Chapter 242

King Yan’s residence was bigger than what they saw from outside, from which there were many servants coming and going. Xu Ran had a dazzling feeling, but he looked extremely calm.

They were really too tired. King Yan had ordered the servants to prepare hot water and rooms for them, one for Baozi and one for Tangtang and Guoguo. However, as Baozi was too little, Xu Ran still let Baozi sleep with them.

A long sound sleep. They arrived at noon and it was already evening when they woke up. They could only see the lights in the yard outside.

The Palace of prince is indeed extraordinary. It was lit up by so many lights as if it was in daytime.

Not long after Xu Ran woke up, Liu Tong was also awake, but Baozi was still asleep.

Liu Tong asked Xu Ran, “Ran, shall I wake up Baozi too?”

Xu Ran looked at the sleeping Baozi, reached out to rub his nose and said, “Call him up! After sleeping for so long, He has to get up and eat something.”

As Liu Tong was calling Baozi, there was a knock at the door. “Second Young Master, Xu Juan, have you got up? Do you need someone to serve you?”

The voice from outside made Xu Ran frown. He had actually forgotten that this was the prince’s residence, where masters were served from eating to getting dressed.

Xu Ran looked at Liu Tong and saw that he was fine, so he replied to the people outside. “No need, we can do it ourselves.”

The man responded, and said, “My name is Gu Yu. I’m here to serve Second Young Master and Xu Juan on the order of the prince. If Second Young Master and Xu Juan have any needs, please call me straightly, I will be guarding at the door.”

When they heard Gu Yu’s words, Xu Ran and Liu Tong were both a little uncomfortable. Although they had bought the servants–Gao Quan and Shao Yu. However, the two had been bought back to help with their work, instead of serving them. The period when Shao Yu took care of Xu Ran was because he was pregnant, but now they were alive and kicking, it was uncomfortable to be served by others.

Fortunately, they didn’t come in. Xu Ran quickly dressed himself up and put on clothes for Baozi as Liu Tong woke him up.

Baozi was still in a daze. He didn’t realize that it was not his home until Xu Ran led him out of the room. Baozi asked Xu Ran, “Dad, where is this?”

Xu Ran explained, “We’ve reached Yanzhou. This is King Yan’s residence. We don’t have to ride on a carriage recently. Are you happy?”

Baozi tilted his head and thought seriously. His action and his expression were identical with his two brothers.

At this, the dazed Baozi shouted happily, “Great! I don’t have to ride on the carriage! Dad, I  don’t like riding carriages at all. It feels terrible, but on the way, I don’t dare tell you that. Dad, let’s take no more carriage in the future, okay?

Baozi sounded a little aggrieved. He must have been in a carriage for too long and felt uncomfortable. Plus that illness, he felt some rejection to the carriage.

However, Xu Ran felt a little guilty. He was just about to comfort Baozi when he felt his hand empty. Baozi let go of his hand and Xu Ran immediately turned back, seeing that Baozi was already in King Yan’s arms.

Xu Ran glared at King Yan unhappily, “King Yan, can you not show up so abruptly every time? It is very scary.”

King Yan smiled, “I’ve been here for a while. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Tongtong and Gu Yu. You didn’t see me because you were distracted.”

Xu Ran looked at Liu Tong, who nodded at him, indicating that what King Yan said was true.

Baozi, who was in King Yan’s arms, was looking at King Yan attentively. He was also very interested in the clothes he was wearing, pulling and plucking it constantly. When he saw King Yan staring at him, Baozi asked curiously, “Who are you?! How do you look the same like my Daddy?”

King Yan seemed to like Baozi very much. He rubbed his head and said, “Who do you think I am?”

Baozi thought seriously and then thought of Daddy’s brother that Xu Ran and the others had always mentioned. He couldn’t help but blurt out, “I remembered. You are Daddy’s brother.”

King Yan smiled, “Are you called Baozi? Smart boy.”

Baozi was not modest at all. Being praised by King Yan, he immediately raised his head arrogantly, which amused King Yan greatly.

The laughter attracted many people. Tangtang, Guoguo, Gao Quan, Shao Yu, Lu Qi and Du Xin all came over.

Lu Qi said to King Yan, “Your Highness, dinner is ready. Please have dinner first!”

It was getting late. In ordinary days, it was time to sleep after dinner. However, King Yan was excited today and didn’t feel hungry at all.

After Lu Qi reminded him, he remembered that it was time to have dinner. He remembered that Liu Tong and the others had been running around for so long, and then slept for one afternoon, so he said, “Let’s go eat first! After dinner, we’ll have a good talk. You’ve slept for the whole afternoon and you won’t be able to sleep at night.”

