Warm breaths lingered softly around him. Only then did Yuan Rutang truly relax. The hands that had been curled up tightly against his chest slowly loosened and opened bit by bit.
What he lay on felt warm and soft beneath him, and every breath he drew in carried a faint, soothing fragrance that seeped gently into his senses. It was completely different from the damp little puddle he had slept in for so many years.
That puddle had always been moist and filled with a moldy smell, with cold droplets constantly dripping from the cliff walls onto his scales. His tail would often slip into muddy water without him noticing.
But now it felt as if he had been wrapped inside clouds made of fragrant, delicate cotton. Even when his tail accidentally slipped out of the softness beneath him, before he could muster the energy to pull it back in, someone would carefully pick it up and tuck it back into that fluffy warmth.
Yuan Rutang slept so deeply that he lost all sense of time. His sleep was heavy, dream filled, and he wandered through a whole chain of wondrous dreams.
In the dream, he had transformed into a golden dragon soaring freely among the clouds. The floating clouds drifted past him and he breathed them in one by one. They tasted sweet, softer and sweeter than any pastry he had ever eaten.
Once he realized just how delicious clouds were, he tugged out more than a dozen little cloth bags from beneath his scales and began scooping clouds into them, stuffing each bag full before carrying them back to his tiny earthen hut.
In the days that followed within the dream, he slept inside those cloud filled bags, legs splayed out lazily. Whenever he felt hungry, he would simply reach out, tear off a small piece of cloud, and pop it into his mouth. Life as a dragon had never felt so perfect.
When Yuan Rutang finally woke up from that deep slumber, his gaze was dazed as he looked around in confusion.
This was not his little earthen hut.
Where had his delicious clouds gone?
He lowered his eyes to the soft, golden brocade quilt covering him. The gauzy curtains around the bed swayed faintly, and only then did he recall what had happened before he fell asleep.
His expression slackened. He rested a hand on his stomach, his face lighting up with pure joy.
He was full. Truly, completely full for the first time in his life.
He remembered that the human emperor had given him a box of Snow Mountain Pellets, thirty in total. He had eaten to satisfaction using only three of them. That meant he still had enough to eat nine more full meals.
And the emperor had also promised to give him three Snow Mountain Pellets every month. That meant that no matter what happened, he would have at least one proper, filling meal every single month.
Yuan Rutang leaned back against the pillow in bliss, feeling that his dragon life suddenly held hopeful prospects.
Just then, a sharp voice called out from outside the curtains.
“Lord Yuan, are you awake?”
Lord Yuan?
Yuan Rutang blinked, then remembered that his surname was Yuan. Now that he was an official dragon in the service of the human court, being addressed as Lord was completely normal.
He responded softly, “Yes.”
The person outside sounded relieved and excited. “Lord Yuan, you are finally awake. You have slept for three days and three nights. His Majesty summoned the entire Imperial Medical Bureau, and even asked Eunuch Xu to bring in renowned animal healers from among the common folk. But none of them could detect a pulse from you.”
Yuan Rutang’s eyes widened. “So many people were alarmed just because of me?”
The eunuch immediately dropped to his knees. “Lord Yuan, you are too humble. You are the auspicious sign of the Great Xuan Dynasty. Even if the entire nation were summoned to attend to you, it would only be what the Great Xuan ought to do.”
Yuan Rutang suddenly realized that his dragon identity was even more valued than he had imagined. He lowered his gaze and noticed three dragon robes beneath him.
These were not ordinary clothes. These were royal robes.
“These… are these not the emperor’s robes?”
The eunuch outside lowered his voice. “For the past three days, His Majesty has visited you every single day. And each time His Majesty approached, you would clutch His Majesty’s robe tightly, refusing to let go. His Majesty had no choice but to remove the robe and place it over you.”
Yuan Rutang lowered his head, bringing the fabric toward his face. The robe carried a stern and authoritative scent. It was a fragrance he found extremely familiar. It was the same scent he had loved most in his dreams.
A sudden thought struck him. “You mean… I pulled off three of the emperor’s dragon robes?”
The eunuch replied carefully, “Yes, Lord Yuan. That is correct.”
He hesitated, lowering his head even further. “And according to my estimation, His Majesty should be arriving very soon.”
Yuan Rutang’s lips trembled slightly. Guilt flooded him, mixing with nervousness.
The human emperor was a good person. They had spent less than a full day together, yet Yuan Rutang already felt a genuine desire to be close to him.
He stared at the dragon robes beneath him, his attention drawn to the golden dragon embroidery. The dragon’s eyes were round and wide, as if gazing at him in curiosity and delight.
Outside the hall, the cold stone steps echoed with approaching footsteps.
