Chapter 81
Li Yu, accompanied by Wang Xi and several bodyguards, walked on a small path in Fallen Maple Town. After the battle with the bandits, the people in the town should be very tired, but the people he saw along the way were all full of energy and talking with each other excitedly.
“Young Master, it’s because His Highness won the battle and gave them a lot of confidence!”
Wang Xi praised his master with all his might.
This was the first battle between King Jing and the bandits, and it was also the first battle in Fallen Maple Town over the years where the bandits were defeated. The people in the town were greatly encouraged and felt that the bandits were not invincible as they had imagined, and the Emperor, who was far away, did not give up this piece of land.
This was especially so when the mute prince from the imperial city, King Jing, personally led his men to fight against the bandits. A few commoners witnessed King Jing’s battle strategy with their own eyes, and they vividly described it for everyone. At that time, when the bandits were lured into the town, the bodyguards who followed the King always appeared in unexpected places and gave the bandits a heavy blow. King Jing alone, as if he was possessed by the God of War, personally beheaded three bandits. Thus, King Jing’s reputation for being good at fighting spread.
It turned out that before King Jing arrived at the Western Frontier, the people heard that the King who was coming to the Imperial City was a mute with a cruel temper, so the people had a bad impression of King Jing. Later, King Jing publicly hanged Squire Wu, who was actually a bandit. Although the people felt relieved, they were more afraid of being implicated, so they only hoped that the King would leave as soon as possible. However, they did not expect that the King would not show himself and even defeat the bandits who had troubled them for many years. The people’s attitude towards King Jing changed. At this moment, they felt that the King was their guardian. As long as King Jing was here, Fallen Maple Town would be safe!
The person whose attitude changed the most was the Mayor. Before the fight with the bandits, the Mayor was full of worries. After the fight with the bandits, the Mayor wished he could tell the people in the town every day about the benefits of His Highness King Jing. He felt that King Jing was much better than those useless officials in the past.
When Li Yu heard the people praise King Jing, he was even happier than when they praised him. Although he was the one who gave King Jing the idea and mentioned the tunnels and traps, he didn’t know how to use troops. After a few simple words, King Jing actually understood.
Their luck was not bad. It just so happened that the Town of Maple really did have a few very short tunnels, which were originally dug by the common people in the past for fear of being attacked by the bandits. King Jing made use of these existing tunnels and ordered the imperial bodyguards to dig many new tunnels overnight. He also buried many traps in the places where the bandits had to pass through, causing the bandits to suffer a lot and their strength to be greatly damaged.
Apart from that, King Jing also personally went to the battlefield to boost the morale of the soldiers and lead the guards to fight flexibly. King Jing played a huge role in their victory. Li Yu was also fortunate enough to witness another form of mine warfare and tunnel warfare in this ancient era.
When they went to fight the bandits, King Jing told Li Yu about it and asked Li Yu to hide with the common people and that he would send people to protect him. However, Li Yu refused. He wanted to find a hidden place to watch the battle, and King Jing satisfied his request. Li Yu’s eyes followed King Jing closely throughout the battle. He watched the young man who had lost the ability to speak fight bravely. He was unstoppable, and the bloody scene no longer frightened him.
He was also constantly worried about losing him, but he knew that King Jing had to personally participate in this battle to establish his power. This was the first step on the road to the throne for King Jing. Although there was no blood feud like in the original book, some people were born with an innate ability.
— — It was the ability to become an invincible ruler.
“Sir, please wait. May I ask if you are one of King Jing’s men?”
An old woman with a child tried to stop Li Yu.
In the battle just now, many bandits were caught, and the town’s common people were checked one by one by the mayor. There was no suspicion. Li Yu had guards and Wang Xi with him, and he trusted these common people, so he stopped.
“Grandma, I am one of King Jing’s attendants. May I ask what can I do for you?” Li Yu asked in a gentle voice.
The old woman confirmed that she had found the right person. Trembling, she took out a flower garland from her sleeve and handed it to him, saying, “Please help me give this to King Jing. This is a flower garland I made myself. Thank him for saving me and my grandson.”
Li Yu was a little stunned, “What???”
The old woman told him that during the battle with the bandits, many common people were transferred to a safe place. The old woman’s grandson was naughty and went missing. In order to find her grandson, the old woman missed the opportunity to be transferred and didn’t know where to go. She could only cry on the side of the road and was found by King Jing.
“… He asked the guards to help me find my child and send us to a safe place. That’s why we are safe.”
The old woman knew that if it were someone else, they might not care about an old woman like her and her child. Therefore, she was very grateful and wanted to thank King Jing.
Li Yu, “…”
Li Yu really didn’t expect that the disabled tyrant would do such a good thing. Could it be that because of his little butterfly, the tyrant had the tendency to become a benevolent ruler?
