Chapter 51 - Feng Long is back home

After finishing reading the report from Zhejiang, Ding Qi and Zhang Xiaofan move to his lab. The original medicine sent by Zhang Yi was still under testing, and Zhang Xiaofan starts a plan to create a new group of people to test the new formulae. Ding Qi was thinking about what to say to the emperor of Jiangxi:

-This man is younger than me! I know he is extremely formal and competent and is trying to fight it blindly, but I suspect he may have discovered something...

Zhang Xiaofan gets closer:

-Your Majesty, let's send back another letter, telling him we are willing to cooperate. I'm confident he will understand. 

-I'll do that in a minute. Also, after you finish your report at the end of the day, I'll inform Zhejiang about this idea. 

-Your majesty is wise! 

Ding Qi smiles, and moves out of the lab, going back to his room. He then starts to write a letter for the emperor of Jiangxi:

-His name... his name is... oh, I forgot!

He manages to remember a while later:

-Meng Zhang, yes!

In the meantime, it was only about 10 li for Feng Long to finish his journey with Zhong Kunyi. He was feeling relieved for being back home again, and also eager to know how Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi were doing searching for medicine.
It does not take long for the boat to reach the wharf. Feng Long then bows to the sailors, greeting them for having a safe return trip, despite the dangers faced. Feng Long and Zhong Kunyi then move to the palace nearby. 
Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan are in his lab. Feng Long and Zhong Kunyi arrive next. When Yu Lexuan sees Feng Long, he stops what he was doing and runs to him. Feng Long smiles and opens his arms:

-Your Majesty is back!!!

Yu Lexuan almost knocks down Feng Long and hugs him tightly. Feng Long reciprocates the hug:

-I'm happy to touch you again, Yu Lexuan...

-Feng Long... I was waiting for you. 

Zhong Yi also comes closer to Feng Long, bowing to him:

-I'm happy your majesty returned safely home.

Yu Lexuan allows Feng Long to move freely. He walks a step ahead and helps Zhang Yi to rise:

-Please, Zhang Yi, rise.

Zhang Yi rises. Zhong Kunyi also hugs them:

-Welcome back!

Feng Long smiles:

-Well, how was your research going, Zhang Yi? Has Huangshan replied to the letters?

-Yes, your majesty. We have created a new medicine that is probably more effective, but we should rely on test results from Huangshan. It may take a few days as the disease progresses slowly. 

- I agree, let's give science its time. I'd like to invite you and Yu Lexuan to my room, so we can update what happened since I was on travel.

Feng Long smiles and gets out of the room. His subordinates follow him to his room, getting there, zhang Yi offers some tea:

-Let me serve you some tea. 

-It would be really polite from you, Zhang Yi, please, feel free. - Feng Long smiles

Zhang Yi smiles, turns around, and moves to a nearby space where he can heat up the water and mix the infusions. Feng Long and the others sit at the table:

-I'm so happy to see you all again... I and Zhong Kunyi had a very productive meeting with his Majesty Xia Chunyu from Jiangsu. He is a trusted ally and personal friend of mine, so diplomatically we have always been on the same side. Xia Chunyu will buy fifteen thousand tests from us and maybe cooperate in finding a treatment. His highness Ouyang Ziyu is a busy person, he handles almost all official matters alone and accepted a new trade agreement that will benefit our empires, so we can keep growing together. He is a very talented person and I'd like to put on as little strain as possible on him.

-I was sure your majesty would get a good deal, and maybe have some fun. - Yu Lexuan smirks.

Feng Long blushes:

-Well, aaaann... That's it! And how about you, Zhang Yi? - Feng Long turns his head so he can see him.

-His majesty, as I told you before, I and Yu Lexuan have spent some time studying a new compound to use in the medicine. But, the situation is worsening for Ding Qi, and he's asking for help?

-Really? We can help him!

-Well, kinda... But first, let me serve your majesty some tea.

-Of course, you can do it.

Zhang Yi smiles, and brings the tea, serving it to all. He then sits in front of Feng Long:

-Majesty, this is a risky decision to take, so I waited for your return. Ding Qi, until now, is quarantining and testing everyone getting to Huangshan. He spent a lot of money building all the necessary structures to do it, but it is a cost he will not be able to bear for long. His noble effort has greatly avoided our empire getting more infections, but this is unfair to him. He suggested that all empires should have their own structures to deal with this problem, of course, us, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu. 

