Two days passed. In those two days, the system gave three notices in total. The first notice was when the Zhen Guo house declared that An Chengjie didn't die, but had just gone missing. The system stated that An Chengsheng and the protagonist's love probability had fallen to 5%. The second time was when the news spread that An Chengjie was the Treasure Pavilion's behind the scenes boss, and An Chengsheng and the protagonist's love probability became 0%, pulling out the first soul flag. The third time was when the news spread that An Chengjie escaped to the northwest, and Lei Baofei and the protagonist's love probability had fallen to 10%.

Ye Zhizhou jabbed at the light screen and flipped over the data in boredom. He was thinking why Yan Mingyong hadn't come while also fretting about the lack of movements on the seventh prince's side. The letter he wrote to the seventh prince contained the names of the seventh prince's secret aides; he had mentioned that he had something good to present to him and included a vague device schematic, as well as clues pointing to him. It made no sense that there hasn't been a response yet. Could it be that the seventh prince couldn't understand the diagram? But didn't the protagonist pique the interest of the seventh prince using a device schematic like that in the original plot?

There was basically no possible way of An Chengjie meeting the seventh prince now, so normally the love probability should also drop; but the reality is that the damned love probability didn't budge one bit and firmly stayed at 100%. This was completely irrational! Was there still the possibility of the seventh prince meeting An Chengjie? If there is one, it would be the Autumn Hunt more than a month away...

He glanced at the weather outside while his thoughts raced. Isn't this so-called 'Autumn Hunt' of Great Yan a bit deceiving? It hadn't even been days since they entered summer. One month after this is when the weather starts to heat up, right? How is it an Autumn Hunt? Shouldn't it be the 'Summer Hunt'..?

The day was spent with his mind running wild. He sighed as he leaned on the railings of a winding corridor, eyes fixed on the country house's gate. Just what was that brat doing? When does he plan on letting me return? He felt unsettled now that the protagonist went missing.

Because his mind was plagued by thoughts, his sleep at night was not very deep. In his half-awake state, he felt pressure on his body. He wriggled on reflex and woke up when he couldn't break free. This feeling of something wrapping around his body was familiar and also aggravating.

He relied on his instincts to flip over the body on the bed to get on top of him, and when he could see that small beautiful face he jeered, "Oh..? His Highness the Eight Prince finally thought of his subject? Aren't all royalties terribly busy?"

Yan Mingyong raised his hand to caress his face, the expression hidden in the shadows was unclear to Ye Zhizhou. His voice cracked slightly, unlike his smooth and pleasant sounding voice in the past.

"You're angry? Don't be. I got you a present."

Ye Zhizhou quickly noticed something a bit wrong with his lover and opened the bed curtain a bit. He looked at his face in the moonlight and patted his body from top to bottom, frowning in the end. "What happened to you? Something's wrong."

Though Yan Mingyong's body didn't seem to have a problem, he seemed too calm and collected, unlike his bratty behaviour from before. He even resembled his self of the previous two worlds.

"I'm only.. A bit tired." Yan Mingyong stiffened under his touch.

With reddening ears, Yan Mingyong pulled down the curtain. He wrapped himself around Ye Zhizhuo again and then changed the topic. "Le'er, I ate all my medicine. Recently my chest would hurt again."

And Ye Zhizhou's attention really was diverted — He angrily rubbed Yan Mingyong up and down, then pinched his face. "You brat! Didn't I give De'an your medicine? He didn't give them to you?"

Yan Mingyong didn't talk anymore. He lowered his head and rubbed against his neck like a little puppy sticking to a person.

This was simply like the person himself changed. Not only was he not bratty, he's also being cute and lovable! Ye Zhizhou was caught between feeling angry and not angry; while holding him, he patted Yan Mingyong on his back and also pinched his face. He wanted to say something else but he found the person in his arms had already fallen asleep.

How vexing.... He stewed for a while but then hugged the one beside him tight. Now that a load was taken off his chest, he poked the system in his mind. "Tongtian, give him another scan. Is there really no problem with the soul?"

Half a minute later the screen popped out: [Data of the soul shows no anomaly.]

