes had a dispute over prey and got into a fight. Then... then they both fell off a cliff! Crown Prince and Eighth Prince went around to look for them, but unexpectedly, there was a sudden landslide during the confusion, and we got separated from them!"

A gasp rippled through the crowd. The Emperor had only eight sons, and now two had fallen off cliffs, and two were missing. If something had truly happened...

"Search for them all!" The Emperor slammed the armrest of his chair, his body trembling slightly from the emotional turmoil. "First, find the other princes! Lei Shihong, return to the capital and bring reinforcements, quickly!"

Lei Shihong immediately took his leave on horseback.

The once cheerful and relaxed atmosphere in the camp vanished. Everyone hung their heads in silence. Most of the troops guarding the camp were sent out to search deep into the woods. An Chengsheng was anxious about the safety of the Crown Prince and wanted to join the search, but Ye Zhizhou held him back.

"Yue?"

"Don't go," Ye Zhizhou whispered after carefully sensing the faint spiritual energy emanating from Yan Mingyong's location not far from the camp. He furrowed his brow. He pulled An Chengsheng away from the crowd and lowered his voice. "Something's not right. Let's not act hastily." Yan Mingyong was clearly not far from the camp, and if the Crown Prince was with him, there should be no danger.

An Chengsheng frowned, hesitated, and glanced at his parents standing nearby. In the end, he didn't insist on joining the rescue effort.

The campfire burned through the night, and in the early hours of the morning, the soldiers finally found the unconscious and severely injured Sixth and Fourth Princes at the foot of the mountain. However, there was still no word about the other princes, as if they had vanished into thin air.

"Continue the search!" Emperor Yan, who had not slept the entire night, appeared worn and haggard. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice had become hoarse. "We need to find them alive or find their bodies. I..."

Boom—

A deafening explosion suddenly resounded from the woods in the distance, causing everyone to turn and look, but all they could see was the rising smoke and dust after the blast.

"What's going on?!" Emperor Yan exclaimed, taking a few steps forward to gaze at the thick smoke and sparks rising in the distance. Panic flickered in his eyes. "Why is there an explosion in the forest?!"

Boom, boom, boom—

After a brief moment of silence, a more intense series of explosions followed, and smoke billowed continuously. The sparks in the forest grew larger and gradually connected, as if encircling the entire camp.

"No... my sons are still in the woods! Quickly, we need to put out the fire!" The hellish scene before Emperor Yan's eyes made him nearly collapse. He stumbled forward and was steadied by Lei Shihong. "Who is trying to harm my sons? This explosion... Seventh Prince! Where are you? Show yourself!"

"Father, there won't be anyone else," Yan Mingli stepped out from the crowd with a twisted, sinister smile on his face. "You only have me as your son now. Lord Lei, His Majesty is tired. Hurry and help him back to rest."

Emperor Yan turned his head in shock. "Lei Shihong, you...!"

Lei Shihong remained silent, but his actions in supporting the Emperor were quite forceful.

The courtiers were in great astonishment, and before they could react, a column of soldiers suddenly rushed in and surrounded them all.

Ye Zhizhou stood at the back of the crowd, watching everything unfold. He carefully sensed the position of Yan Mingyong's spiritual energy and smirked. He was confident that Lei Shihong wouldn't betray the Emperor, and he was certain that Yan Mingyong was safe now. So, all of this... Emperor Yan's acting skills were quite impressive.

The soldiers who rushed in separated and detained the people in the camp. Ye Zhizhou found himself "luckily" enjoying the treatment of a solitary prison cell. He glanced around the inconspicuous tent in the corner of the camp, his gaze passing over the burning pine resin and the carpets on the ground, finally landing on the noodles and sliced fruits placed on a small table.

Bending down to touch, good, the noodles were still warm. He sat down decisively and picked up the chopsticks to start eating.

"Aren't you afraid it might be poisoned?"

He rolled his eyes and couldn't be bothered to look at the person who had just arrived. "If you put it here, I'll eat it. Besides, this system that sells medicines is quite reliable!"

