Chapter 108 - Warm reception

 

The sun was just rising when Xia Chunyu and Ouyang Ziyu get up. They get out of their room and wait for the sailors, Xia Chunyu chose to not wake them up as they worked so hard the previous day. In the palace, Feng Long also gets up. He moves to Yu Lexuan's room and sees him sleeping. He sits on his bed and gently caresses his face. In a few moments, Yu Lexuan smiles but keeps his eyes closed:

-Feng Long...

-Yes, I'm here...

Yu Lexuan slowly opens his eyes and sees Feng Long smiling. He gets up, sitting at his side:

-Good morning, your majesty.

-You woke up. My morning will be excellent. 

Yu Lexuan smiles and gets up with him. They hug and walk down the hallway. Zhong Kunyi and Zhang Yi were awake, going towards the kitchen. They end up meeting in that space and exchanging their morning greetings. As usual, Feng Long prepared a light breakfast for all of them and sat beside Yu Lexuan:

-Well, so how about all those new compounds you found, Zhang Yi? 

-First of all, it was not really something I invented. Those new compounds are a radically new approach to making medicines and were developed by a local chemist called Yu Xuan.

-Yu Xuan? I heard about him a long time ago. Someone told me he tried some unusual techniques, like testing medicines in certain animals before using them himself. 

-We've not been told about this bit, but I think his approach is much better and may give faster results than our plant-based medicines could give. It can also be deployed much faster.

-Are there any downsides?

-Well, kinda. I'll let Yu Lexuan tell you something about it.

Zhang Yi smiles, and Yu Lexuan starts talking, looking at Feng Long:

-Your majesty, there are some problems regarding these new medicines... The compounds can be hard to get, like the herbal-based ones. Currently, only Yu Xuan knows where and how to get them.

-Maybe we should establish direct contact with him using our pigeons and ask him to send us the required amount from time to time.

-Yes, your majesty is wise! But, until now, we don't know yet how to produce these in huge quantities. Yu Xuan already tested a recipe that seemed to work, but the number of people tested was very small as there were almost no infections in his region.

Feng Long thinks for a moment:

-But he tried it beforehand, and nothing happened?

-At least until now. I think everyone will be ok given the nature of the compounds used. There is nothing really harmful in the formulae, and the amount used is pretty small. - Zhang Yi responds.

-How much will it cost? - Zhong Kunyi looks at Yu Lexuan.

-Well, Yu Xuan didn't tell us anything regarding costs. Maybe he doesn't want to charge us for it. Maybe he believes this is something that everyone must have access to at no cost.

-That's not fair on him. We must pay him something in exchange.

-Zhong Kunyi, I got to, well... establish deeper ties with him... and I don't think he really cares about it. - Yu Lexuan blushes, as well as Feng Long.

Everyone keeps silent for a moment:

-Ahh... Yeah, so let's get it done. Zhang Yi, how long until we start actually distributing it to the people, and how will these be administered? - Feng Long smiles.

-From what Yu Xuan told us, the making is simple. It can be distributed in small bottles. All that is needed is to give it to people, saying that they have to take half a bottle on the first day and the other half the day after. 

-That's really outstanding, Zhang Yi! We can really simplify it by simply delivering the bottles to places like restaurants and markets, so people get them there and follow the recommendation. - Feng Long smiles.

-Yes, it is much better and faster than our current product. Of course, the available data on effectiveness is incomplete, but there is no long-term risk involved, and it seemed to work pretty well.

While Feng Long and his friends were having breakfast, the sailors sailed Xia Chunyu's boat towards the pier. As they approached it, the soldiers from Zhejiang surrounded them, as expected. 

He walked off the boat with his prince, bowed to the soldiers, and presented his imperial seal:

-Please, I'm Xia Chunyu, emperor of Jiangsu. I want to talk with His Majesty of Zhejiang, Feng Long. 

One of the soldiers orders the others to lower their swords. He moves closer and takes Xia's imperial seal, seeing that it is authentic. He bows to him:

-Welcome to Zhejiang, his majesty... We will inform Feng long about his presence, please, wait a moment.

-No problem. 

Xia Chunyu smiles. The soldier runs towards the palace, getting there in a few moments. Feng Long had just finished his breakfast and was about to sit on his throne when the soldier entered the large imperial room. He bows to him:

-His majesty, we have an emperor on the pier waiting for you.

Feng Long raises an eyebrow:

-An emperor? I was not notified about it.

-Please, your majesty, let me tell him to go back home.

-Wait, please. Who's there? Do you have any information?

-It is Xia Chunyu, from Jiangsu.

Feng Long freezes:

-Xia... Xia Chunyu??? Please, let's get there. It must be important!

-Please, accompany me. 

Feng Long smiles and accompanies the soldier. At some point, he starts running, outpassing his official. 

He sees Xia Chunyu and Ouyang Ziyu in the pier. As he moves closer, Xia Chunyu smiles, walking towards him. Ouyang Ziyu smiles, and accompanies him.

When they get close enough, Feng Long stops and looks deeply into Xia Chunyu's eyes, as he does. Xia Chunyu's eyes water and they hug tightly:

-Feng Long...

-Xia Chunyu, we are together again...