What should he do? This world's mission will soon be completed. If his lover wants to follow him to the next world...

The next day he was listless when he got up from bed, and he stared blankly at the elaborate meal on the table.

Yan Mingyong frowned, reached out to hold his hand and leaned in, "No appetite? Or do you not like to eat these?"

Seeing that the other boy's gaze was full of concern, he restrained himself from sighing and squeezed his hand back, hesitating as he asked, "Mingyong, hypothetically... If there is a next life for us, you— "

"You are mine."

Not waiting for him to finish talking, Yan Mingyong interrupted. His grip tightened, the calm and well-behaved mask on his face quickly broke, his tone stubborn and frantic, "Don't think you can escape in the next life. You can only be mine!"

....So that brattiness is still here. The well-behaved attitude yesterday was only an illusion!

Ye Zhizhou glared at him, not knowing what to do. As he vexed over how to handle his lover's 'brattiness', his vision unconsciously swept over the instrument rack at the corner of the room. His eyes brightened and he excitedly said, "Mingyong, why don't I play you a tune!"

Yan Mingyong, who was performing a play of 'chase, bind, confine', speedily put away his fierce expression. Recalling the content of several folktales, he hurriedly assumed an obedient appearance. He nodded with a face full of anticipation, "Okay, but you need to eat first."

Ye Zhizhou gulfed down his meal and then pushed Yan Mingyong to the small garden, setting him down inside a pavilion. He slightly moved sideways to use his sleeves to cover up his retrieval of the harmonica (bought in his previous life to relieve boredom) from his space. "I told De'an to move a small couch here. You should read for now, if you get sleepy later, you can rest directly."

Though Yan Mingyong was very curious about the thing in Ye Zhizhou's hands, he pressed down his question when he saw Ye Zhizhou's eagerness, and picked up a book as he was told to do. In any case, Le'er is free to do anything as long as he stays by his side.

Over the course of two lifetimes, Ye Zhizhou's harmonica skill went from dreadful to barely passable. When the first note sounded, Yan Mingyong hand paused in the middle of flipping a page. He glanced at Ye Zhizhou with a stiff expression, before quickly dipping his head back down and continuing with flipping pages. He knew that Le'er's gentlemanly six arts were not up to par, but he only faintly grasped it now... It's nothing. Later on he would teach him slowly.

The music started out rocky but became smoother as it continued. Ye Zhizhou sat against the pavilion's railing, carefully releasing his spiritual force to twine with the tune and gently carried it to Yan Mingyong.

Yan Mingyong felt the more you listened, the more you will be drawn in by this odd song. His nerves unconsciously relaxed, and the hand flipping pages slowed down. A quarter of an hour later, he fell asleep on his wheelchair. De'an who was guarding outside the pavilion quietly walked in and summoned the Zijin guards to carry the small couch in, he arranged the blanket and the pillow then retreated back out of the pavilion, continuing to keep watch outside.

The sound of music paused and then stopped. Ye Zhizhou put down his harmonica and carried Yan Mingyong to lay him down on the couch. He stroked his hair, covered him with the blanket and leaned back on the railings and continued playing. In order to prevent his lover from exhausting his soul to follow him to the next world, starting from today he will do his best to help gather and nourish his lover's spiritual force.

The sweet gentle mood between the two led Ye Zhizhou to think – since Yan Mingyong is feeling well, they must be able to return to the capital soon. However, reality then smacked him in the face!

"You want to stay here? Until the autumn hunt arrives?"

"En." Yan Mingyong slowly turned over a page without lifting his head, "I had sought Imperial Father's consent beforehand."

"What about my father and mother?"

"Duke Zhen Guo knows where we are and can visit when he misses you."

"But I want to go back."

Yan Mingyong stopped turning the page. He raised his head to lightly size Ye Zhizhou up and then lowered his eyes while kneading his hand. He softly replied, "Wait until the Autumn hunt."

"But—"

"I know you're concerned about how An Chengjie is doing now," Yan Mingyong put his book to the side and wheeled his chair to face him, "I know that he accused you of bullying him just after he entered the Zhen Guo household and smeared your reputation to raise his own standing outside. I also know he sowed discord between you and your family, to the point of testing Elder Lady An, and slandered your mother.... You don't have to worry, he won't have it easy. But, you needn't dirty your hands with these matters. I'll do it for you, okay?