Yan Mingyong cleared his throat, feeling a bit suffocated, then walked over and sat down beside him, snuggling up to him and wrapping his arm around his waist. "You're not allowed to leave me for more than a day from now on."

Ye Zhizhou picked up a piece of melon and fed it to him, then continued to eat his noodles. After enduring the drama between Yan Di and Yan Mingyong all night, he was now both tired and hungry. He didn't have the energy to deal with a sick child.

Yan Mingyong bit into the melon, looking a bit silly. He wanted to spit it out but thought of this being the first time Le Er had fed him, so he swallowed it obediently. He turned his head and saw him eating voraciously, feeling a bit distressed. He tightened his grip on Ye Zhizhou's arm and asked, "You didn't sleep last night, did you? And you didn't eat?"

After swallowing the last bite of noodles and taking a sip of soup, he wiped his mouth and finally looked at Yan Mingyong properly. With a serious expression, he asked, "Yesterday, you deliberately made me angry and sent me home, didn't you? Also, what are you and Yan Di up to with this performance? What about the other princes?"

"The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince are searching for Seventh Brother's hidden forces in the capital, while the First Prince and the Second Prince are cleaning up Seventh Brother's private soldiers. Lord Lei brought his troops here, and Lei Baofei is currently directing them. Once tonight passes, Seventh Brother's influence will be completely eradicated, and we can go on with our lives." Yan Mingyong's recently rejuvenated complexion now appeared slightly pale, and there was a hint of fatigue on his face. "The struggle for the throne will no longer concern us. Regardless of who ultimately takes the throne, the Duke of Zhenguo's residence will remain as it is now. Le Er, you can rest assured."

Ye Zhizhou looked at the shadow under his eyes and his anger dissipated in an instant. He sighed and pulled him into his arms, stroking his long hair. "You're still just a child. I thought I could watch you grow up slowly, but in the end..." In the end, he was the one being taken care of by his lover. He felt useless.

"I've grown up." Yan Mingyong saw that he finally acknowledged him and showed a smile. He affectionately nuzzled Ye Zhizhou's neck and snuggled into his arms. "Le Er, you're so good, you're mine. How can you be so good? I really like you."

Ye Zhizhou looked at his beloved in this state and couldn't help but smile. He gently pulled his hair and patted his back. "Alright, let's get some sleep first. I'll be here with you."

Yan Mingyong nodded in his arms and fell asleep quickly.

In the outskirts of the capital, Lei Baofei kicked open the prison doors and led a group of elite soldiers inside. He shouted loudly, "First, count how many people are locked up in here, then verify their identities one by one, record their information, and take them to the Ministry of Punishments."

The soldiers responded in unison and began checking each prison cell one by one.

In the deepest cell, a prisoner suddenly moved and quickly rushed to the door, shouting loudly, "Is it Brother Lei? Brother Lei! It's me, An Chengjie! I've been captured and tortured by the Seventh Prince for a long time. Please save me, Brother Lei!"

An Chengjie? Lei Baofei was momentarily stunned and then walked over quickly, crouching down to carefully look at the disheveled person inside. He asked in surprise, "What are you doing here? Didn't I arrange for someone to send you to the northwest?"

An Chengjie reached out his bloodied hand and grabbed the prison door, his face pressed against the wooden bars. His expression was filled with excitement and anger. "Brother Lei, I want the Seventh Prince to die a miserable death! I want him to die!"

Lei Baofei couldn't help but move back a bit, meeting An Chengjie's frenzied gaze and furrowing his brow deeply.

[The probability of Lei Baofei falling in love with the main character has dropped to 0%. Congratulations to the host for removing the second soul flag. Please continue your efforts.]

Ye Zhizhou's hand paused as he was putting on his clothes. He turned his head to look at Yan Mingyong, who was lying in bed and watching him intently. He asked, "You said Lei Shihong's troops are being directed by Lei Baofei now. What is he doing with those troops?"

