Chapter 72 - Feng Long has no plan

 

A few hours later, Zhang Yi and Feng Long managed to come back. The returning trip was calm, and Zhang Yi guided the carriage so smoothly that Feng Long almost took a nap. Yu Lexuan greets them when they arrive at the palace, and helps Feng Long to disembark:

-Your majesty, I'm happy you are back home. - He smiles.
-I was thinking about you... I'm happy to be back home too.

Zhang Yi asks Yu Lexuan to help him to transport the heavy containers out of the carriage. He brings a cart to move the heavy loads to his laboratory. Feng Long also helps them:

-Majesty, please, take a rest... It was a long trip, and you seem to be tired. - Zhang Yi moves closer to him.
-No problem, Zhang Yi... I'm fine. I just want to help you prepare this medicine. I want to pour my best wishes on it, something Xia Chunyu rightfully deserves.

Feng Long was feeling really tired, and could barely stand. Yu Lexuan smiles, and helps him:

-I understand your majesty is heavily invested in making it... It is going to be a lot of medicine to be prepared, so I recommend you to do it tomorrow... The trip was long, and you have both done a lot of exercise harvesting all this material... Please, majesty, let's have some rest, and Zhang Yi, you too. - Yu Lexuan smiles.
-I feel so pressed in doing it, Yu Lexuan... And I want to do it fast. I feel that every minute he is exposed, the greater is the risk of him getting infected.
-Nah, majesty, it is only a couple of hours. Tomorrow, you will have even more energy to pour in. - Yu Lexuan hugs him.
-I think you are right... Maybe I should take a break. And you definitely should too, Zhang Yi.
-As your majesty wishes. - Zhang Yi bows to Feng long.
-You may rise... Thank you for letting me participate in it, and also, for keeping me warm and happy all night.

Yu Lexuan raises an eyebrow, and Zhang Yi blushes:

-Well, anyway, we will take our leave. Thank you Zhang Yi for keeping Feng Long safe and happy, I have to pay you in the future for it. - Yu Lexuan smirks.
-Whenever your highness wants...

Yu Lexuan takes Feng Long to his room. He offers a seat to him at the table, and brings some tea and snacks he had prepared, anticipating Feng Long's return:

-This is such a good way of greeting me, Yu Lexuan. - Feng Long smiles.
-I just want to keep you happy, Feng Long... We love each other as no one does.

Yu Lexuan sits beside him:

-I'm happy Zhang Yi did his job... and pretty well, hah? - Yu Lexuan smirks.
-We almost got to full absolute unity... You spent some time with him, I wonder why he got so close. -Feng Long blushes.
-Well... The flesh is weak, Feng Long... I did show him some things, but I didn't expect he would apply it in such a short time... - Yu Lexuan blushes.
-Zhang Yi is such a good student, I can say... But you are also a good teacher, maybe even a master. - Feng long laughs.

Yu Lexuan moves his face close to Feng Long, sweetly staring at his eyes:

-That's because you are my mentor...

They kiss briefly. Yu Lexuan then pours some tea on a small cup, and gives it to Feng Long:

-Majesty, how about our future plans? 
-I usually told anyone that I have no plan... any time, at any point, something will happen and delay any planning. 
-I know... But maybe you should think about it. We are experiencing a period of stability, maybe now we are in an even better position since Huangshan is no longer a threat we used to worry about...
-The only thing that worries me is losing you... I need you to keep me sane. Of course, all of you, but even saying I love you all in the same amount, it is difficult for me not to admit that I love you more, Yu Lexuan... I care a lot about our kingdom and our people, but I'm nothing without you...
-Majesty... I know this is not easy for you... That's why I don't care if you want me more or less. I only want our relationship to be true... I also have some attachments to others, as all we have... 
-Maybe only Zhong Kunyi does not seem to care... I want to make him happy as I do with you, and now with Zhang Yi. 
-He loves you, but he is very private and tends not to expose his feelings too much. Maybe it is time for you to really elevate him to heaven... - Yu Lexuan smiles.
-I can't do it so easily... It might be frustrating to him... - Feng long blushes.
-Not even close, Feng Long! If you want, I can teach him before you try!
-Hahaha, Yu Lexuan... Maybe it is a good idea, and something fun to do. But, yes, I still have no plans... Maybe after we get this epidemic under control all over the empires, we can start to talk more with our neighbors, and really join forces if Anhui ever tries to conquer us for any reason Bai Chongye thinks wort considering.
-Talking about Bai Chongye... It is odd Ding Qi had never sent another letter to us recently... I wonder how Huangshan is dealing with the disease now...
-Yes, in fact, it is some time since he has sent a letter to us. Maybe we can take the initiative and ask him also how things are going in Hefei. Bai Chongye is probably having a hard time receiving complaints from other emperors or maybe even from kings inside Anhui since the disease in his city is in runaway mode. 
-Sure, let's do it. It is too late for the pigeons, so we can send this letter tomorrow morning, before starting making the medicines for Jiangsu.
-Right.

Feng Long and Yu Lexuan write the letter together. In a nearby room, Zhong Kunyi was making some calculations about the Gross Domestic Product. He worked out that it has fallen almost ten points due to the restrictions imposed by Feng Long, but the biggest effect was due to Ding Qi closing the borders of Huangshan, causing economic damages as some freight was unable to enter the empire, or had to move back:

-I told Feng Long it would happen... Not sure if our empire will keep its stability that way... - He thinks. 

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