Fu Sui ascended the steps, his expression unreadable. “Has he truly awakened?”
Behind him, Eunuch Xu bowed quickly. “He has indeed, Your Majesty.”
Fu Sui withdrew his gaze and strode into the hall.
Under the bows and greetings of the palace attendants, he entered the sleeping chamber. The chamber was quiet and still.
Eunuch Xu lifted the beaded curtain for him. Fu Sui stepped inside, only to see the bed empty.
A nearby junior eunuch fell to his knees in terror. “Your Majesty! Lord Yuan was just here on the bed. This servant does not know what happened…”
Fu Sui raised a hand, and the eunuch fell silent instantly.
He lifted the quilt. Beneath it lay three dragon robes in a messy pile.
He moved the first robe aside, examining it briefly, then lifted the second. Finally, his hand paused upon the third robe, his gaze resting on the golden embroidered dragon that decorated it.
He reached out casually.
His hand closed around something small hidden within the embroidery. With a slight tug, he lifted a tiny golden dragon from the golden threads.
Yuan Rutang had taken one look at the dragon pattern and felt an instant sense of kinship. He had pressed himself flat onto the robe and used his illusions to transform into a piece of embroidered decoration, disguising himself as part of the golden pattern.
Now he dangled in the air, lifted by a firm but gentle hand. His little body curled reflexively, claws drawn in nervously. He looked up, meeting those dark, deep eyes, and panic flickered through him.
He heard the emperor sigh with helplessness and faint amusement.
“So mischievous.”
Yuan Rutang’s entire body drooped downward, limp and dangling, looking very much like a long noodle being lifted by a pair of chopsticks, hanging helplessly in midair.
His captor remained silent for a moment, then added in a gentle voice, “But your appearance is truly striking. Your eyes are bright and spirited. With such a handsome and valiant look, even your mischief becomes hardly worth scolding.”
Yuan Rutang lifted his head at once. His tail twitched lightly behind him, and happiness bubbled warmly in his heart.
Fu Sui asked if he had eaten breakfast. Yuan Rutang nodded quickly and transformed back into his human shape.
His human form carried a pair of golden eyes, and the dragon horns and dragon tail remained exposed. He touched one of his horns and looked up at Fu Sui nervously.
Fu Sui gazed down at him with softened eyes. “These horns are beautiful. There is no need to hide them.”
Yuan Rutang was startled. He immediately conjured a water mirror and leaned over it. The reflection revealed a young man with elegant features and a pair of gleaming dragon horns rising from his head.
He had to admit it. This human form with horns was extraordinarily handsome.
He followed Fu Sui out of the sleeping hall. On the way, Fu Sui brought up the matter of the small golden dragon.
Yuan Rutang answered honestly. He liked that form because it was small and convenient, but most importantly, it did not consume much strength.
Fu Sui nodded, signaling that he understood.
Yuan Rutang tilted his head curiously and asked, “How did you know I was lying on your dragon robe?”
Fu Sui released a quiet sigh. “The claws embroidered on my dragon robe have only eight toes, not nine.”
Yuan Rutang fell silent.
He understood.
He truly understood.
During breakfast, Yuan Rutang sat right beside Fu Sui. A long line of eunuchs entered one after another, filling the table with plates of food until it was overflowing with fragrant dishes.
Yuan Rutang sniffed eagerly, his nose twitching. Every dish seemed delicious. Every dish was something he wanted to taste.
Finally, when it was time to eat, Yuan Rutang stole a glance at Fu Sui. Fu Sui nodded in approval.
Only then did Yuan Rutang pick up his chopsticks and lift a small yellow fish from the dish in front of him.
There were two plates of small yellow fish on the table in total, one positioned before him and the other in front of Fu Sui.
He ate two pieces almost immediately, and to his astonishment, the flavor was exactly the same as the small yellow fish he had eaten on the dragon chariot that day.
After spitting the tiny bones into the bone dish, he saw Eunuch Xu approach with a steaming bowl of meat porridge and place it gently before him.
The scent from the porridge immediately seized Yuan Rutang’s attention. Within the aroma, he caught the unmistakable presence of Snow Mountain Pellets.
He snapped his head up to stare at Fu Sui, who simply reached out to stroke his head and said softly, “From now on, I will have the Snow Mountain Pellets added to your meals. Rutang will never go hungry again.”
Yuan Rutang blinked. “Is this my official salary?”
Fu Sui shook his head and reached up to touch the dragon horn on Yuan Rutang’s head.
“You have come to the Great Xuan Dynasty. Naturally, I will take care of what you wear, what you eat, where you sleep, and how you live. As for the three Snow Mountain Pellets each month, I will give them to you when the court issues salaries. I will give you ten.”
