Chapter 110 - Holding negotiations
places like schools, markets, and restaurants. In the palace, Ouyang and Zhong Kunyi take a seat in Kunyi's room. Ouyang brought some scrolls containing the terms he wants to rectify. Zhong Kunyi has prepared some tea and offers it to his guest:
-Please, Ouyang, let's drink some tea in the meantime.
-I accept, thank you.
-I accept, thank you.
Ouyang and Zhong Kunyi start their talks. In a garden inside the courtyard of Jinhua's palace, Feng Long and Xia Chunyu walk together, hand in hand:
-Feng Long, may I confess to you something? - Xia Chunyu looks at the sky.
-Ah, yes, why not?
Xia Chunyu then walks toward a leaning tree, sitting on its trunk. Feng Long also sits beside him:
-Feng Long... I was really worried about the epidemic in my empire... I almost failed at the early stage of it...
-Failed? It always seemed to me that your performance was great!
-It was kinda poor... I feared that closing the empire would bring it to its knees. We rely heavily on shipping, there is so much traffic crossing our empire, well, mostly out of Wuxi anyway...
-Well... You have made the right decisions until now, haven't you?
-Yes, but I was feeling so stressed out...
-It does not matter anymore, it is past now... I don't know about Ouyang, but I have had so many disagreements with Zhong Kunyi... The economics of an epidemic are very complex. Zhong Kunyi really tried to make better decisions that would keep the economy functional to some degree while keeping the disease at a manageable level, but most of the time, I have ignored his advice to some extent... Now the disease is among us.
-I think there's nothing much that can be done to stop it... Having medicines that work will reduce the burden considerably.
-It can be stopped, and we almost managed to get it completely under control... The problem was Anhui back then. Bai Chongye tried to ignore the disease, allowing it to spread so much to the point of creating new types that were deadlier than the initial one.
Xia Chunyu's eyes suddenly water. Feng Long gets up, and goes in front of him, getting between his legs and gently hugging him:
-I know that every time I pronounce the name Bai Chongye, something sad comes to your mind, Xia Chunyu... But I'm happy that you have moved on... You became stronger and more mature... And, thanks to Ouyang, you are now the best version of yourself to ever exist...
Feng Long caresses Xia Chunyu very gently. He smiles, also hugging Feng Long's back:
-We are not self-made... We need inspiration and support to keep moving on... To keep ourselves motivated... To love our homes, and keep them safe, happy, and prosperous...
-You got it so well, Xia Chunyu... Yes, sometimes we may make a mistake here and there, but the overall result of our actions is what really matters... If I can say that the beauty of governance is my speciality, you are my best student...
-There are so many things I have to learn to just get closer to your level, Feng Long...
-I'd happily walk with you during this journey... We will get to the heavens together...
-There are so many ways to get there... Just having you so close to me now is so heavenly to start with...
-I want to take advantage of every second we are so close together... We may or may not have the opportunity to do it again...
-Life is so fragile and unpredictable... If it turns out that one of us is going to leave this world, I'd rather go first...
Feng Long silences, and then his eyes water slightly. He tightens the hug:
-This will never happen...
-Feng Long... I feel so bad knowing that I may be coveting you despite knowing that Yu Lexuan is your true love...
-It does not matter, Xia Chunyu... I also know how strongly Ouyang Ziyu loves you, and how much you love him too... But we also love each other... Denying that would be crazy.
-So... Am I your second love?
-There's not such a tier for me... You are all my first lovers... I only feel complete because you all exist.
Xia Chunyu smiles and touches his nose on Feng Long's face. He blushes a bit and then kisses him deeply. Feng Long deepens the kiss.
In the palace, Zhong Kunyi and Ouyang keep negotiating. The tea is getting colder, so Zhong Kunyi gets up and brews more hot tea. Ouyang also gets up, and helps him:
-Your excellency. May I suggest you another blend you can make with your infusions?
-Oh, yes, feel free.
Ouyang smiles and takes some of the infusions Zhong Kunyi has, mixing some of them in a particular proportion. Zhong Kunyi looks at him from behind, smiling:
-Ouyang is so handsome... He is an almost perfect copy of Yu Lexuan...
Ouyang turns and smiles:
-Please, your excellency, taste this blend. Your infusions are different from mine, but the principle holds the same regardless of the herbs used.
-Right, please, let me serve you first at our table.
Zhong Kunyi takes the teapot and fills Ouyang's teacup to the middle. While they drink, Ouyang hands out some scrolls to Zhong Kunyi:
-Resuming our talks, some taxes are pretty unfair for us, Zhong Kunyi. Yes, I know we have solved most of those problems in Wuxi, but I have figured out that our tax regulations are way too complicated. What if we adopt a flat tax system for every kind of product, instead of establishing individual taxes for specific products?
-I worked out that it was unmanageable... We can try it between our empires before expanding such rules to others as a pilot project. This will likely increase our revenue to some extent and make the life of the taxation bureau easier.
