ABRIWMTHM Chapter 67

Twice changing his words made Shi Xing chuckle, and he gently patted the child’s head, asking, “By the way, I still don’t know your name.”

The child pronounced clearly, “Shu Ning, ‘Shu’ as in ‘expand,’ and ‘Ning’ as in ‘peaceful.'”

Shi Xing nodded and said, “My name is Shi Xing, ‘Shi’ as in ‘time,’ and ‘Xing’ as in ‘star.'”

Shu Ning thought for a moment and addressed him, “Xing Xing Gege.”

Shi Xing found it quite magical how the child addressed him and didn’t refute it, nodding instead.

He asked the little one, “What does everyone usually call you?”

“Everyone calls me Ning Ning.”

“Then Ning Ning, since you don’t want to go back so soon, how about we play a game here for a while?”

“What game?”

Perhaps the soothing of the mental sea made the tiredness on the child’s face less pronounced. As soon as Shi Xing mentioned a game, he immediately perked up.

Unbeknownst to Shu Ning, at some point, Shi Xing had let go of his hand.

However, Shi Xing’s spiritual power was still being released, and the treatment for his mental sea had not yet concluded.

After thinking for a moment, Shi Xing suggested, “How about hide and seek? You hide, and I’ll come find you, okay?”

“Okay~”

“Xing Xing Gege, I’m hiding now.”

With that, the child dashed away with little pounding footsteps.

Shi Xing picked up the ball on the ground, activating his first talent, and followed the child at a safe distance, ensuring Shu Ning couldn’t see him while searching for a place to hide himself.

In reality, Shi Xing didn’t plan to wait until the other party was well-hidden before revealing himself.

Suggesting hide and seek was actually to prevent the child from losing patience and sitting passively during treatment.

For Shi Xing, this game allowed the little one to stay quietly in one place for a time, facilitating his treatment while also keeping the child from feeling bored.

“Ning Ning, are you well-hidden? I’m coming to find you~”

Seeing Shu Ning standing still in one spot, Shi Xing intentionally called out loudly.

Then, he stepped over the place where Shu Ning was hiding.

In reality, Shu Ning was curling up tightly, afraid of being found, but in Shi Xing’s perception, the chaotic energy in the self-generated cracks was tricky. Suddenly, he seemed to drain all that energy, stunned for a moment, as he tried to fill the cracks with his healing spiritual power.

As time passed, after Shi Xing pretended to search around Shu Ning for a while, the first minute fissure gradually closed, and the energy around the seabed began to flow until it was fully sealed.

If Shu Ning’s fissure could integrate, could it mean that Chi Yao’s could too…

Realizing something, Shi Xing’s eyelashes trembled lightly.

In the study, silence lasted for a while before Chi Yao slowly spoke.

When he did speak, his tone was very commanding.

“What identity are you asking from?”

Chang Quan’s brow furrowed, straightening his back, making his already upright posture appear even more impeccable.

“Naturally, as a concerned citizen who prioritizes the stability of the Empire and its interests.”

“If His Majesty thinks I deserve the former Speaker’s identity for serving the Empire for so long, then that’s acceptable.”

Chi Yao lowered his gaze, then raised his eyes again, his ash-gray pupils filled with distant indifference.

Meeting Chang Quan’s eyes for a moment lingered, the old man couldn’t help but feel that His Majesty, even as a child, managed the Empire well, and after all these years, his temperament had been tempered and increasingly sharpened. Under that unwavering gaze, he felt strangely anxious.

Chi Yao didn’t immediately respond to the latter two questions, but instead started from the first one, which Chang Quan deemed unnecessary.

“I brought him here, and the purpose is indeed as you think.”

He openly admitted it, putting Chang Quan in a difficult position.

Chi Yao: “As for the latter two questions, I can inform you how long I can maintain my current state and how long the binding power of the contract can last, but that has nothing to do with my purpose.”

“Chang Quan, I think what you said in your second sentence is very correct. Domestic affairs are the domain of the Senate and the Elders Council, within their legitimate powers.”

His long finger lightly tapped on the armrest of the chair, one tap after another.

Yet his tone was not as gentle as his actions, firmly stating.

“Ren Yan Yong may be obstinate, and the current Speaker Wei Zhen may be conservative, but you, as a former Speaker who has served in the Senate for many years, are different. You are not like them; they are all about balancing situations, choosing the most optimal solution for me when I was too young back then, Chang Laozi, you achieved that position based on your capabilities.”