As soon as he finished, Baozi in his arms yawned and King Yan suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

However, such details were quickly ignored by King Yan. He asked Lu Qi to lead the way and then he followed him with Baozi in his arms.

Of course, Xu Ran and the rest followed behind. Liu Tong must be a little nervous, as he kept holding onto Xu Ran’s hand. Xu Ran stroked his palm with his fingers as a comfort.

King Yan didn’t seem to pay much attention to the etiquette of eating. He dismissed all the servants and ask them to spare the ceremony and help themselves. Even Gao Quan and Shao Yu, who didn’t usually eat around the same table with them, also had seats. As to King Yan, he kept carrying Baozi and would not let him go.

Baozi had a good impression of King Yan, who looked the same as Daddy, and he didn’t stand on ceremony with him at all, instructing him to pick this dish and that.

At first, Xu Ran was worried that King Yan would be annoyed, which might affect Baozi. However, after Baozi ordering him about for a while, King Yan still wore a smile on his face. At this, Xu Ran was relieved.

After dinner, King Yan clearly stated that they needed a good talk.

Perhaps he had nothing to talk about with Xu Ran. He mainly wanted to talk to Liu Tong and his kids.

But Xu Ran knew that Liu Tong couldn’t accept it for the time being, so he said to King Yan, “King Yan, let me talk to you! Let the kids go to rest or have someone show them around the palace. As for Baozi, let Tongtong take care of him! He has slept for the whole day, so it’s good for him to stretch his legs.”

Liu Tong naturally listened to Xu Ran. He walked over to King Yan and carried Baozi, then stood behind Xu Ran.

In this situation, King Yan could not say anything. He had to agree and let Lu Qi show them around the palace. After all, they were only familiar with Lu Qi here and would not be on guard with him.

After they left, King Yan took Xu Ran to his study room, and had servants get him some tea and desserts, and then got ready to sit down and have a good talk with Xu Ran.

Xu Ran came to the point directly with King Yan. “Your Highness, Tongtong and I have been ordinary commoners for more than 30 years. The most we have done is farming. I had an attitude of exclusion more or less towards you–a relatives coming from nowhere. We have no intention of seeking connections with those who have power, instead, we just want to live a peaceful life. If it weren’t for the plague, we wouldn’t have come to Yanzhou. Thank you for giving us six years’ of peaceful life.”

Xu Ran paused and continued, “Before we met you, we had always been suspicious. We didn’t really believe that you were Tongtong’s brother. After all, in the previous ten plus years he had been a commoner, and was really not used to the sudden appearance of a prince brother.

“Please don’t mind me saying so, Your Highness. We have long thought about it. If Your Highness is really Tongtong’s brother and treats us well, then we will acknowledge you. But if it you are not, or treats us badly, then we will consider it as a trip to Yanzhou and go back in a few days. By saying so, I am wondering what’s Your Highness’ attitude?”

King Yan listened to Xu Ran’s words with a smile on his face, without a bit of annoyance. which only made Xu Ran feel unsure.

He was probably the so-called smiling tiger. Xu Ran had a bad feeling.

Xu Ran heard King Yan say, “Now you have seen my look too. Zheng’er and I are indeed brothers. Looks cannot be faked, and your status is of no use to me. I won’t deceive someone who has no value to me.”

“I’ve indeed been looking for Zheng’er for many years. As you said, I agreed to let you live a peaceful life, but the plague is coming. I can’t bear to leave my brother in such a place. Although Yanzhou can’t compare to the south, it is my own territory after all. No matter what I do, it is more casual, isn’t it?”

Xu Xu nodded. “Your Highness, once I accepted that you are Tongtong’s brother, and then thought about what you have arranged for us before, I could also feel how much you have done for Tongtong. As you said, we are of no use to you, and not worth you to put in mind. Although Tongtong decided to follow my decision about whether to acknowledge you or not, I still want to respect his idea. We will stay in the palace for a while. After that, no matter Tongtong acknowledge you or not, we will move out to live. I want to trouble Your Highness find us an proper house nearby.”

King Yan said, “No problem, you are a smart person. I hope you can stay. Although Yanzhou is not a big place, there is great room for you to exhibit your skills. Don’t worry, I won’t separate Zheng Er from you. After all, your kids have been so big.”

“But I will consider other things too. I hope you don’t mind when the time comes.”

King Yan then looked at Xu Ran with a faint smile. Xu Ran felt his scalp tingling.