"Go clear out those craftsmen that Seventh Brother used to develop explosives," Yan Mingyong obediently replied. Then he came closer and hugged Ye Zhizhou's waist, his tone turning serious. "Le Er, do you really like that Lei Baofei so much? Are you that concerned about him?"

How could he fall sick again after just a moment? Ye Zhizhou gave him a smack on the back of his head, pushed his hands away, and warned with a stern face, "If you keep getting jealous, I'll make sure you remain a celibate for the rest of your life!"

Yan Mingyong buried himself under the blanket, and upon hearing this threat, he stiffened for a moment. Then he sat up with a pitch-black expression, looking unusually obedient.

"We're getting married." Only after the wedding can they have their bridal night.

Ye Zhizhou turned his head, his voice chilling. "What are you muttering about?"

Yan Mingyong turned around to show him the back of his head, displaying an unusual touch of youthful innocence.

Just past noon, the princes who had been ordered to clean up the Seventh Prince's forces all returned to the camp. Fifteen minutes later, Lei Baofei gathered with them, bringing a pile of drawings and letters. Yan Mingyong came out of the tent, looked at the items brought by the others, and then ignited a signal flare.

Yan Mingli, who was inside the main tent, forcing Yan Di to write an abdication decree, was startled by the signal flare. He went outside to check and was promptly attacked from behind by Lei Shihong. Lei Shihong efficiently tied him up and presented him in front of Yan Di.

"You... all of you..." Yan Mingli looked at Lei Shihong, who had stood behind Yan Di again, and then at Yan Di, who had regained his usual dignified appearance. His expression contorted in disbelief. "You colluded to deceive me! Lei Shihong, you traitor!"

"Shut up, rebellious son!" Yan Di ruthlessly kicked him in the chest, not concealing his disgust and anger. "You heartless creature! You actually had the audacity to plot the murder of all your brothers and attempt to usurp the throne. How could I have a ruthless son like you? Guards, take this beast away, imprison him in the Sky Dungeon, and schedule his execution for a later date!"

Yan Mingli fell to the ground, groaning in pain. Upon hearing the verdict, he began to struggle frantically. "No! You can't! You only have me as your son now! You can't kill me! The Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince's injuries are beyond cure; they'll die sooner or later. You can't kill me!"

"Who said I only have you as a son?" Yan Di sneered, "Rest assured, apart from you, all my other sons will live just fine." With that, he waved his hand toward the soldiers who had entered, showing no further interest in the man on the ground.

Yan Mingli was dragged away, roaring in protest. Yan Di closed his eyes, removed the cold facade from his face, and revealed a hint of fatigue. "Lord Lei, did I make a mistake?"

Lei Shihong remained silent, not daring to comment on matters related to the royal family.

The farcical autumn hunt came to an end, and the Seventh Prince and his supporters were swiftly eliminated, leaving the court in a state of confusion. The remaining princes quickly divided up the spoils left by the Seventh Prince, and the power struggle continued.

A month later, the Seventh Prince was executed, and the last soul flag was removed.

In the same winter, the border faced a crisis, and Lei Baofei volunteered to lead the troops to defend against the enemy. An Chengsheng shed his scholarly attire, and despite the First Prince's objections, he joined the military camp. He gradually distanced himself from the First Prince's faction.

Approaching the new year, Yan Mingyong turned fourteen, and on his birthday, Yan Di bestowed upon him the title of "Happy-Go-Lucky Prince" (逍遥王) and arranged his marriage with the Second Son of Duke Zhenguo, An Chengle. The wedding was set for four years later, in the winter when Yan Mingyong would turn eighteen.

The courtiers were bewildered, the princes had strange expressions, and upon hearing the wedding date, Yan Mingyong crushed his wine glass in frustration. Ye Zhizhou, on the other hand, smiled happily.