Ye Zhizhou was stunned hearing these words from Yan Mingyong, "You were watching me and him all along?"

"No, I was looking out for you." He raised a hand to stroke Ye Zhizhou's cheek, his gaze deepening. "As for him, he is not worth your fears."

Even if he develops a few terrible objects, there's nothing to be scared of.

Ye Zhizhou compromised after he was sure he couldn't leave. He threw the mission to the back of his mind and concentrated on nourishing his lover's spiritual force. One month later, the remaining poison in Yan Mingyong's body was cleanly flushed out and his weak body also improved greatly, finally looking like a regular teenaged youth.

"Today, we will return to the capital."

They had just finished lunch and Ye Zhizhou was mulling over playing a tune in the afternoon so he was a little unresponsive. He asked in confusion, "Go back?"

"Mm." Yan Mingyong gradually didn't need his wheelchair to get around. After this reply, he steadily walked up to Ye Zhizhou to pull on his hand and lead him outside.

"Last night, Chuan Yue suddenly caught on fire. The fire spread too quickly so they couldn't put it out before it burned through half of the street. Three people burned to death and eleven were injured. We need to return to grasp the situation clearly."

This alarmed Ye Zhizhou, he instinctively rejected it, "How can that be!" Before opening the restaurant he did his best to take measures to guard against fire. After all, all the ancient buildings are made of wood, so they must pay attention to this. In addition, he had carefully instructed all of the servers, shopkeeper and the kitchen staffs to keep the big water jars in the backyard full at all times so they can put out fires in time!

At that moment the two had already reached the gate. Yan Mingyong helped him up into the carriage and said a name expressionlessly: "An Chengjie."

Ye Zhizhou mouth slightly opened, then he fell silent and his eyebrows furrowed deeply.

All the way to the restaurant, Ye Zhizhou was completely quiet. Yan Mingyong sat by him, held his hand and silently comforted him. When the horse carriage arrived at the southern street, Ye Zhizhou finally snapped out of it. He gripped Yan Mingyong's hand which was holding his. "There's no hurry to go to the restaurant. Where are the wounded? I want to go see them first."

Yan Mingyong nodded, he helped Ye Zhizhou down the carriage and instructed the coachman, he then pulled Ye Zhizhou towards a pharmacy not far from Chuan Yue. Ye Zhizhou looked at the burned wood frames of houses from across the street and his hands slowly tensed. The protagonist was transmigrated, there's no way he didn't know what danger fire posed in the ancient times.

He turned his head at the sudden loud whining from the horse. The horse pulling the carriage they were on was startled, it started running towards the burned down Chuan Yue!

"This is bad! The driver is still riding it!" The building's wood frames are on the verge of collapsing after the fire, if it receives such a powerful blow that driver will be in danger!

At the crucial moment, Yan Mingyong pulled out a small whistle from his sleeves and blew it. One second later a figure rushed out of the shadows to the front of the carriage, dragged the coachman by his collar, threw him off the carriage then quickly left to completely blend in with the shadows once more.

Ye Zhizhou let out a relieved sigh. He then thought to check the coachman's condition, but the next second, an earth-shaking explosion was heard. He raised his head in shock. He could feel the sensation of imbalance from the ground shifting under his feet, filling his heart with disbelief. This is....... an explosion? The protagonist already made explosives?

"Be careful!" Thinking it was an earthquake, Yan Mingyong leapt to shield him under his body.

Ye Zhizhou laid on the ground with his head raised. He saw smoke and dust left by the explosion, the mess of people running out to the street; he heard the panicked voices of patients and doctors in the pharmacy, and he truly felt angry for the first time. He resentfully pounded the ground.

Setting fire, planting bombs, has An Chengjie gone mad?!

Translator: Padam | Thank you for Divetus, Mimishijie and Fanny for chapter 36 edits!

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Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

[1] Chuan Yue, 川越, beyond the river, is the name of An Chengle (Ye Zhizhou)'s restaurant. Sounds similar to transmigrate 穿越.