Feng Long thinks for a while. No one speaks:

-Well, do you think we can safely reopen our border, Zhang Yi?

-It's a trade-off: the situation as it is now is perfect for us, but the downside is that we are forcing one of our close allies to bear a cost and responsibility we need to bear ourselves. It is deeply unfair to me to see our empire living normally at his expense...

-Your words are right... I was not aware of that, and I agree with you we must alleviate the situation for him. Zhong Kunyi, how would you solve that?

-Well, we could simply compensate him financially, or reopen our borders, but keeping the same level of control. For me, the first option has many advantages, but it also means creating more problems for him. So, what Zhang Yi suggested is better, obviously, it is a compromise, but given that we have the best tools available, I think his majesty should keep everything running by now. -Zhong Kunyi smiles.

-Yes, we have the capacity, but if the epidemic somehow gets out of control, there will be very little we can do other than keep everyone at home for a prolonged period and test all these people regularly, and maybe treat them if we ever develop a good medicine for it in time. 

-It seems that we all agree? Would you like to add something, Yu Lexuan?

-Majesty, it seems to me that we must alleviate it for Ding Qi. It is incredibly unfair, as Zhang Yi said, and we have the knowledge to fight it in a timely and organized manner. I agree with you. - Yu Lexuan smiles.

-Well, so we have reached a common point, that's good! We will inform Ding Qi to not restrict incoming traffic on our empire, as soon as our border controls are adequately equipped. Even if we get some people infected, we must provide some way for them to stay in isolation, keep them healthy and warm until they either recover or we develop a good medicine. I want it fast, but I understand that science has its own pace and how difficult it actually is. 

Feng Long takes his cup of tea, and the others follow him. He enjoys its taste, and praises Zhang Yi:

-That's such a good tea, Zhong Yi!
-I'm happy your majesty is enjoying it. - He smiles.
-You rock! - Yu Lexuan laughs.

After they empty the teapot, they return to their normal activities, except Yu Lexuan, who stays with Feng Long. He takes a brush and a piece of paper to write a letter to Ding Qi, but Yu Lexuan notices that the emperor is suddenly not smiling as before.
As he writes, Yu Lexuan notices that his eyes are a bit watery. He then moves closer to Feng Long, and sits close to him:

-Feng Long, are you ok?

Feng long keeps writing, and his eyes water more. Yu Lexuan reads what he has written, and hugs him:

-Majesty....
-Yu Lexuan...

Feng Long then cries:

-It was not my intention to cause any problems to Ding Qi, It really wasn't... 

Yu Lexuan holds him a bit more closely, and caresses his head:

-Majesty... You have done nothing wrong... Please, don't think you are to be blamed...

Yu Lexuan keeps caressing Feng Long until he feels a bit more relieved:

-Majesty... I'm so happy to hold you in my arms again... Such a short time alone and I really felt how much I love you...
-I... I also love you so much, Yu Lexuan...

Yu Lexuan smiles, and helps Feng Long to rise, hugging him:

-Majesty, did you have a good time with Xia Chunyu? Did he treat you well? 
-Yes... But I was missing you... Zhong Kunyi tried to keep me happy and warm, as he did too...
-Nice to hear that... I do not care what happened, but I care when you are mistreated... Zhang Yi has also kept me happy and warm, as you wish...

Yu Lexuan and Feng Long kiss:

-I was waiting for this moment... it was just a couple of hours, but it was enough time for me to miss you, Feng Long...
-Our life is like a song, we must continue to play together in harmony...

Next, Yu Lexuan helps Feng Long write the letter in a more formal way. When they finish, Feng Long seems to be happy with the result.

Feng Long sometimes gets extremely emotional, especially when Yu Lexuan is close to him. His life is based on inspiration, rather than just mere planning, and having someone that understands him is vital. He easily cries if he finds that he had caused a problem to someone he cares about, and Yu Lexuan helps him realize that it is, most of the time, not his responsibility.  

...

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