Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 billion people

Chapter 128 Damien's Request
In the evening, the moon is high in the sky.

In the study of Red Fox Castle, candles were lit.

"Your Highness, we have located all the black markets in Twilight City, and from the ledgers seized by the Twilight Merchant Guild, we have confirmed which citizens still have Twilight Tea in their homes and the approximate quantity."

The old butler, Seris, respectfully presented the report to the black-haired youth before him with both hands.

Xia Mingyu took the thick stack of papers, glanced at them casually, and then his brows furrowed deeply.

Without a doubt, even with the ban on the Chamber of Commerce's sales, the number of Dusk Tea still remaining in Dusk City is still astronomical.

Because of the low price of one copper sol for one tea bag, far too much tea had been sold in the past week, especially on the last day when it was sold for one copper coin, which triggered a city-wide buying frenzy.

"It seems we'll have to carry out a Fox Gate Opium Destruction, but there's no sea here, so how to destroy so much tea is a problem."

Xia Mingyu rested his chin on his hand and began to ponder.

He didn't want to end up like the principal of a school on Earth, who confiscated cigarettes and burned them, leaving all the teachers and students to breathe in free secondhand smoke.

"Professional matters should be left to professionals. I'll ask Youde later and see if he has analyzed the twilight tea."

dong dong.

Just as Xia Mingyu was about to leave, there was a sudden knock on the study door.

Seris walked over and opened the door. A servant stood outside, whispering a few words to Seris before waiting respectfully.

"Your Highness, a handsome young man with silver hair has come to Red Fox Castle looking for someone. He said that a man wearing a black top hat allowed him to come."

Seris relayed that having served His Highness for so long, he naturally knew who the man in the black top hat was referring to.

The silver-haired youth must be Damien, the bard from the Nightingale Tavern, right?
The fact that you're looking for him so late means it must be something very important!

"Let him in," Xia Mingyu said.

"As you command," Seris said with a slight bow.

A moment later, in the castle's reception room.

"Try it, this is excellent twilight tea."

Xia Mingyu poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to the silver-haired poet sitting upright on the opposite sofa, who looked very reserved.

"Thank you, Lord Xinghuo."

Damien took the teacup with both hands, took a small sip, and then put it down again.

He looked around at the luxurious decorations in the lobby and the world-famous painting on the wall, "The Knight's Last Whisper," which is said to depict the last moments of the Crimson Flame, and felt even more uneasy.

This is undoubtedly the most upscale reception room in Red Fox Castle, and the noble status of Lord Starfire, who is qualified to use this venue to entertain him, is probably far beyond his imagination.
Could it be that Lord Starfire is the hidden third son of Crimson Flame, the strongest knight in the Southern Territory?
No, how could he presume to know his benefactor's identity? Calm down, calm down.

"This guy is really nervous, like I'm some kind of man-eating demon king."

Xia Mingyu looked at the thin poet in front of him, who was taking deep breaths and had fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

"Tell me, what difficulties did you encounter when you came to see me?" Xia Mingyu took the initiative to speak.

Damien was taken aback; he hadn't expected that his answer would be guessed before he even spoke.

"I don't think you're the type to come knocking on my door late at night for a chat. You must have run into something important," Xia Mingyu shrugged.

"Don't worry, if it's another case of a man showering you with affection and pestering you, I'll help you resolve it."

“No, no, no, not that,” Damien stammered.

"My sister has a high fever, and the pharmacist determined that her chances of survival are slim. She is the most important member of my family, and the haggard look on her face breaks my heart. If God would allow it, I would so much like to give my life to save her!"

"My esteemed Lord Starfire, I beg you for a chance to save her life. In return, I offer you everything I have; from this day forward, my loyalty and my very soul belong to you."

Taking a deep breath to calm himself down, Damien knelt down and pleaded as clearly as possible, "If you refuse me, that's reasonable, after all, you've already saved me once. It's just that I shamelessly want to take advantage of your kindness and mercy again."

After a pause, Damien continued, his handsome, almost feminine face filled with sincerity and guilt, and he even lowered his head, not daring to look at Xia Mingyu's expression.

After listening silently to his request, Xia Mingyu pondered for a moment, then grabbed the poet by the shoulder and lifted him up from the ground.

"I will help you, but I can't guarantee that your sister will survive. As for the reward, just play a few songs for me."

Xia Mingyu said calmly.

Although he cannot help every suffering person in the world right now, he doesn't mind extending a helping hand to those who are in distress.

"God above, Lord Starfire, thank you for your mercy and help. I swear by my glorious soul that, whether my sister recovers or not, I will henceforth be your faithful servant and dedicate my humble life to you."

Upon hearing this, Damien swore an oath without hesitation.

Since this kind man is willing to lend a helping hand, he should give up his only life, no matter the outcome.

He had intended to swear an oath of honor, but the words left his mouth as he realized that, as the son of the only lord who had fled during the Southern Dragon-Lion War, he had long since lost all honor.
"Let's go, I'll take you to a pharmacist. He might be able to save your sister, but remember not to look surprised when you see him."

"Yes, Lord Xinghuo."

Pharmacy at No. 13 Chenfeng Street.

Xia Mingyu, carrying an oil lamp, led Damien to the apothecary shop with a monkey-face sign.

"Lord Xinghuo, could this be the Monkey-Faced Apothecary's shop?"

Looking at the sign on the wall, Damien said with a mixture of surprise and doubt.

Do you know him?

“I’ve heard it from the customers when I was working at the tavern, but it’s mostly bad rumors,” Damien said cautiously.

In fact, his statement was relatively mild; many customers in the tavern even claimed to have personally witnessed the monkey-faced apothecary eating children!
"It's best not to judge a person based on rumors before you've actually talked to them, because just because more people follow the crowd doesn't mean they're right."

Thinking back to the chilling scene of countless people cheering for the conscientious businessman Erkus on the street, Xia Mingyu felt deeply moved.

dong dong.

He gently knocked on the door of the apothecary.

No response.

"Could they already be asleep? I thought pharmacists were a profession that often involved staying up late, just like programmers."

Xia Mingyu gently pushed the door, and to his surprise, the door opened directly.

So he took the oil lamp, stepped over the threshold, and entered the pitch-black apothecary.

Not long after, he found Yud lying on the floor with his eyes closed, as if he were fast asleep, under the light.

Damien, who was right behind him, was so frightened by the "monkey" on the floor that he almost stumbled and fell.

Fortunately, he remembered Xia Mingyu's instructions and quickly pinched his arm hard, using the pain to quickly restore the normal expression on his face.

"Youde, wake up," Xia Mingyu placed the oil lamp on the table beside him and called softly.

A moment later, Yud moved on the ground, revealing a pair of amber-colored eyes on his somewhat eerie monkey face under the light.

"Sorry to disturb your sweet dreams..."

As Xia Mingyu was speaking, he saw Youde excitedly leap up from the floor and tightly grab his hand with his long arms that almost dragged on the ground.

"My sage, I have finally figured out the effects of Twilight Tea!" Yud exclaimed excitedly.

(End of this chapter)