Yuan Rutan lowered his head and glanced across the table. His gaze fell upon the half plate of fried small yellow fish. Reaching forward, he gently pushed the plate toward Fu Sui.
The reason there was only half a plate left was not because he disliked them. On the contrary, that was precisely the dish he loved most.
Each little fish was coated in a thin layer of batter, fried until golden and crisp on the outside, tender within and then drizzled with the restaurant’s secret sauce. The combination had shocked Yuan Rutan’s taste buds the very first time he tried it.
That was why he had been eating slowly, savoring just a tiny piece every now and then. Yet now, with half a plate still left, he pushed all of it before Fu Sui.
Fu Sui’s low and steady voice sounded. “Aren’t these the ones you like best?”
Yuan Rutan’s heart skipped a beat. How could Fu Sui tell what he liked? After all, he had tasted every dish on the table.
Instinctively, Yuan Rutan gave a little flick of his tail before he could stop himself and answered earnestly, “They are delicious. You should try one.”
But he had forgotten that he was in human form. His dragon tail appeared right behind him, swaying lightly in the air.
The attendants standing nearby gasped in alarm. Only then did Yuan Rutan realize that his tail was showing. Flustered, he hurried to draw it back.
From above came a gentle, reassuring voice. “There is no need to restrain yourself. Your tail is a part of who you are. Keeping it hidden all the time must be uncomfortable.”
The words eased Yuan Rutan’s nerves. It had been a long time since he had allowed his tail to appear while in human form.
The man before him was the Emperor himself. Since even the Emperor did not mind him revealing it, perhaps he no longer needed to hide in front of the humans at all.
Still uncertain, Yuan Rutan lifted the tip of his tail slightly and traced a small circle in the air.
Fu Sui’s laughter was soft and pleasant. “Your tail is quite agile.”
Yuan Rutan’s eyes curved with a smile. “Sometimes I even fall asleep holding it.”
Fu Sui gave a quiet hum, reached out his chopsticks and picked up one of the little yellow fish that Yuan Rutan liked so much. Yet as soon as he took a bite, a bone stuck in his throat.
Eunuch Xu Yongde panicked and rushed to fetch vinegar. Yuan Rutan leaned forward and exhaled a faint breath of dragon energy. Fu Sui’s complexion gradually returned to normal.
Fu Sui sighed with regret. “The flavor of these small fish is exquisite but unfortunately I have never been good at eating fish.”
Yuan Rutan blinked. “That’s easy to fix,” he said confidently. “I can prepare a fish without bones for you.”
With that, he popped two small yellow fish into his mouth. After a brief moment, he leaned forward and spat out two perfect fish skeletons, the bones neatly intact.
Fu Sui looked genuinely intrigued. “That’s quite a skill. But how do you remove the flesh?”
Yuan Rutan froze, his expression awkward. “I meant to spit out the meat,” he admitted carefully, “but I’m so used to spitting out the bones instead.”
Fu Sui’s eyes narrowed. “Then the fish meat…”
Yuan Rutan answered in a whisper, “It’s in my stomach now.”
Fu Sui rubbed his forehead, helpless laughter escaping his lips. He pushed the plate back toward Yuan Rutan. “You eat it. I don’t care much for fish.”
Yuan Rutan suddenly realized how improper it was to debone fish with his mouth and felt a wave of regret. Still, he was skilled at removing fish bones with his claws as well, after all, he had four claws and thirty-six fingers in total.
He could swear that not a single human in the entire empire, no matter how dexterous, could debone fish faster than he could.
The dragon carriage rolled into the palace. Guards, eunuchs and maids all knelt as it passed.
Yuan Rutan was led to bathe. A young eunuch respectfully presented a tray of nine crystal bottles. “Your Majesty, please choose a fragrance.”
Yuan Rutan leaned closer and sniffed each bottle in turn before selecting one with a cool, refreshing scent.
The eunuch poured two drops into the steaming bath. Yuan Rutan inhaled deeply, then said, “Add two more drops.”
The eunuch hesitated but obeyed.
Yuan Rutan sniffed his arm. The fragrance was faintly pleasant but he wanted it stronger. “Can we add two more?” he asked.
The eunuch wiped the sweat from his brow. “Too much will make the scent overpowering.”