Li Yu smiled and said, “Grandma, don’t be so polite. I will definitely help you pass on the message.”
The old woman was very grateful. Li Yu asked Wang Xi to give her and her grandson a red envelope. She proudly puffed out her chest and felt sweeter than drinking honey.
After walking around and seeing enough, Li Yu returned to the mansion with the flower garland sent by the old woman.
King Jing was taking off his armor. Li Yu’s eyes lit up and he rushed forward, saying, “Your Highness, wait a moment. Let me touch you!”
King Jing seemed to have thought of something. His face suddenly turned slightly red and he lowered his hand.
Li Yu carefully touched the shiny silver armor on his body. He knew that he had already wiped it hastily and tried his best not to bring the bloodstains in front of him.
Sometimes Li Yu felt that he was a little pretentious. When you liked someone, didn’t you have to accept everything about them? For example, he couldn’t speak, he could turn into a fish, and the bloodstains on his armor were all a part of him.
Avoiding was a kind of consideration, but accepting was also a kind of consideration.
“Your Highness, in the future … I will try my best to adapt.
It’s okay, “Li Yu said gently as he took the initiative to help him take off his armor.
At first, King Jing didn’t understand what he was saying. Halfway through taking off his armor, he came to his senses and hugged Li Yu and kissed him.
The armor was too thin. Li Yu felt a little pain, but he still hugged him tightly.
After taking off his armor, Li Yu wanted to help him change into a casual robe. King Jing often helped him put on his clothes, so Li Yu felt that it was okay to help King Jing this time.
However, as soon as he moved, King Jing quickly shook his head.
Li Yu was confused.
I’ve already helped His Highness change his clothes. Is His Highness unhappy?
His Highness King Jing wasn’t unhappy. Instead, he took out a red robe with gold trimmings from the wardrobe and handed it to Li Yu with a smile.
King Jing meant that Xiaoyu wanted to help him put on his clothes. This was good, but the clothes didn’t fit him.
Li Yu was confused as he helped King Jing change his clothes. This was probably King Jing’s most gorgeous outfit. It was red with gold patterns, and there were pearls embedded in the jade belt. After putting it on and tying it with a red hairband, it looked almost like a wedding.
Li Yu was secretly laughing when he saw King Jing take out a red hairband and a jade comb and handed it to him.
Li Yu was speechless.
Li Yu understood what he meant. He smiled and said, “My hairband is very ugly. Is it okay?”
King Jing still nodded.
Li Yu tried his best to tie a not-so-ugly hairband for him.
Finally, after tidying up her boyfriend, Li Yu said excitedly, “I want to change too!”
Li Yu had a new set of clothes that King Jing had recently made for him in his storage space. King Jing’s principle was that no matter where he was, his wife must have enough clothes. Before he left the Imperial City, he had rushed to make a lot of clothes for Li Yu. In addition to the clothes that he had made before, he could change into a new set of clothes every day.
Li Yu especially liked the new set of clothes that King Jing took out.
It was rare that King Jing didn’t embellish the new set of clothes with too many jewels. Instead, he wore a solemn red silk robe. The robe was embroidered with a pattern of fish playing with peonies. The peonies were woven with golden thread, and there were layers upon layers, from the hem of the robe to the waist. A lively carp was wrapped around his waist, sniffing at the peonies.
The embroidery on this robe was outstanding. Every petal of the peonies was delicate and beautiful. The fish’s body was silver with a hint of gold, and the fish’s scales seemed to be shining.
Li Yu used to have a silver robe that was very close to his fish body. This robe was even better. It seemed to be a perfect replica of his fish body, and even the size was exactly the same. Li Yu fell in love with it at first sight.
Because King Jing was wearing a red robe, Li Yu also wanted to wear a couple’s outfit. He had also worn it at Heir Ye’s wedding.
After Li Yu changed into the new set of clothes, King Jing tacitly tied his hair up and tied a belt with a fish pattern around his waist.
After dressing up, the two of them looked at each other and saw the amazement in each other’s eyes.
“What, what should we do next?” Li Yu accidentally stuttered.
King Jing smiled and put his hands into his sleeves. Li Yu: “…”
Li Yu was screaming in his heart. It’s coming, it’s coming. This man is going to do a magic trick again!
What is it this time? Is it a note with mushy words of love, or is it a little goldfish that wants his attention?
— — It’s neither.
King Jing took out a stone from his sleeve and put it in Li Yu’s palm.
Li Yu looked at it carefully. This stone was in the shape of a fish, and it looked very familiar.
Wasn’t this the fish-shaped stone he had brought to King Jing’s jade statue at the bottom of the huge fish pond in King Jing’s residence?!
