Misty Rain of the Old Times

"Hahaha, that's wonderful! I'm going to be an uncle!" Zhou Xing beamed with joy when he saw the little princess nod in confirmation. His genuine happiness was completely undisguised.

The little princess had only recently become a wife, and her girlish heart had not yet fully matured. Therefore, she was a little shy even when talking about such things in front of her brother and sister-in-law. Her cheeks were slightly red, and her little hand under the table unconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her eyes filled with anticipation and happiness.

Seeing Zhou Xing's joyful expression, Chen Xuan could clearly sense that it was genuine, but he was secretly speechless. He thought to himself, anyone who didn't know better would think that the siblings had a very good relationship. Besides, Prince Qing has quite a few sisters, all of whom are married or have married into families. This is certainly not the first time he has been an uncle. Why is he so excited? Even if he wasn't deliberately putting on an act for him.

Seemingly seeing through Chen Xuan's thoughts, Prince Qing smiled and said, "Brother Xuan, don't misunderstand. I am truly happy for you and your little sister. Qian Ning is the youngest sister in our family, and she is also our first child, so the significance is naturally different."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan immediately understood. In any family, the eldest and youngest child are always different. He nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Fifth Brother. I will definitely treat Qian Ning well and will never let her suffer any injustice."

"Of course. Although this is the first time I've met you, Xuan Di, I trust you after spending so much time together," Zhou Xing laughed heartily. He knew his limits. Even among close relatives, he didn't say much about the couple's affairs. Why would he say something like, "If you dare do this or that to my sister, I'll do this or that to you"? That's something only a brainless person would say, and it would only make people unhappy.

As family members, it would be foolish to stand up for your sister before she has been wronged; it would be reasonable to support her only after something has actually happened.

At this moment, Gao Jingyu looked at Chen Xuan and his wife, reminiscing and sighing, "Xiao Xuan, in the blink of an eye you've grown up so much, started a family and are about to become a father. I remember when we first met, you were just a little radish head that barely reached the table. From now on, you need to be more mature and steady, and you can't be as naughty as you were when you were little. You and Xiao Ming are like brothers, and in my eyes you are no different from my younger brother."

"Thank you, Miss... Sister-in-law, I will be careful," Chen Xuan nodded earnestly. He could tell that Gao Jingyu wasn't trying to get close to him, but was sincerely advising him. She was probably thinking of her famous younger brother.

Zhou Xing said cheerfully, "I'm so happy today. It's the first time I've met my brother-in-law, and I also learned that my sister is pregnant. It's a double celebration! Cheers! We must enjoy ourselves to the fullest today. My sister, you can have tea instead of wine; your health is important."

"Then I, as your brother-in-law, will certainly keep you company," Chen Xuan said with a smile, raising his glass.

They each raised their glasses and downed a drink. As they drank, Zhou Xing and Gao Jingyu exchanged a quick glance. Their eyes flickered, as if they understood each other perfectly, subtly conveying that some things were not appropriate to say at this moment.

After sharing a drink, Gao Jingyu put down his glass and, with a tone of concern tinged with reproach, said to Xiao Xuan, "You're not a child anymore. How can you be so reckless? Your younger sister is pregnant and should be resting at home. Why are you taking her out and running around like this?"

She should have addressed the little princess as her sister-in-law, but since it was a family banquet, it wasn't inappropriate for Zhou Xing to call her his younger sister.

Chen Xuan said apologetically, "Sister-in-law, you don't know this, but after Qian Ning and I got married, we agreed to go out and travel around. I didn't realize I was pregnant until a few days ago. I originally planned to go home to rest, but after discussing it, we decided to continue our journey."

Gao Jingyu nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "I see. I misunderstood you. I was wondering why Xiao Xuan was so reckless. Since that's the case, don't blame me for saying a few words. As someone who's been through it, and especially since the first pregnancy is of utmost importance, we can't afford any mistakes. How about I arrange for a few highly skilled doctors to accompany you as soon as possible? It's always good to be on the safe side."