But Yuan Rutan’s inherited memories surfaced. He remembered, from hundreds of thousands of years ago, great gatherings of dragons where countless heavy fragrances mingled until even dragon heads swam in dizziness.
Now, soaking in the fragrant water, Yuan Rutan thought to himself, If I were back in those days, surely I would be the most fragrant dragon of them all.
After the bath, Eunuch Xu Yongde personally delivered his garments. The robes were pure white with golden embroidery. A string of jade beads hung from the collar and the fabric was soft and light as clouds.
Yuan Rutan had never worn such fine clothing before. As he passed a corridor, he secretly conjured a water mirror and caught sight of himself. His reflection revealed a dragon far more handsome and refined than he remembered.
Xu Yongde led him into the Imperial Study. Fu Sui was there, reviewing memorials. When he saw Yuan Rutan enter, he gestured for him to sit across from him.
Xu Yongde served tea to the Emperor and then brought a porcelain bowl filled with sweet rice wine dumplings to Yuan Rutan.
“This was freshly made for you by the imperial kitchen,” he said respectfully.
Yuan Rutan swallowed as the aroma reached his nose. But remembering how much he had already eaten on the way in the dragon carriage, he restrained himself and turned to speak of business.
He repeated his earlier request regarding his position in the government. Xu Yongde listened, eyes wide and dazed.
Yuan Rutan pressed his lips together, his gaze pure and sincere. “Aside from granting me the ninth–rank post, fifty taels of silver and daily pastries,” he began softly, “the court must also send me three plates of small yellow fish every month, five catties of marinated beef, one jar of sweet drink, one meal each of braised pork, four–joy meatballs and roast chicken.”
His voice grew smaller and smaller as he spoke, the confidence draining away.
Everyone in the study fell silent.
Eunuch Xu Yongde’s grip tightened on his whisk. His lips parted but no sound came out, his expression utterly blank.
Just that? He could scarcely believe it. Even if Yuan Rutan had demanded a thousand times as much, the court would have given it without hesitation!
Fu Sui remained quiet for a long while. Finally, he looked at Yuan Rutan and asked gently, “Everything you desire seems to be food. Is there nothing else you want?”
The question struck directly at Yuan Rutan’s heart. He suddenly realized how shallow his demands sounded. After a pause, he thought of something and asked tentatively, “Can the court also make me a dragon–shaped piece of wood every half year?”
Fu Sui tilted his head slightly. “A dragon–shaped piece of wood?”
Yuan Rutan nodded seriously. “Yes. About two feet long would be enough. If possible, it would be better if the wood could be carved with scales and the markings of a dragon.”
Fu Sui’s tone was curious. “And what would you use such a thing for?”
Yuan Rutan’s shoulders drooped slightly as he murmured, “I want to hold it when I sleep.”
For a brief moment, silence filled the room. Then Yuan Rutan felt the Emperor’s gaze linger on him, calm yet thoughtful. After a moment, Fu Sui gave a small nod. “Very well,” he agreed.
Encouraged, Yuan Rutan added softly, “There is one more thing. The government must also provide me with three Snow Mountain Pills every month.”
Fu Sui raised an eyebrow. “Snow Mountain Pills?”
Yuan Rutan nodded quickly, afraid the Emperor might refuse. “I know they are usually rewarded to meritorious officials,” he explained. “But I am a dragon. I can bring rain to the people. If you give me three Snow Mountain Pills every month, that will be enough.”
His fingers curled slightly as he looked into Fu Sui’s eyes. “Not long ago, Yanzhou suffered a terrible drought. The rain that came, that was me. That should count as a contribution, shouldn’t it? Could you perhaps give me the Snow Mountain Pills from that time?”
Fu Sui’s expression shifted subtly. He straightened and turned to look at Xu Yongde.
Xu Yongde bowed and immediately left the study.
Fu Sui motioned for Yuan Rutan to come closer. His voice was low. “So it was you.”
After a pause, he asked, “What made you decide to bring rain?”
Yuan Rutan lowered his gaze to the wooden table and replied quietly, “They were pitiful.”
Fu Sui watched him for a long moment before saying, “I imagine you must have been in great difficulty yourself. Bringing rain, did it harm you?”
Yuan Rutan’s voice grew faint, his tone tinged with weariness. “I almost had to spend decades lying in a muddy puddle eating earthworms.”
