I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

“I won’t let them drive the gentleman away. If they do, I will… I…”

He wanted to demonstrate his strength during the day, but found he couldn't. After a long while, he could only choke back tears and hold his husband tightly.

"Sir...please be sure to come find me..."

Please never forget me...

"Yes, we will. It's an agreement between us."

Gently stroking the young dragon's head and slowly tightening their intertwined tails, Xi made a promise to him.

The small boat was carried by the wind to the shore.

"gentlemen……"

He went ashore alone, and in the daytime, he turned back to look at Xi standing at the bow of the boat, remaining motionless for a long time.

“Ah Xi…”

Xi took out a pen and handed it to him.

This is her keepsake, and also a symbol of her trust.

"Sir, I will wait for you."

Bai Zhou gripped the pen, turned around, but couldn't take the first step.

The wind blew stronger, and the lake surface slowly rippled.

The trees planted along the lake swayed in the breeze, and fallen leaves were swept into the lake by the wind.

"...Your Majesty, the immortal has already departed."

Three Imperial Guards appeared and knelt before him.

"You should return to the capital; the Prince is waiting for you."

"I……"

Gazing at the fine pen in his hand, Bai Zhou slowly closed his eyes.

A moment later, he lowered his hands and looked up.

"I understand."

The wind subsided, and the clouds dispersed.

Uncle Fifty-Seven, I'm about to flee!

[In the thirteenth year of the Yuanxi era, in the capital city, at the Imperial Palace]

"Do my beloved ministers have anything else to say?"

Suppressing the troublesome memorial concerning the idea that "the emperor has grown up, and the country cannot be without a mother for a day," the true dragon silently scrutinized the officials below.

"Your Majesty! I have something to report!"

“Minister Lu…speak.”

It's that guy again!

Seeing the old Liboli jump out, the dragon's legs trembled involuntarily.

The moment that old fellow opened his mouth, the dragon knew what he was going to say.

"Your Majesty has ruled the country for twenty years, and the world is peaceful and stable, with the sun rising and the moon shining brightly."

As always, he started by boasting a few words, and then, just as Zhenlong had expected, he revealed his true intentions.

"But! A country cannot be without a mother for a day, nor a ruler without an heir for a day. The Chen family has a virtuous daughter, who is in the prime of her life..."

"Cough cough."

As soon as Zhenlong gave the signal, Eunuch Fengti, who was standing by, stepped forward and read out the will of Heaven.

"If you have something to report, then speak; if not, leave the court!"

"Alas! Your Majesty! I haven't finished speaking! Your Majesty!"

Old official Li Boli watched helplessly as the real dragon escaped, missing a golden opportunity, causing him to stand there and sigh deeply.

After court, his close associates gathered around him, chatting and laughing.

"Old Lu, this won't do! If your legs are slow, why are your words slow too?"

"Haha, I told you that old Shan Yu wouldn't do. You'll have to watch me next time. I'm determined to get a concubine into His Majesty's palace this year."

"You? A girl like you, a roughneck, would only offend His Majesty's eyes."

"Ha, you old fogies, don't even think about it! I'm going to push that girl from the Chen family over there!"

The group left laughing, their words filled with the resentment of the older generation.

"These guys, they're getting more and more stubborn with age. I'll outlive them all one by one sooner or later. Let's see who dares to pressure me into marriage then."

Standing behind the screen, the emperor watched his ministers depart and muttered resentfully.

"..."

Old Fengti stood silently to the side, tucking the several pictures of women's appearances into his sleeve.

"Let's go, Old Huang. I heard that Second Uncle has returned, but he didn't even tell me. When I see him, I'll have to have a good talk with him."

Looking at the real dragon ahead, Old Fengti reluctantly followed.

[Western Palace, Backyard]

"Slurp~"

A recliner, an old man, and tea.

"Second uncle!"

A strong, resonant voice rang out, and Chi Long reluctantly put down his tea and stood up to greet it.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Oh, Second Uncle, no need for such formalities, please sit down."

The true dragon squinted and smiled as he helped the red dragon sit down.

Old Fengti silently withdrew from the small courtyard, standing like an old tree at the entrance, waiting for the true dragon to emerge.

"Second Uncle, it's been a long time since we last met. How is Auntie doing?"

Looking at the red dragon, Bai Zhou inquired about the health of his family members with concern.

"It's alright, it's alright. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

"Why are you being so distant, Uncle? I've been thinking about you day and night."

"You're probably hoping I'll come back and cover your shift day and night so you can sneak out, aren't you?"

Chilong poured a cup of tea for his nephew, then picked up his own unfinished tea and slowly drank it.

"Oh, not at all. I was just concerned about Uncle's health."

During the day, he picked up the cup of tea and gently smelled it.

"Tianyue tea? It's so fresh! Uncle must have gone to a lot of trouble."

"It's alright, but these rare folk items are commonplace in the palace... Shouldn't you be tired of drinking them by now?"

"Those were all gifts from others, none of them taste as good as the one brewed by my second uncle himself."

Red Dragon leisurely hummed a few tunes he had heard along the way, drawing envious glances from Bai Zhou.

"Second Uncle, I heard that the Pang family branch has had a few more babies. I think those babies are quite cute."

"Yes, your second aunt told me."

Then the red dragon said:

"But I'm not envious."

"Raising children is too much trouble. Raising one is enough; I can't handle raising another one at my age."

"Huh? That's what you told my second aunt?"

"No, if I said that to your second aunt, she would be so angry that she would go back to her parents' home."

Chilong refilled his teacup and took a small sip.

"That's all I'm saying to you."

"...Second Uncle, you're ruthless."

He raised his cup during the day, but did not drink the tea.

"..."

The two of them sipped their tea slowly, while the other silently played with his teacup, and half a day passed like this.

"You haven't given up yet."

Holding the cup, Chi Long slowly exhaled, seemingly unintentionally.

"..."

During the day, gazing at the reflection in the cup, the thick, long dragon tail tightly coiled around the chair.

"How could I possibly give up?"

"But... even if you find her, at most you'll only enjoy a hundred years of happiness... or even less than fifty."

"And also... Ah Xi."

Chi Long looked at his nephew, who had grown up considerably.

His face grew more and more handsome, his posture more and more upright, and he had already taken on the appearance of a true dragon.

His ministers and officials revered him, while the enemies of the Yan Kingdom feared him.

He is becoming more and more like a qualified emperor.

"How can you be sure she'll still remember you?"