He remembered that when he was ill, he made a fuss in a daze, and the stone and jade statue disappeared without a trace. He thought that they had been swept to some corner at the bottom of the pond. It was a pity. However, Li Yu later had a boyfriend, so he didn’t pay much attention to it. He didn’t expect that the fish-shaped stone would be in King Jing’s residence.
“How did Your Highness find it?”
Li Yu played with the stone in surprise. He hadn’t played with it in human form yet.
King Jing only wanted to give this stone to him. As for how he found it, King Jing didn’t want to talk about it. Otherwise, it would take a long time just to explain.
Li Yu fiddled with the patterns on the stone. Suddenly, he raised his bright eyes and asked, “Is that jade statue also in Your Highness’s hands?”
Jade statue?
King Jing quickly realized what it was. He originally wanted to keep it secretly, but because Li Yu wanted it, he took it out and put it in Li Yu’s palm.
Li Yu had the jade statue in one hand and the fish-shaped stone in the other. He placed the two items together and smiled widely.
King Jing silently looked at the fish for a while. After Li Yu put it away, he turned around and took out a wine jar from a sealed box.
Li Yu: “…”
Even through the lid, Li Yu could smell the aroma of plum wine. He didn’t know that King Jing had brought this thing from the Imperial City. He laughed out loud, “Did Your Highness move something from the Imperial Residence?”
King Jing shook his head and opened the wine jar with a silver knife.
This was an unopened jar of wine. As soon as it was opened, the rich aroma wafted out, making Li Yu salivate.
King Jing changed his usual practice of not letting him touch wine and took out two jade cups.
These two wine cups were a little strange. There was a fish carved on each cup, one on the left and one on the right. When they were put together, they formed a perfect circle.
King Jing filled the two cups and handed one to Li Yu.
Li Yu was just about to put the wine cup to his lips when he secretly glanced at King Jing.
King Jing was also holding the wine cup, but he didn’t move. Instead, he stretched out his arm.
Li Yu suddenly understood and put his arm on King Jing’s arm instead.
The two of them intertwined their arms and drank the wine cup.
“… This wine is so fragrant.”
Li Yu felt that it was even better than the first time he drank it.
King Jing smiled. He decided that he would tell the fish about it later. Before he left the imperial city, he had stolen the wine from the old Duke Chengen. It was their wedding wine.
Soon, he changed his clothes, drank the wine, and …
He almost forgot about the old granny’s garland!
Li Yu handed the garland he brought back to King Jing and briefly told him the old granny’s story.
“… Was it really done by Your Highness?”
Although he knew it couldn’t be fake, Li Yu was still surprised. After all, other than saving the fish, King Jing had never done anything like this.
King Jing nodded slightly awkwardly. It was true, but there was a little misunderstanding.
King Jing didn’t care how the people of the Western Frontier thought of King Jing. The reason why he saved the old woman was not because he pitied her. He was used to being alone since he was a child and rarely cared about others. Even now, his heart was still cold. It was just that Xiaoyu cared about the people and didn’t want them to be hurt. He was just fulfilling Xiaoyu’s wish.
King Jing didn’t want to explain, so the garland Li Yu handed to him was put back on Li Yu’s head with a smile. Xiaoyu was the one who accepted this gratitude.
Li Yu looked at the garland playfully. He smiled and picked a red flower from the garland and put it on King Jing’s chest.
He was wearing red, drinking wine, and hanging flowers. He was definitely the groom!
Li Yu couldn’t help but think of the main task “Princess” and couldn’t help but feel thirsty.
“Your Highness, are you tired?” Li Yu asked with a red face.
King Jing was afraid that he would miss out on this fish again, so he used the energy that could kill ten more bandits and shook his head vigorously.
Li Yu: “Ah? I’m not tired … Why don’t we talk for a while? ”
King Jing, who felt that they were getting further and further away from the main topic, was speechless.
It was a rare opportunity. King Jing took Xiaoyu’s hand and pulled him closer.
His lips moved closer. It was a kiss filled with the fragrance of wine and lingering emotions.
Li Yu was immersed in the kiss. With a low cry, King Jing lifted him up by the waist. He seemed to have a premonition of what was going to happen, so he just symbolically struggled.
King Jing brought him to the bed with the red mattress, which was made by Li Yu secretly a while ago.
He glanced at the mattress, feeling shy and happy. King Jing personally tied up his hair and very patiently helped him to untie it.
On this night where he was destined to lose something, Li Yu felt that he should conclude with some sweet words.
He had thought of this thousands of times. It would be best if it was very interesting, so that King Jing couldn’t stop and would never forget it.
He remembered that King Jing liked to suck money and couldn’t forget it. Li Yu was excited. He imitated the tone of the fairy in the novel and teased him, “My husband, we carp fairies also want to suck money …”