-I like this idea as well.
Zhong Kunyi and Ouyang proceed to talk for a couple more hours. In the meantime, Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi are about to finish delivering the first batch of medicines to every single place Zhang Yi feels suitable. It was painstakingly hard work for them, so they feel exhausted. Coming back to the palace, they meet with Feng Long and Xia Chunyu:
-Greetings to his majesty. - Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi bow.
Feng Long smiles, and helps them to rise:
-Please, rise... You look so tired, please, you both need to rest.
-It was a workout, but we have accomplished it. The medicines can be rolled out to the general public as soon as you want. - Zhang Yi smiles.
-We will wait a bit. As with the previous medicines, I'll take them first. I trust you, Zhang Yi. But I want to get it before anyone else. If there is any possible side effect, I'll bear it.
Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan smile:
-We will take it as well.
Feng Long smiles back, and takes Xia Chunyu by his left hand:
-Please...
-I think I'll also take this medicine with you, Feng Long...
-You are not required to do so.
-We'll certainly buy some, so I'll follow your example as well.
Zhang Yi moves closer to Xia Chunyu, bowing slightly:
-I assure his majesty there are no known side effects.
-Feng Long trusts you, and so do I. But I need to take it before anyone else to show it is good and safe.
-As you wish...
Xia Chunyu smiles, and they walk towards the palace's guest room. Getting there, Feng long takes a brush and starts writing a letter to Ding Qi:
-I completely forgot to reply to Ding Qi. Please, Zhang Yi, could you prepare a small container containing the necessary ingredients and recipe for Ding Qi? - Feng Long looks at him.
-Yes, I can, excuse me, your majesty.
Zhang Yi bows slightly then turn and moves away. Feng Long writes the letter, and Xia Chunyu sits close to him. Yu Lexuan looks at him, trying not to laugh:
-This is going to be a bit difficult for Feng Long... I am his soulmate, but Xia Chunyu loves him in a way I cannot comprehend. Well, forget about it, as long as Feng Long feels good, I'm fine.
-I thought some time ago about visiting Ding Qi. It's been a long time since we do not meet. I was really afraid it would end up in a disaster as Ding Qi was so stubborn.
Yu Lexuan sits beside Feng Long, but on the left side. He passes his right arm around Feng Long's waist, bringing him closer:
-Ding Qi is not the same. He is unrecognizable now. It is certainly worth a visit though.
Feng Long blushes. He finishes the letter next:
-Well, I'll wait for Zhang Yi, then send this back to Huangshan. I'm curious about Zhong Kunyi and Ouyang... They spent the best part of the day alone.
-Ouyang brought some scrolls. Well, it was not my intent for this trip, but he decided to do it in person.
Yu Lexuan gets up:
-Well, I think I'll call them. Maybe they would want to report something.
-No need to worry about that, his highness... - Xia Chunyu smiles.
-Yes, I'm not worried, just curious.
Yu Lexuan bows slightly to them and leaves the room. Xia Chunyu blushes:
-Feng Long... May I tell you something?
-Ahhh... Yes, anything.
Xia Chunyu gets up. Feng Long does the same, so they can look deeply into each's eyes:
-Feng Long... I think I went too far...
-Too far? How?
-I noticed that Yu Lexuan is not feeling comfortable with us being so close all day long...
Feng Long laughs:
-Hahahaha!!! Seriously?
Xia Chunyu can't relax:
-Yes... I feel that I may have invaded his space...
Feng Long moves a bit closer, putting his hands over Xia Chunyu's waist:
-Xia Chunyu, look into my eyes... Yu Lexuan is not feeling uncomfortable or anything like that...
-But... but...
-No, this is just silly... As long as I am happy, he is as well... Our love works that way, not just the physical relationship. The worst thing for him is to see that I'm sad or insecure... He knows I'm feeling very secure, that our love is strong and unbreakable, so just relax. You deserve a space in my heart, and you have it.
Yu Lexuan reaches the room in which Zhong Kunyi was negotiating. Ouyang was preparing his scrolls to be stored, being helped by Zhong Kunyi. As soon as he sees Yu Lexuan, he smiles. Yu Lexuan moves closer, bowing slightly:
-Greetings to your highness.
Ouyang repeats the gesture, rising next:
-We've just finished... It was a long discussion, but this will strengthen even more our ties.
-That's fantastic! Well, what about going to the imperial room? Xia Chunyu is down there with Feng Long.
-Yu Lexuan, how about the medicines? - Zhong Kunyi moves toward him.
-Well, I'll talk about it down there.
-As you wish.
As they move to the guest's room, Zhang Yi also comes with a small container that holds the minerals, as well as the recipe. Feng Long called a pigeon and was waiting for him. Next, he ties the small container and letter to the pigeon, freeing it. The bird aims at Huangshan and flies fast.
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