When Gao Jingyu said these words, putting aside all other factors, from the perspective of an ordinary person, he felt a little emotional. In the end, Chen Xuan had no relatives or friends in this world, no elders or siblings to help or remind him, and the little princess was not very old. The couple lived their lives in a daze, and they were so careless about such a big event. Although it was a happy occasion, it made people feel a little sad when they thought about it.

However, such a thought only flashed through her mind for a moment. Perhaps she didn't even realize that she met Zhou Xing at the age of seventeen, fell in love at eighteen, and married him before she was twenty, thus beginning her career in the palace intrigue of the royal family. Now she is even more honorable as the empress. Even though the word "empress" should be put in quotation marks, she has rarely considered things from the perspective of an ordinary person over the years.

"I appreciate your kind offer, sister-in-law, but there's no need to go to so much trouble. We have a doctor with us, but they're not with us right now. They're waiting on the ship. He's a court physician who came with my father-in-law as part of my dowry when we got married. Besides, I also have some minor achievements in martial arts. Medicine and martial arts are inseparable, after all. I can take care of Qian Ning, so there's no need for you to trouble yourself," Chen Xuan said with a smile, politely declining. It wasn't that he was worried about Gao Jingyu planting spies around him; there was really no need for that.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jingyu hesitated for a moment before giving up and nodding, saying, "I was overthinking it. With Xiao Xuan here, everything will be fine."

Come to think of it, Chen Xuan may be modest, but he is a Grandmaster after all. Although I have never seen him take action, his presence is better than 99% of the doctors in the world. If he is helpless, then ordinary doctors are probably helpless as well. Naturally, he can keep the little princess safe.

Then, Zhou Xing, looking at the little princess with great anticipation, said, "When my nephew or niece is born, I, as the uncle, will definitely give a generous gift. It wouldn't be appropriate if it were stingy."

"Then I, as the father, thank you on behalf of my child, Fifth Brother," Chen Xuan said, raising his glass. He did not refuse the kindness. As he said before, putting aside all other factors, we are family, and there is no need to be too distant.

During their casual conversation over food and drinks, Zhou Xing asked curiously, "Brother-in-law just mentioned taking your younger sister on a trip. Where are you planning to go next?"

"Let's wander around and see what's going on. Qian Ning has never traveled far and doesn't have a specific goal. The jungles and swamps of the South, the vastness of the sea, the steepness of the snow-capped mountains, the expanse of the grasslands, the desolation of the desert—we'll just go wherever we end up," Chen Xuan said casually. There was nothing he couldn't say, and he wasn't worried about his whereabouts being exposed.

Hearing this, a hint of longing and envy flashed in Zhou Xing's eyes. He sighed, "Brother-in-law is so carefree. I also yearn for such an unrestrained life, but alas, I am not free to do as I please. If possible, please help me to be free too. Come, let's drink."

Some things should be left unsaid, so Chen Xuan didn't bring up Zhou Xing's current situation. He raised his glass and laughed, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Fifth Brother. I'm a man without great ambitions, just drifting through life. Instead of envying my life, countless others envy yours. You know, you are not a fish, how can you know the fish's joy?"

As he said this, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "Want me to be free too? That seems a bit familiar. Right, Xiao Gao is busy as a dog these days. I said I would help him be free. My good buddy is busy all day long to fulfill his dreams and do great things, while I am responsible for lazing around and enjoying life."

Zhou Xing and Gao Jingyu exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes. He said admiringly, "You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of rain? You have truly benefited greatly from careful consideration. Brother-in-law, you are a man of great talent."

He just couldn't control his mouth; before he knew it, he was spilling things from his past life, like how he'd boasted to Xiao Gao countless times in previous years. Muttering to himself, Chen Xuan said embarrassedly, "Fifth Brother, you flatter me. I was just repeating what others said. It wasn't my own words. After all, I've followed the young master for so many years. He's a top scholar, and although I'm unlearned, you know, you get what you pay for. I've picked up some knowledge from my surroundings."

Whether it's Zhou Xing or Gao Jingyu, even though they hold high positions and great power, they still find time to read and enrich themselves. Learning is endless, after all. Both of them are incredibly knowledgeable. I wondered why I had never heard or read anyone say that before. Thinking about it more deeply made me realize that instead of envying others, it's better to do your best. Many problems can then be easily solved.

