Chapter 149: The Hustle and Bustle of the Mortal World

Huh? You also have dragons there?

It's precisely because there isn't one that it's a big deal. You know the legend? How could it look so much like a dragon? Isn't it called a Mirage Clam?

... Didn't I ask you? You don't mind its identity, do you? This sea beast just has bad legs; nobody likes it. That clam, actually, is also called a Mirage Dragon in some places.... It's said to be born from a dragon and a pheasant.

The King almost dropped his jaw, "Dragon and pheasant?" You guys... really have wild imaginations.

In my domain, the rumor's gone wild; everyone knows a dragon appeared by the sea, and fishermen are frantically worshiping it. Moreover, it actually spits mist?

Qiao Yi: "It has no special abilities; it just spits white vapor, using it to conceal itself when hunting birds. It likes sea birds, not fish. It's friendly to humans; people say it even helps fishermen drive fish, though I've only heard of it, never seen it. The clam is a spirit beast with no real talents, can't help its master in battle, and prefers to stay in the sea, so few keep it... You tell the common folk it's not a dragon, okay?"

The King grew despondent again: "Then they have to believe it!"

Qiao Yi saw he was worried and said, "Why not return it to me? I'll help you take it back and resell it."

The King shook his head: "No way; Mengmeng even knocked a chunk off it, costing me dearly. Also, I never asked beforehand what it looks like—whether I like it or not doesn't matter; my beef candy actually plays well with it."

Qiao Yi was also surprised that the King's place actually had a dragon's likeness.

He increasingly believed they came from a civilization, just separated by time.

The King accompanied him to set up a stall for a while, then went to find his older brother Bai. When Bai Yang learned he had obtained a spirit beast that looked very much like a dragon and released it into the sea, he burst out laughing.

My goodness, hahaha, a dragon! In your feudal society, doesn't that represent an emperor? Such a great auspicious sign has fallen upon your Youzhou; your fief as Prince You is secured. I'm your brother—I'll definitely put your name, the King's, on the list of mortal enemies! Hahaha~

Don't laugh~

The funniest part is, your original intention was just to buy a playmate to keep the sperm whale company~ Hahaha, people cheat and create hype with auspicious signs, but none are as outrageous as you—hahaha……

What should we do? The fishermen are fervently worshiping by the sea, and the whole ferry crossing is shrouded in mist.

Hahaha, even more like it! Okay, okay, I'm not laughing anymore—be careful, your eldest and second sons have put you on the assassination list; previously they didn't care about you, but now they might spare an eye for Youzhou.

Never mind them; if my royal father finds out, I won't fare well either—he's also superstitious. This time I didn't dare issue an edict telling the populace not to speak, for fear of backfiring and making the rumor spread even worse.

Where is your eldest son's fief? Should we send the clam there to make an appearance? Or drag it into the water?

The King: "... Yuyang is inland, there's no sea."

Bai Yang immediately shook his head: "That's not a good idea either—you're just trying to boost his reputation; he already has that intention openly, so he'll just go along with it."

What's more speechless: "My royal father summons all feudal lords to the capital in the ninth month to pay New Year's respects." The King complained at length about his father's bizarre decision.

There's never been such a thing before; I asked the prime minister, and even my royal grandfather's sixtieth birthday didn't see feudal lords summoned to the capital. The last time feudal lords all gathered in Chang'an was at my royal grandfather's funeral.

Bai Yang grew solemn: "A storm is brewing! Your Majesty, though you were born into the imperial family, some things are beyond your control." Before them, the child had grown a bit taller, but his face was still clearly that of a child—he had only turned eight after the New Year.

His final words turned into advice: "Youzhou is developing well; it will surely invite envy. Don't continue to view your father and brothers with the old mindset—remember you are royalty. You say you don't want to compete, but that's useless; they'll have to believe it anyway. On the trip to Chang'an, bring the Eagle Vanguard. If overt grandeur is too much, keep it covert."

Sure, sure. Next year I'll have money; after the New Year I'll expand the army.

Haven't you always been well off?

Eh, I've got a mine now~

... Jealousy makes me lose all semblance of myself!

The next day, everyone in the city knew there was a dragon by the sea. The King had a notice posted saying it was a clam, clawless, and the wrong color, telling everyone not to spread rumors.

Whether the common folk believed it or not, the King gave a brief reply and left it at that, planning to handle it coldly.

Right after came the New Year—this was the King's second New Year in Youzhou. This year's New Year's Eve banquet went smoothly and ended in peace. The border saw no movement, and the next day the King, full of spirit, went up onto the city walls to celebrate with the people.

The King dressed in the full ceremonial robes of a feudal lord to serve as a mascot for a while; the entire South Hua Gate gatehouse was filled with black-armored soldiers holding long spears, making the scene look grand.

The King gave a New Year speech; the Grand Tutor, fearing he'd speak recklessly, specially wrote a script for him.

It was nothing more than urging everyone to work hard in the new year; with the King and Youzhou together, everything would only get better.

Xie Yuan and his disciple just went with the flow, squeezing into the crowd. He lifted his head to look at the gatehouse, able only to see height and clothing; the face was blurry, but he knew it was a radiant, beautiful young face.

Before, he had also deliberately gone to the seaside to see the so-called 'dragon,' originally thinking it was just another man-made auspicious sign, and that the Prince of You was no different.

Or perhaps the people behind him were very anxious.

But upon seeing that 'dragon,' he changed his mind—it was a living creature, whatever it was, and the fact that the Prince of You could issue a document calling it a clam made him start to think it was truly a coincidence.

The academic big shot realized for the first time that his horizons were far too narrow.

The South Hua Gate gatehouse was tall and distant; the common folk stood in a dense black mass on the other side of the bridge, nobody able to see anyone's face—a distance the King was quite satisfied with.

He came down from the city wall, changed clothes, and merged with the retreating crowd flowing into Zhuque Avenue.

Zhu Ti really spent money on this street, setting up several stages, hiring jugglers and dance performers, laying out many stalls for guessing lanterns and ring toss, and even bringing in a batch of affordable little trinkets, striving to make them consumable for most ordinary people.

By the time the King emerged, the street was already packed with people.

He stood on the street, inhaled deeply, his expression entranced. Wei Shen beside him asked, "What's up? Captivated by the taste of mortal life?"

The King: "Ah! It's the smell of grilled squid!"

Behind him, the Grand Tutor: ……

What on earth is he expecting?!

………………………………………………………………………

………………………………

Silly author has something to say:

I hardly ever read comments; it's a habit from my last book, because it gives me heartache—after all, tastes differ.

Yesterday, bored, I glanced at it and was stunned by the brainwaves of all you brothers and sisters~

Let me clarify: sometimes I pad the front just to boost word count, for full attendance/bonus clock‑in. After all, if the income isn't there, even a few hundred bucks is still money.

Do you think I don't want to flat‑out push forward and start a new chapter? I'm bending over for six hundred bucks.

Any day I don't pad, I'm just lying flat, slacking off……

It's not so you can reread the last few chapters, you know—if you think my cheap, pitiful book, even if you read the last five chapters of ten thousand characters twenty times a day, I'd at most earn an extra cent; the unit price is so low it's not worth it!

The unit price per word is very low; income relies on new readers. Without interaction, rankings, and new readers, I'm just living on air.

Those brothers and sisters with data in the backend—how many people on the bookshelf, total readers, completion stats—I can work it out with just addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division…

Not many ulterior thoughts; overthinking it is just for perfect attendance.

Just like that, thanks to those who read but don't support, everyone.