“They can be moderate because they were chosen that way, but you cannot, nor should you.”

“So they can’t discern clearly; I don’t want to say much, but you should understand that domestic affairs fall within their legitimate powers, and similarly, once Shi Xing becomes my partner, his political rights are also his legitimate powers conferred by the law.”

Chi Yao’s body leaned slightly forward, the Yao Star and Can Star emerging from the clouds, the strong morning light pouring through the window onto his shoulders.

Against the light, as his features blurred for a moment, Chang Quan seemed to see the figure of the former king.

Chi Yao: “I don’t want to forcefully involve Shi Xing in domestic policy decisions; there are many considerations on my part.”

“But that doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“Nor does it mean I need to explain anything for that.”

Each of the three sentences was more oppressive than the last.

As the clouds covered the twin stars again, Chi Yao’s features became clear. Only then did Chang Quan realize that he had unknowingly held his breath, his palms slightly sweating from nerves.

The room fell into silence.

After a long time, Chang Quan lowered his head and said, “I was mistaken, Your Majesty.”

The current Chi Yao, compared to when he retired, could no longer be regarded in the same way.

The Elders Council and the Senate were indeed outdated regarding the current His Majesty. Fortunately, Ren Yan Yong and Wei Zhen’s terms would soon end; otherwise, Chang Quan himself would begin to wonder if the cautious choice from back then had become a burden for the current monarch. For the Empire, had it become an obstruction?

It was uncertain, but it had nothing to do with him anymore.

Chang Quan softened his attitude, taking a step back, “As for the latter two questions, just consider that I never asked.”

Chi Yao showed no surprise.

After a pause, Chang Quan proactively said, “However, regarding supporting His Royal Highness Shi Xing, I’m afraid I must disappoint Your Majesty.”

“It has nothing to do with anything else; it’s my personal issue.”

“I come from a civil service background, as you know, civil servants all have their own faults, and I am no exception.”

“I have always been reserved towards people or matters I don’t understand or have insufficient knowledge of.”

“And just so happens, I do not understand His Royal Highness Shi Xing…”

Shu Ning was still young, his mental sea not wide, and the problem was tricky, but after experiencing the Lu family, Shi Xing handled such detailed issues with his spiritual power quite well.

He wasn’t a novice, and his speed was not slow.

About an hour later, as Shu Ning’s mental sea gradually healed, he finally felt the discomfort that had been enveloping him disappear and started to sense fatigue.

So comfortable, this feeling made one want to sleep.

In the third or fourth round of hiding, Shu Ning rubbed his eyes while nestling against the colorful slide, and when he pressed his body against it, he abruptly felt his consciousness drift away.

He thought of his little bed.

When Shi Xing noticed that Shu Ning was no longer moving, he walked over and saw the sight of the little one with his mouth slightly open, deep in slumber.

Shi Xing couldn’t help but laugh, fearing Shu Ning would catch a chill sleeping up there. He looked around and saw a nanny robot, telling it to carry Shu Ning down. There was a small sofa around the amusement facility, and the robot expertly placed Shu Ning on one of the sofas, then brought a small blanket to drape over the little master.

Shi Xing was also tired. Sleeping was fine, so he sat on a small sofa nearby, quietly completing the remaining treatment.

When Tang Mi, Yan Changyue, and the Chang family’s butler arrived, they saw both a big and a small figure on the soft sofa: the little one was peacefully asleep, while the big one had his eyes closed, pretending to doze, and when approached, they realized he was wide awake.

Shi Xing was slightly taken aback, coming back to his senses, “What’s wrong?”

That was directed at Yan Changyue and Tang Mi; they wouldn’t come here for no reason.

Yan Changyue replied, “His Majesty has finished talking with Old Master Chang and has come out of the study, asking for you.”

Shi Xing understood.

Just as Shu Ning’s treatment was also complete, he was being carried by the butler as Shi Xing stood up, and the group headed towards the main hall.

When they reached the main hall, the scene was different from what he had imagined. Old Master Chang was nowhere to be seen; Madam Chang and her son were entertaining Chi Yao. As Shi Xing approached, Chi Yao’s gaze turned to him, and he stood up as well.

Shi Xing sensed something.

Chi Yao: “The old master is getting on in age; after talking, he felt tired and wanted to rest. We can come back another time.”

Realizing his guess was correct, Shi Xing nodded.

He had just arrived and was about to leave, most likely indicating not much had been accomplished; however, Shi Xing didn’t have high expectations.