"Brother-in-law, you're too modest," Zhou Xing said, raising his glass again. The family dinner ended in a harmonious atmosphere, with everyone talking about everyday matters and avoiding any discussion of their respective positions or careers. Everyone tacitly avoided these topics. However, towards the end of the meal, Chen Xuan finished off all the food on the table, which made Zhou Xing and his wife quite happy, saying that being able to eat was a blessing.

To put it bluntly, their relationship is just so-so right now. Chen Xuan didn't mention that he suffered hardships when he was a child and that he couldn't bear to waste anything.

After dinner, Zhou Xing looked at the sky outside and suggested, "It's still early. We've just finished eating. Brother-in-law, would you like to take a walk with me to digest our food?"

It was dusk, the sun was setting in the west, and since it was early summer and the days were long, there were still an hour or so before it got dark.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan thought, "Is it just a simple walk?" She hoped no one would say anything that would put either of them in an awkward position. It was getting late, and it wouldn't be polite to leave now; it was also too early to rest. Without hesitation, she nodded and said, "Alright, I hope it won't interfere with my brother-in-law's business."

"Haha, it's alright. I've already taken care of all the trivial matters. It's my first time meeting my brother-in-law, so I should get to know him better," Zhou Xing said cheerfully as he stood up.

As they stood up, Gao Jingyu affectionately took the little princess's hand and said with a smile, "Little sister, it's been a long time since we last saw each other. The last time was at your wedding. I haven't had a chance to talk to you properly since. If you don't mind, how about we find a place to sit down, have some tea, and chat? Little sister, you are so beautiful, even I, your sister-in-law, am ashamed of myself. If I were a man, I would definitely fall in love with you at first sight. You're lucky, Xiao Xuan. You'd better tell me how to take care of yourself. Let those two men be. We women shouldn't bother them."

The little princess thought to herself, "I'm just naturally like this, what experience do you have to share with me?" But she smiled sweetly and said, "I also have many questions I want to ask my sister-in-law, such as what it's like to live together for a long time after marriage. I've only been married for a short time and I'm still very confused about the future. But aren't you my fifth brother's personal guard now? Is it okay if we're separated for the time being?"

Patting her little hand, Gao Jingyu smiled and said, "It's alright. Of course, I'm always by your side, but now that Your Highness and Xiao Xuan are together, what is there to worry about?"

Could it be that Fifth Brother and my husband have something to say again? Did they send me away because it wasn't convenient for me to be there? Or am I overthinking it, and it's just a casual chat? Speaking of which, the biggest threat would be if my husband suddenly decided he didn't like Fifth Brother.

These thoughts flashed through her mind, and the little princess smiled sweetly, "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, sister-in-law."

Putting aside all the trivial matters, Gao Jingyu is shrewd and resourceful. However, despite the little princess's submissive attitude towards Chen Xuan, she is no pushover having grown up in the palace. The only difference is the age gap; otherwise, Gao Jingyu, from a humble background and with experience in the martial arts world, might not be any more shrewd than her.

Chen Xuan wasn't worried about the little princess being with Gao Jingyu. He figured Zhou Xing and his wife were even more afraid that something might happen to the little princess here than he was. So he greeted the little princess and went out with Zhou Xing, without letting Du Juan and the others follow.

To be able to walk alongside the emperor without falling behind by even half a step is something that can probably be found in the whole world. Even though Zhou Xing has only declared himself emperor and has not yet been recognized and had diplomatic relations with other countries, with such a large territory and so many followers, he is a true emperor.

The two strolled out of the manor, chatting idly about trivial matters.

At the same time, Chen Xuan was also multitasking, pondering the map on the wall where they had just eaten. He didn't know if the map had been placed there intentionally or unintentionally, but after looking at it while eating, he gleaned a lot of information from it.

Chen Xuan doesn't usually like to use his brain, but now that Zhou Xing sent someone to invite him over, he would never believe it was just a simple family gathering. He'd rather believe he's already a Human Immortal. So he couldn't help but use his long-neglected brain a little.