A large, warm hand came down to gently stroke the top of his head. Fu Sui sighed softly. “Good child.”
Yuan Rutan blinked in surprise and tilted his head up, staring at the calloused hand resting on his hair. The light in his eyes flickered like rippling water.
Xu Yongde returned, carrying a finely patterned brocade box. Kneeling, he opened it before Yuan Rutan. Inside lay thirty round, snow–white pills that gleamed faintly under the lamplight.
The moment the box was opened, Yuan Rutan’s heart tightened sharply. The fragrance that poured out was richer and more intoxicating than anything he had ever smelled, even stronger than the Snow Mountain Pills he had once stolen from a confectionery shop.
His pupils dilated. Iridescent scales shimmered faintly across his cheeks and in an instant, four new fingers appeared on his hands. The golden scales on his forearms glittered with an almost blinding brilliance.
A wave of hunger surged through him so fierce that it nearly drowned his mind. He felt as if he were about to transform into his dragon form right there. He tried desperately to suppress the urge but his stomach twisted and roared like a storm.
He had never been full in his life.
Not in the dragon carriage earlier, not even in childhood when he had devoured the fish of an entire lake. No matter how much he ate, no matter how many hundreds of catties of food he forced down, he could never quell that gnawing hunger.
Delicious food could delight the tongue but it could never satisfy his stomach.
Hungry. So hungry. And the pills before him smelled so unbearably good.
His pupils narrowed into vertical slits. He heard Fu Sui’s calm voice beside him, saying that the entire box of Snow Mountain Pills belonged to him.
At that, Yuan Rutan seized the brocade box in both hands, lifted one shining pill and placed it into his mouth.
The moment it reached his stomach, warmth spread like molten nectar, coating every inch of his insides.
His pupils unfocused. For the first time, the tightness in his belly seemed to ease.
He swallowed another pill. It melted instantly, turning into a sweet elixir that filled half his stomach.
Another pill and at last, he was full. Completely, blissfully full.
From the day he was born, he had never known this feeling.
His eyes rolled upward, his face softened in pure contentment and before anyone could speak, he slumped backward, unconscious.
Fu Sui caught him quickly, holding the lightweight youth in his arms. His eyes darkened as he turned a sharp gaze on Xu Yongde.
The eunuch broke out in a cold sweat and dropped to his knees. “Your Majesty! The Snow Mountain Pills were taken directly by this old servant. No one else has touched them!”
Fu Sui made a faint sound of acknowledgment, his anger fading slightly. He listened closely and heard Yuan Rutan’s steady, even breathing.
He looked down at the sleeping face nestled in his arms, his brows drawing together.
Asleep? he wondered.
A soft couch was brought into the Imperial Study. Yuan Rutan was placed upon it, covered with a quilt.
Fu Sui continued reviewing memorials until deep into the night. From time to time, he looked up and saw Yuan Rutan’s small form curled tightly under the blanket. Without thinking, he ordered another layer to be added.
After a while, he stopped. There were already three quilts piled on top of the youth.
At first, he had thought Yuan Rutan was curled up because of the cold. But now he realized, it was simply how he slept.
Fu Sui worked a while longer until the hour reached midnight. Then Xu Yongde returned quietly. “Your Majesty, the Chengtian Hall has been prepared.”
The Chengtian Hall was adjacent to Fu Sui’s own sleeping quarters, both located at the very heart of the palace.
The hall had stood empty for many years, gathering dust but now it had been thoroughly cleaned.
Xu Yongde bowed deeply. “Shall I have the young lord carried there to rest?”
Fu Sui gazed out the window at the dimming dusk, then rose to his feet.
“Enough.”
He stepped toward the couch and bent down, lifting the young man for the first time.
The boy was slender, his bones faintly sharp beneath the light weight. As Fu Sui straightened, the golden dragon tail behind him swayed downward, the tip almost brushing the floor.
Xu Yongde startled in alarm.
Fu Sui instructed him to pick up the tail and coil it carefully around his arm.
And so, with the youth cradled in his embrace, Fu Sui walked through the moonlit corridor. The black and gold robes of a dragon swayed softly with every step. Eunuchs followed at a respectful distance as he made his way, step by step, into the Hall of Heavenly Presence.
In his dreams, Yuan Rutang fell into a warm embrace.