His voice grew quieter. “And after I pass one day far in the future, I will leave a thousand more for you.”
Yuan Rutang froze. “Ah?”
He quickly lowered his head and whispered in a tiny voice, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He scooped a spoonful of porridge and shoved it into his mouth. He leaned forward over the bowl, but his long eyelashes trembled and mist formed in his eyes. Tears welled up, drop by drop, falling into the porridge.
The spoon in his hand also caught his falling tears, and he unknowingly swallowed them along with the porridge.
In the past eighteen years, Yuan Rutang had often cried, yet he had rarely tasted his own tears. This time he drank several mouthfuls and discovered, for the very first time, that a dragon’s tears were bitter.
The warm hand continued to stroke his horn. Yuan Rutang leaned his horn into Fu Sui’s palm, rubbing against it instinctively.
He suddenly remembered that night after he had fallen asleep. Someone had been touching him gently. He now knew who it was. The human emperor. His Majesty had been the one touching him.
Just as the tears threatened to spill faster, the large palm slid down from his horn, passed slowly across his forehead, and hovered before his eyes to catch the falling drops.
His world turned dim for a moment. He heard the faint scrape of a plate being moved across the table.
Afraid that his tears might fall into Fu Sui’s palm, Yuan Rutang forced himself to focus on something else. After a while, he finally stopped crying.
The large hand moved away. Yuan Rutang looked up and saw his tears gathered in Fu Sui’s palm. His damp lashes fluttered nervously as he glanced left and right.
His Majesty clearly knew he had cried, yet he said nothing about it. Instead, Fu Sui spoke calmly. “There is another plate of small yellow fish here. Eat to your heart’s content.”
Yuan Rutang looked at the two plates of fish before him. He realized that the sound earlier must have been Fu Sui pushing his own plate toward him.
Yuan Rutang asked quietly, “Your Majesty is not eating?”
Fu Sui seemed mildly surprised, but he answered with helpless honesty. “I do not like fish. I had the royal kitchen prepare two plates, and the eunuchs must have assumed they were for the two of us. In truth, both plates are yours.”
Yuan Rutang’s eyes brightened like lanterns. He finished one plate of small yellow fish in a single breath, then eagerly moved on to the other dishes on the table.
The emperor’s meals were nothing like the food of the common folk. Yuan Rutang had never tasted anything so unbelievably delicious.
The meat inside the small round dumplings was sealed tight within the thin skin. When he bit into one, the juices burst in his mouth like a small explosion. The fragrance rushed straight to his mind, so exquisite that his pupils nearly shrank into tiny points.
The pastries were beyond anything he imagined. The thick, sweet filling melted against his tongue, and Yuan Rutang felt so intoxicated that his eyes narrowed from bliss. His entire body softened, turning almost as pliant as the pastry itself.
Every single dish seemed determined to overwhelm him with flavor.
The porridge already contained a Snow Mountain Pellet, and by the time he finished it he was more or less full. But the food was so tempting, he could not bring himself to stop.
As the dishes on the table gradually disappeared, Yuan Rutang’s pace grew slower. He stared longingly at the remaining pastries and meat balls, reluctant to let the meal end.
In the end, he gathered half of the dishes he liked most and placed them carefully into Fu Sui’s bowl.
But Fu Sui simply pushed the bowl back toward him.
Yuan Rutang looked puzzled. Fu Sui shook his head and tapped the bowl of porridge before himself.
“I prefer porridge in the morning.”
At that moment, another group of eunuchs entered, carrying more plates and bowls. They cleared away the empty dishes and replaced them with a fresh wave of hot food.
Fu Sui took a sip of his porridge, then picked up several tender meat balls and placed them into Yuan Rutang’s bowl. “Eat as much as you want. I am waiting for you.”
Yuan Rutang froze slightly. He realized that the entire breakfast had been prepared per Fu Sui’s orders specifically for him.
He lifted his eyes in a daze. Fu Sui lowered his gaze, but from his brows and eyes, Yuan Rutang could see the unmistakable gentleness hidden there.
A quiet voice rose in Yuan Rutang’s heart.
His Majesty does not mind how much he eats.
His Majesty even likes seeing him full and satisfied.
Why?
Was it because the emperor liked dragons?
Or was it because the emperor liked him specifically, this handsome, clever, spirited dragon?
He did not want to boast, but it was simply the truth. He was a good dragon. Anyone would like such a dragon.
It was perfectly normal to like him.
Yuan Rutang curled his toes under the table and snuck a glance at Fu Sui. When he saw the faint smile in the emperor’s eyes, his back straightened unconsciously.
And those little thoughts he had earlier, the ones he had barely dared to believe, suddenly felt much more real.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
This is your completely normal and non-suspicious request to buy coffee.
☕ 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)