The map, measuring one zhang square, encompassed the entire Rong Kingdom, Jing Kingdom, Shuangyue Kingdom, and Yuhua Kingdom. Although it didn't specify the villages and towns, the mountains and rivers were clearly depicted.

Upon first glance at the map, Chen Xuan couldn't help but wonder if the Prince of Qing, whose ears had been practically calloused since childhood, was merely expanding his territory, nibbling away at Rong Kingdom's lands, establishing his own kingdom, and declaring himself emperor. Was that map, which included the four surrounding countries, intentionally or unintentionally revealing his ambitions?
Although his career is just beginning, it is already quite successful. If it continues, the territory of Rongguo alone will be enough to satisfy his appetite.
This guy probably has some grand ambitions, maybe he wants to conquer the endless territories of the four kingdoms step by step and recreate the feat of unification a thousand years ago!

Although it's just speculation, given Prince Qing's audacious act of declaring himself independent, it's not impossible.

Putting aside whether he has the ability or where his confidence and assurance come from, Chen Xuan wondered, if he really did that and could actually take it step by step, how would he face the Jing Kingdom in the future?

In the end, Prince Qing is a citizen of Jing Kingdom, and the one who sits on the throne of Jing Kingdom now is his younger brother. The two are half-brothers. If that day really comes, would they really risk the world's wrath and turn against each other as brothers?

Now he is merely establishing his own territory and expanding his domain, which can at most be considered as disobeying orders and constraints. But when his army one day points its spearhead at the Jing Kingdom, he will be a traitor and rebel. How will he deal with that situation? Does he want to bear such a bad name? Regardless of success or failure, history will remember, especially those historians who dare to write and record anything, eager to leave the most treacherous side to future generations.

These were just Chen Xuan's wild thoughts after looking at the map. He couldn't be sure if Prince Qing would ever reach that point, since his career was only just beginning. But when the map of the four kingdoms was displayed, Chen Xuan couldn't help but think about his future prospects in that direction.

Unifying the four kingdoms and recreating the glory of a thousand years ago—what an unparalleled feat that would be! Which emperor hasn't dreamed of it?
If, if the arrival of Prince Qing truly brings about that step, would the territory of just four kingdoms really satisfy his appetite?
It should be known that the world is very large. South of Rongguo lies the endless sea, and west of Yuhuaguo and north of Shuangyueguo, there are still endless territories. It's just that due to the distance, few people know about the situation in the far reaches.

Take the Jing Kingdom as an example. Its territory is equivalent to the Asian continent in Chen Xuan's memory of his previous life. Such a vast land has a population of just over 100 million, which is extremely difficult to manage. It is only thanks to his extraordinary martial arts, personal strength, and the presence of many extraordinary people in the court that he was able to govern it.

However, the territories of the three kingdoms of Shuangyue, Yuhua, and Rong are no smaller than those of Jing. If King Qing were to truly achieve unification in the future, how would he govern such a vast land?
Unless he has mastered the domain portal teleportation array that can traverse the void and make the ends of the earth seem close at hand, everything is in vain.

Based on his brief conversation with the Black Dragon that day, Chen Xuan suspected that the person on the other end was Zhou Xing. If Prince Qing was backed by the Black Diagram Society, or even a high-ranking member himself, then with the power of the Black Diagram Society, plus the even more unfathomable Buddhist sect behind it, it was not impossible for Prince Qing to master the domain portal teleportation array!
The Buddhist sect doesn't just refer to a particular martial arts sect; it's the entire Buddhist community, which includes powerful cultivators at the Tribulation Transcending Realm. Even Chen Xuan, a Human Immortal, wouldn't be surprised. If Prince Qing really colluded with them, anything is possible.

After spending a short time together, Chen Xuan felt that Prince Qing was just a man of great talent and ambition, whose cultivation was only so-so, far from the level of being able to conquer the world. However, this was really all he saw.
Instead of making wild guesses about these distant things, Chen Xuan studied the information presented on the map and was able to roughly deduce the current situation of Prince Qing. He had to admire that Prince Qing was able to open up the situation in such a short time and even had a firm foothold!

...(End of chapter)