The arms around him were broad and strong, hot and firm. A steady hand supported his back, keeping him from slipping down. Though Yuan Rutang slept in a daze, his expression gradually softened, the tension melting from his brows.
Where was he? What was he doing?
This warmth, he had never known such a thing. It felt as if he had just broken free from the confines of an eggshell or perhaps as though he were once again in the heart of a rabbit’s burrow in winter, pressed against soft fur and the gentle heat of life all around him.
He liked this feeling very much, though he did not know what to call it.
After a long time, a word surfaced in his mind.
Hug.
He was being held. No one had ever held him before. So this was what a hug was, someone’s body wrapped around his, surrounding him, warming him completely from the outside in.
Who was holding him?
A father? An elder? A clansman?
He could feel the affection he had longed for all his life. His head burrowed deeper into that chest, seeking more of it, greedily drawing in the warmth.
The other person tightened their hold, one hand stroking his head.
Yuan Rutang thought anxiously, No, not just the head.
He grew restless, a flicker of instinct flashing through his dream. A pair of small dragon horns appeared on his head and he pushed them insistently into the other’s palm.
Touch them too. Touch the horns.
The other did as he wished, running a hand gently over the delicate horns, again and again.
Then the warmth shifted. He was being set down upon a soft bed and the comforting heat began to withdraw.
Yuan Rutang did not want to let it go. He clutched at the edge of the other’s robe, refusing to release it.
Once again, that large hand came to rest on his dragon horns, rubbing them in slow, soothing motions.
He heard a voice then, deep, steady, carrying a faint ache of pity.
“With him like this, I cannot begin to imagine how much he has suffered.”
The voice was soft, almost a murmur yet Yuan Rutang heard it as clearly as if it had been spoken beside his ear.
Yes, the dragon had suffered so very much.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Behind every translated chapter is someone who probably needs caffeine.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Little DragonChapter 2 · Selling FishChapter 3 · DraughtChapter 4 · Giving LifeChapter 5 · MeritsChapter 6 · Dragon can summon Rain?!Chapter 7 · Wicked Dragon?Chapter 8 · Dragon likes sweetChapter 9 · Dragon WineChapter 10 · Snow Mountain ElixirChapter 11 · The official forced the dragon to rebelChapter 12 · Ministers kneel down and confess their sinsChapter 13 · Court struggle, faith is the dragonChapter 14 · Why do others have auspicious signs, but I don’t?Chapter 15 · Corrupt officialsChapter 16 · The dark side of officialdomChapter 17 Part 1 · Transforming into a golden dragon in full view of all!Chapter 17 Part 2 · Transforming into a golden dragon in full view of all!Chapter 18 · Wrath of the True DragonChapter 19 · Give him a ninth-rank official position!Chapter 20 · The days of being loved by Longlong have begunChapter 21 · Pamper the little dragon, finally full!Chapter 22 · It’s perfectly normal for humans to like dragonsChapter 23 · Avenge Longlong against corrupt officialsChapter 24 · Is being an official like the Dragon King difficult?Chapter 25 · Dragon-shaped woodChapter 26 · Emperor felt the vibrancy of lifeChapter 27 · Do you like the obedient and affectionate little dragon?Chapter 28 · Your Majesty’s PastChapter 29 · A ray of light in a noisy worldChapter 30 · Let’s give the dragon a lake!Chapter 31 · Dragon, don’t run aroundChapter 32 · YaunBaoChapter 33 · Recruiting soldiers and buying horsesChapter 34 · Expand Dragon armyChapter 35 · Longlong is in a dilemmaChapter 36 · Being a king is difficultChapter 37 · Attended the morning court session.Chapter 38 · Secretly feeding the dragonChapter 39 · The restless little golden dragonChapter 40 · Your Majesty foreshadowed thisChapter 41 · Fostering teacher student bondsChapter 42 · Now that the dragon has an official positionChapter 43 · If a dragon wants to become an official, why not touch it?Chapter 44 · Longlong enters