On the other side, Shu Ning had been placed on the sofa and woke up. Madam Chang chatted a little with Shu Ning, and upon learning that Shi Xing had been accompanying him to play, she felt very apologetic. Before leaving, she brought Shu Ning to stand in front of Shi Xing and Chi Yao, apologizing, “I’m sorry for letting the little prince accompany Ning Ning for so long; children don’t understand.”

Shi Xing squatted down, pinched Shu Ning’s cheek, and smiled, “Not a problem; I suggested playing with him.”

The little friend, who had just woken up, looked dazed; he didn’t have much reaction when his cheek was pinched. With his big eyes, he stared at Shi Xing, just nodding.

Madam Chang: “Ning Ning’s situation is special; both his parents are busy with work, and usually, it’s just us old folks taking care of him. We also didn’t bring him out today because he’s not feeling well…”

She delicately explained about Shu Ning’s absence during the welcoming phase.

Finally, Madam Chang had Shu Ning say goodbye to Chi Yao and the others.

In a soft and sticky voice, the child said, “Xing Xing Gege, goodbye. Come to play with me again next time; Ning Ning lives right here.”

After that, he looked at Chi Yao, who bent down and smiled at the little one, “My last name is Chi.”

Shu Ning nodded and understood, “Chi Shushu, goodbye.”

Chi Yao was momentarily stunned.

This way of addressing…

It couldn’t be said to be wrong, but compared to Shi Xing, it certainly felt off!

Not noticing the change in Chi Yao’s expression, Shu Ning turned to Yan Changyue and Tang Mi, saying goodbye to each after learning their last names, “Yan Shushu, Tang Shushu, goodbye.”

Shu Ning followed Madam Chang as they escorted everyone to the door, and when they reached there, he reluctantly pulled on Shi Xing, repeating, “Xing Xing Gege, remember to come find me to play~”

Shi Xing replied, “You can come find me too.”

“Really?” Shu Ning’s eyes brightened.

Madam Chang knew that the old man hadn’t agreed to His Majesty’s arrangements, so fearing any further developments, she quickly interrupted, asking Shu Ning not to delay everyone.

Being tugged along, Shu Ning waved goodbye once more, “Xing Xing Gege, goodbye! Chi Shushu, Yan Shushu, Tang Shushu, goodbye, bye~”

For a moment, Chi Yao’s smile stiffened again, but he chose to leave.

A five-year-old child, he couldn’t and shouldn’t.

After sending off Shi Xing and his group, Madam Chang led Shu Ning back, and only then had time to ask about his interactions with Shi Xing.

As Shu Ning was talking, Madam Chang suddenly realized something and asked, “Are you saying that brother used spiritual power?”

Shu Ning nodded, “He’s a really amazing doctor, right? Much better than the ones Grandpa found before. I now…” At this point, he realized something, touched his chest, and exclaimed in surprise, “Grandma, it seems those fissures are gone!”

“Is Ning Ning alright now?”

Madam Chang was shocked, knowing this was beyond her authority to decide, quickly hugging Shu Ning and speeding off to find the old man for a discussion.

After Shu Ning explained everything, Chang Quan repeatedly questioned him and confirmed that Shu Ning’s mental sea cracks had all disappeared. His expression was one of disbelief; he clearly…

Chang Quan’s demeanor turned serious: “Since you’ve accepted his treatment, how could you not pay him? Is this what we usually teach you?”

Shu Ning hurriedly explained, “I told him when I felt it, but Gege said it’s fine. He said he’ll charge the same as a normal doctor, and let Grandpa pay him later. He said, he said crystals and, and…”

Shu Ning couldn’t recall.

Madam Chang: “Was it beast cores?”

Shu Ning quickly nodded.

Chang Quan took a deep breath, struggled to exhale, looking at his grandson again, and asked, “What else did he say regarding treatment?”

Shu Ning thought for a moment and replied, “He said if there’s anything wrong later, I should go find him? He said Grandpa knows where he lives.”

Chang Quan rubbed his temples with two fingers, speechless.

His Royal Highness truly has given him a difficult problem.

Finally managing to step out, Chi Yao decided to take Shi Xing for a tour of the Imperial Capital, with restaurants and attractions already booked early.

However, midway through their flight, Yan Changyue received a communication, his face full of disbelief.

Yan Changyue: “Your Majesty, Old Master Chang wants us to return; he says…”

Both Chi Yao, Shi Xing, and Tang Mi turned to look at Yan Changyue.

Yan Changyue: “That he still has some things he wants to discuss with the little prince.”