On the day after the royal edict for their marriage was issued, Ye Zhizhou used the excuse that engaged couples should not meet before the wedding to move back to Duke Zhenguo's residence. He then quickly joined the military camp and followed the supply troops to the border. Yan Mingyong, who had come to fetch his bride, found himself stood up and had to face the disapproving gaze of his future mother-in-law. He felt extremely frustrated.

The intermittent battle at the border lasted for three years, during which Yan Mingyong spent three years going back and forth. In these three years, Ye Zhizhou was like a slippery eel, impossible to catch or even touch, a mere glimpse of him was a luxury. When he went to the border, Ye Zhizhou went with the medical teams to tend to the wounded in a nearby city. When he rushed to the city, Ye Zhizhou had already gone to the Central Plains to purchase medicinal herbs. And when he waited at the border, the enemy had been driven away several times, yet Ye Zhizhou remained elusive. Yan Mingyong began to suspect that someone was leaking his whereabouts to Ye Zhizhou. However, no matter how he investigated, even when he acted alone in secret, he still couldn't catch Ye Zhizhou, not even a strand of his lover's hair.

At this point, the former Eighth Prince, now the Happy-Go-Lucky Prince, finally gave up trying to catch Ye Zhizhou and obediently returned to the capital. He began earnestly trying to gain the favor of his future parents-in-law and started sending batches of goods to the border, one after another.

Another year had passed, and Yan Mingyong, who had once been a source of anger and resentment, gradually matured and grew into a tall and handsome... uh, beautiful young man with an eight-pack. As the time of Ye Zhizhou's absence grew longer, his words became fewer and fewer. In the end, even when Yan Di came, he could hold a book and not utter a word, which infuriated Yan Di, calling him a rebellious son.

While the other princes were still competing secretly, they all tacitly excluded Yan Mingyong from the power struggle. This lover of beauty who had no interest in ruling the kingdom and had control over a mysterious private army was not to be messed with, so it was better to focus on developing their own power.

The residents of the capital, on the other hand, were very interested in the Happy-Go-Lucky Prince. Year after year, they gossiped about him, showing more concern about the return date of the Second Son of Duke Zhenguo than he did himself.

As the new year arrived, Ye Zhizhou, who had had his fill of adventures outside, finally returned to the capital. He stopped at a village a few kilometers away from the city gates and looked at a beggar huddled on the roadside, his expression somewhat complicated.

An Chengjie had been captured by Lei Baofei on the night of the Seventh Prince's rebellion but had managed to escape during the chaos. He had been searching for the other side ever since, and he didn't expect to meet him under these circumstances near the capital.

"I'm the only time traveler, the only one, only me..." muttered the ageless beggar, his gaze unfocused. His scar-covered hands clawed at the ground haphazardly, and his fingernails were purple, giving him a eerie appearance.

Ye Zhizhou sighed and dismounted, approaching cautiously. He didn't know what to do with this man. In recent years, he had occasionally wondered if he had been too harsh in blocking all paths for the protagonist. If he had left a way for him to climb up, would he have become the paranoid madman who set fires and planted bombs later on? Unfortunately, everything was just hypothetical. He had already done what he had done, and he had always been curious whether the other side had discovered his identity as a fellow time traveler. There was also the explosion at Chuanyue Tavern... He later found out that Yan Mingyong had once used false information to deceive An Chengjie, making An Chengjie think he had died in that explosion, diverting his attention away from himself.

The beggar lying on the ground noticed the person standing by and turned his head slightly. He was startled and quickly got up, curling up into a ball, and hoarsely screaming, "Ghost! There's a ghost! Don't come looking for me! I didn't kill you on purpose! I didn't kill you on purpose, go away! Go away!"

Ye Zhizhou stopped, hesitated for a moment, took out an antidote pill from his inventory, and placed it in the dry food he carried with him. He put it in front of An Chengjie. It was said that the Seventh Prince had poisoned An Chengjie before. Seeing An Chengjie in this state, the poison must not have been cured yet... Hopefully, it wasn't too late for this antidote pill.

Mounting his horse again, he glanced back at the man who was wolfing down the dry food, noted his location, and then whipped his horse away.