officialdomChapter 45 · The Emperor’s disciple?Chapter 46 · Long day’s laborChapter 47 · Being a dragon is comfortableChapter 48 · Thank you, YuanbaoChapter 49 · Very sleepyChapter 50 · The Dragon Who Saves the WorldChapter 51 · Strange storiesChapter 52 · Dragon God saying it wanted to eat peach crystal cakesChapter 53 · The tree is aliveChapter 54 · We can just hold a family feastChapter 55 · What kind of worship?Chapter 56 · Don’t be naughtyChapter 57 · Why does Teacher always avoid my human formChapter 58 · I will be an indifferent learning machineChapter 59 · Jinlong made a fortuneChapter 60 · Ten thousand taelsChapter 61 · FamilyChapter 62 · Will you accompany the dragon?Chapter 63 · What did you hunt, sir?Chapter 64 · From fifth rank to proper fourth rankChapter 65 · Orange PeelChapter 66 · Great Xuan may have enough to eatChapter 67 · Poisoned GrainsChapter 68 · The balance of the mortal world is about to changeChapter 69 · Teacher’s lap truly was very comfortable.Chapter 70 · Caught the little dragonChapter 71 · Only he alone could see that golden lightChapter 72 · Great King must not declineChapter 73 · The top scholarChapter 74 · I do not like other defying meChapter 75 · Great Xuan truly has quite a number of martial expertsChapter 76 · What was there to fear?Chapter 77 · Then Teacher can raise the dragonChapter 78 · Little Dragon Steals Peaches.Chapter 79 · Resentment and Poison.Chapter 80 · Male PartnerChapter 81 · How about choosing a human?Chapter 82 · Young Lord Zhen has a friendChapter 83 · Morning DewChapter 84 · Earth DragonsChapter 85 · Greetings, Your MajestyChapter 86 · Then what am I allowed to do?Chapter 87 · What exactly Happened?Chapter 88 · Praise The golden Dragon!Chapter 89 · ComplexionChapter 90 · Gift is almost readyChapter 91 · Surely Sir would no longer refuse himChapter 92 · Seven YearsChapter 93 · She is really just a childChapter 94 · Good YuanbaoChapter 95 · Ten Thousand year old JadeChapter 96 · They were overwhelmed with griefChapter 97 · Villain: So what if I use magic?Chapter 98 · The Dragon Clan MeetingChapter 99 · The Big reveal!Chapter 100 · The prototype of His MajestyChapter 101 · Autumn HuntChapter 102 · This painting was created by the Emperor’s consortChapter 103 · They gave themselves away and caught the plush rabbit doctor.Chapter 104 · The Rabbit gangChapter 105 · The scars on the fox spirit’s handsChapter 106 · Wang JinzhongChapter 107 · I don’t believe the White Tiger doesn’t protect its foodChapter 108 · Karmic SinChapter 109 · Yuanbao, would you take me a thousand li away?Chapter 110 · Pear FrostChapter 111 · If Yuanbao ever loses sight of the road ahead, then come find meChapter 112 · Let’s take a step at a time..Chapter 113 · The imperial marriage was announced to the public.Chapter 114 · The army, navy, and air force are preparing to attack the Yujing River.Chapter 115 · The attack on Yujing River-humans should not spread rumors!Chapter 116 · King Golden Dragon ascends the throneChapter 117 · Sir, would you like a bowl of dragon soup?Chapter 118 · Wedding celebrationChapter 119 · Establish the Demon RealmChapter 120 · Lord of the Demon RealmChapter 121 · Flourishing and decliningChapter 122 · The Ling Dynasty was defeated, and father and son fought amongst themselvesChapter 123 · The gentleman’s is dragon-themedChapter 124 · People from HeavenChapter 125 · The truth behind the White TigerChapter 126 · Azure Dragon, WarChapter 127 · A great war is about to break outChapter 128 · Victory in the great battleChapter 129 · Side Story (1)Chapter 130 · Side Story (2)Chapter 131 · Side Story (3)Chapter 132 · Side Story (4)Chapter 133 · Side Story (4)Chapter 134 · Side Story (5)Chapter 135 · Side Story (6)Chapter 136 · Side story (7)Chapter 137 · Side Story (8)Chapter 138 · Side Story (9)Chapter 139 · Side Story (10)Chapter 140 · Side Story (11)Chapter 141 · Side Story (12)Chapter 142 · Side Story (13)Chapter 143 · Side Story (14)Chapter 144 · Side Story (15)Chapter 145 · Side Story (16)Chapter 146 · Side Story (17)Chapter 147 · Side Story (18)Chapter 148 · Side Story (19)Chapter 149 · Side Story (20)Chapter 150 · Side Story (21)Chapter 151 · Side Story (22)