The soldiers move away from them. While Xia Chunyu and Feng Long hug, Ouyang Ziyu looks around, impressed by the size of the imperial palace:

-Jinhua is really huge and rich! I've never been there!

Next, Feng Long and Xia Chunyu separate. Each one bows three times:

-Welcome home, Xia Chunyu. - Feng Long smiles.

-I was missing you so much, Feng Long...

-I'm so happy that you are here now.

Ouyang Ziyu moves closer to Feng Long, bowing to him:

-Best regards to His majesty. 

Feng Long bows back to him and helps him to rise:

-Besides making us happy with your presence, what is your plan, Xia Chunyu? - Feng Long moves closer to him.

-Well, Feng Long... I told Ouyang that the purpose of this trip was to visit you... But he also wants to hold some talks with your prince and ministers as well, you know, imperial matters. 

Feng Long blushes slightly:

-Please, accompany me to the palace. 

-As you wish.

Ouyang and Xia accompany Feng Long. He first moves to his imperial room while talking about his empire on the way to it:

-Only a decade or so ago, nothing interesting was going on in this empire. Now, I see that people are happy being able to pursue their dreams and make our empire better every day. 

-This is not a surprise since I studied your principles and understood them at a higher level last time you visited Jiangsu. - Xia Chunyu blushes.

-It was so rewarding... - Feng Long smiles.

Going through the same hallway, Yu Lexuan, Zhang Yi, and Zhong Kunyi chat happily. They end up meeting with Feng Long and Xia Chunyu. All of them stop, and Feng Long moves ahead:

-Please! We have a special guest today, Xia Chunyu, emperor of Jiangsu, and Ouyang Ziyu, his prince.

They bow to each other. Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan move closer:

-I'm amazed at how alike Ouyang Ziyu and Yu Lexuan are! 

Yu Lexuan blushes and moves closer to Ouyang Ziyu, smiling and offering his hand to him:

-Feel welcome in our home, your highness. 

-I'm glad to meet his highness. 

Ouyang also blushes slightly. Yu Lexuan looks gorgeous to his eyes, but he keeps some discretion, shaking hands with him briefly. Next, Feng Long smiles:

-So, I think we can show our guests their accommodations. Please, accompany me. 

-Sure. - Xia Chunyu smiles.

They all move to the upper floor. There, Feng Long opens a large door leading to a luxurious bedroom with two large beds, a bathroom, and a balcony with good views of the city:

-I only offered this room because I knew your majesty and your highness used to share a single room in your home.

-I have no words, Feng Long... This is so nice... - Xia Chunyu is impressed.

-This is barely good enough for someone like your majesty. - Feng Long smiles.

Ouyang enters the room, leaving his luggage over one of the beds. Xia Chunyu does the same. Feng Long smiles:

-I don't know if you are hungry or tired due to the long trip from Jiangsu, you can ask for anything. Feel free to do it.

Xia Chunyu moves closer to Feng Long:

-We are fine... Maybe we can talk a bit. Please, I don't want to cause any fuss to your majesty. - Xia Chunyu bows.

-Please rise... You are not causing any problem whatsoever...

Zhong Kunyi moves closer to Feng Long:

-Well, I think we can prepare something special for lunch. Our guests certainly deserve it.

-Of course, I'll personally make it for us in a moment. - Feng long smiles.

-I feel obligated to contribute to it somehow! - Yu Lexuan laughs.

-Better together. - Feng Long looks at Yu Lexuan

-Always! - Yu Lexuans blushes slightly.

Xia Chunyu gently takes Ouyang's left hand and caresses it:

-We feel honoured...

Feng Long smiles and looks at Zhang Yi:

-Well, I think we're all set. Xia Chunyu, you arrived just in time to see a new medicine we are producing that can be a game-changer. We will start making it in volume soon, and I want to give some of it to you. I know you were not prepared to carry a large amount back home. I will offer you a smaller amount. 

Ouyang looks at Feng Long, then walks towards him, bowing slightly:

-We feel grateful for your majesty's offering, but we are willing to pay for it.

-There's no need to pay. It is already paid. 

Yu Lexuan smiles. Xia Chunyu raises an eyebrow:

-Is it already paid? How?

-You are here. 

Feng Long looks deeply into Xia Chunyu's eyes, and he blushes:

-Well, we... We are grateful... I think we will need a couple of minutes to have a shower and meet you again. 

-No problem, let's do it that way then. There is something special in the bathroom for your hair. I think you will like it, as well as the rest.

Feng Long smiles, and they bow to each other. After they get out of the room, Xia Chunyu closes the door and looks at Ouyang Ziyu:

-Yu Lexuan really looks like you, my prince...

-Ah, yeah, I... - Ouyang Ziyu blushes. 

Xia Chunyu moves closer, hugging him:

-There is no need to hide from me that you liked him. You can do it without any problem, ok? After all, you know that I love Feng Long so much too.

-No one is better than your majesty... - Ouyang Ziyu looks down at the floor.

-But, yeah... No problem! I'm being wholehearted... Never ever doubt that I love you more than anything else, ok?

-I believe in your majesty's heart and true love.

-Exactly...

Xia Chunyu kisses Ouyang Ziyu deeply:

-So, let's have a shower together and see what has Feng Long reserved for us.

...

◄Previous chapter                  Next Chapter►