"Lu Jinghuai! You despicable, underhanded brat!!"
The beer-bellied man who had been strutting arrogantly before Lu Jinghuai just days ago now stood with a face flushed deep red, bordering on purple, glaring at him in fury.
Lu Jinghuai sat on a gold-and-red brocade sofa, dressed in a white silk blouse with a ribbon wrapped elegantly around his slender, fair neck. His gray eyes gleamed with amusement as he regarded the man before him, showing no trace of offense at the insults hurled his way. (Do not use my appearance descriptions for AI-generated images! Thank you!!)
"Uncle, what’s the matter? Sit down and have some tea to calm yourself."
The man’s fingers trembled with rage. "How dare you tell me to calm down!?"
"You heartless, venomous wretch with nothing but a pretty face! How could you—how could you sell off my son!!!"
A perfectly measured look of confusion flickered in Lu Jinghuai’s eyes. "Uncle, what do you mean by that? Kabu’s disappearance is heartbreaking news for me as well. But no matter how distraught you are, you can’t just hurl baseless accusations."
He lowered his gaze, feigning sorrow.
The attendant scowled at the man and snapped, "Escort him out at once! Call for medical assistance—this gentleman seems to have lost his mind!"
How dare he slander their poor young master! Who was the real monster here?!
Standing by the window, Lu Jinghuai watched as the man was dragged away, still spewing curses. A slow, subtle smirk curled his lips.
The smile remained, but something about it had shifted.
Soon, others came one after another to berate Lu Jinghuai, as if they had all collectively incurred some divine retribution. The attendants began to wonder if their young master had indeed done something unspeakable.
"What is Ji Nian doing?"
Unnoticing the strange looks from his attendants, Lu Jinghuai turned to a maid standing silently in the corner like part of the decor.
The maid bowed her head respectfully. "Miss Ji is in the flower room."
Lu Jinghuai nodded and was about to head there when—
"Young master! There’s news—word has come from the search party!!"
A man rushed in, panting heavily, beads of sweat rolling down his nose.
Lu Jinghuai froze mid-step.
"Our team entered the dense fog and found the new island Miss Ji mentioned, but there was no evidence that Their Highnesses were there—"
"But!"
Seeing Lu Jinghuai’s expression darken, the man hurriedly continued, gasping for breath.
"We picked up signals from the chips implanted in Her Highness and Master Lu! They’re alive!!"
As the attendants erupted into joyous cries, Lu Jinghuai closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his lashes were damp.
"Go deliver the news to Ji Nian."
"Danny, fetch the seal and the signet ring. I’m going to the palace to see His Majesty."
The attendant’s eyes widened in shock.
But in an instant, he understood Lu Jinghuai’s intentions.
"Yes…"
They hadn’t even realized how much their young master had grown—how far he had surpassed their expectations.
In the flower room of Princess Feia’s residence, rare blooms native to the kingdom flourished. Though the princess seldom visited, the gardeners tended to them with unwavering dedication, hoping that even a fleeting glance from their mistress might bring her a moment of joy.
Ji Nian crouched before an unfamiliar flower—pink and cotton-like—snapping photos for Ji Tingzhou.
Just as she focused on her task, someone burst in, unable to contain their excitement as they relayed the latest update.
Hearing that the two were alive, Ji Nian shot to her feet.
[Even if they weren’t found on the island, at least they’re alive!]
She had always felt that Lu Jinghuai’s parents wouldn’t leave this world so easily!
Now, he could finally relax.
He could even return to China—they could go to school together again.
System: [Congratulations! Now he’ll be in the mood to date you~]
Ji Nian: […Yeah, but it’ll have to be platonic for now.]
System: […]
Ji Nian smirked. [Most importantly, we’ll have to keep it from my dad.]
[I need to start planning for the little crown prince’s legs.]
The system suddenly recalled Ji Tingzhou’s threat to break the legs of anyone who dared date his daughter before she came of age.
[…Better wait until after your birthday to go public.]
No one wanted the young crown prince to end up a cripple.
Lu Jinghuai met with the young king in the palace.
Compared to the Oulei Festival years ago, when he had needed to stand on a footstool just to be seen by the crowd, the boy had grown considerably.
Lu Jinghuai asked, "Did you know that my mother planned to return power to you once you came of age?"
The question caught the young king off guard.
"You’ve grown up, and my mother has longed to retire for years. She’s given enough to this country."
He continued, "You don’t need to seek alliances. Just say the word, and what’s yours will be returned to you."
Lu Jinghuai emphasized the word "returned."
With a gentle smile, he added, "After all, these things rightfully belong to Your Majesty."
"No one can take them from you."
After those few words, he handed everything over to the young king and turned to leave.
Once Lu Jinghuai was gone, the young king soon received news that Princess Feia and her husband were alive.
Had this news not arrived, he might have assumed Lu Jinghuai was surrendering power under pressure from the nobles to save himself.
But with Princess Feia still alive… why?
Had she been crippled? Or…
He recalled Lu Jinghuai’s mention of his coming-of-age.
The young king pressed his lips together.
He thought of Princess Feia’s strict but earnest guidance over the years.
If she had wanted a puppet, she wouldn’t have bothered teaching him so rigorously…
The boy-king, still young and not yet hardened by the world, made his decision.
He summoned an aide and commanded, "Inform the Duke that I’ve obtained what I sought. Our collaboration is over."
...
"Huai!"
Lu Zhi, slightly tanned and leaning on Princess Feia for support, spotted Lu Jinghuai from afar. His eyes reddened instantly.
Perhaps age had made him more sentimental than in his youth.
They hadn’t been found on the island Ji Nian had guessed—instead, they had washed ashore on a much smaller, hidden isle deeper within the fog.
Had help arrived any later, Lu Zhi’s injured leg might have become infected, requiring amputation even if he survived.
Stranded on that desolate island, he had worried endlessly about Lu Jinghuai facing the vipers of the nobility alone.
Princess Feia, however, remained composed, confident that their son would handle everything.
"Mother. Father."
Lu Jinghuai stepped forward, studying his parents’ faces.
Though injured, Lu Zhi’s spirits seemed high.
Princess Feia, as ever, was poised and unshaken—still radiant, still steady, supporting her husband with one arm. Her gaze, when it met his, was as firm and unwavering as stone.
"Dear Huai, your mother and father long to embrace you now."
"But before that—"
Princess Feia arched a brow at Ji Nian, who stood beside them greeting them politely, and teased, "Shouldn’t you let go of your little girlfriend’s hand first?"
