OVPBM 24

Chapter 24 – “Doing Official Business Together with His Highness, What Do You Think?”

Beneath Chu Xuanzhou’s cold lips was Lu Yunwan’s pulse.

He slowly closed his eyes and kissed that spot, patiently using his lips to feel the flow of blood and the presence of life.

Human skin was soft and warm.

To Chu Xuanzhou, who had just completely awakened his top-tier merfolk bloodline, it was astonishingly fragile.

He did not even dare to apply pressure.

The Regent wore gloves all year round. This patch of skin, which had almost never seen the light, was white like freshly made paper, with bluish-purple veins clearly visible beneath it.

The slender scar on the wrist looked painfully conspicuous.

The young man carefully cradled Lu Yunwan’s wrist, his lips slowly sliding over that thin scar.

Chu Xuanzhou remembered that he had once bitten a bloody hole into Lu Yunwan’s shoulder. That time, the Regent had not treated the wound. Instead, he had described the scar as a gift from him.

…Then what about this scar on Lu Yunwan’s wrist?

Chu Xuanzhou could not help but wonder who had left that scar on Lu Yunwan’s wrist, and what it meant to him.

Without realizing it, survival was no longer the only question in Chu Xuanzhou’s life.

He had begun to want to uncover everything about Lu Yunwan.

Planet Cangrui had only one artificial satellite, which at this moment shimmered with silver light outside the window.

Under the faint glow of starlight, the merman finally could not resist revealing his sharp fangs, gently nibbling across the scar.

Before long, fresh red marks covered the old scar.

The silver-haired merman let out a soft laugh, admiring his handiwork as though it were a work of art.

Satisfied, he embraced the human and drifted into sleep.

* * *

Ever since transmigrating into the book, there had been a mountain of work waiting each day for Lu Yunwan in his role as the Regent.

In addition, during his spare time, he had to study and imitate the original host, practically neglecting food and sleep. He had not had many nights of uninterrupted rest.

This period of unconsciousness gave Lu Yunwan the best three days of rest he had had in months.

But it was not as though he had dreamt of nothing.

For instance, Lu Yunwan vaguely saw fragments of the Regent’s past in his “dream”.

When the original host was fifteen, the intermediate military academy of their star system began recruiting students.

At the time, he had no idea what a “mecha” even was. He signed up merely to obtain the opportunity to travel to other planets for free.

Unexpectedly, during the pre-enrollment physical examination, it was discovered that his mental power had reached the maximum value!

From then on, the original host was given focused training by that military academy until four years later, when he became the first graduate in the entire star system to pass the examination and enter the Imperial Military Academy.

At that time, he was basking in glory, brimming with arrogance…

On the desolate training grounds of a barren planet covered in gray granite, a fierce battle had just erupted.

Three or four mecha lay on the ground belching blue smoke. Their pilots had been ejected by emergency escape systems and were half-kneeling on the ground in a sorry state.

In the middle of those fallen machines stood a black training mecha.

A few seconds later, the hatch opened. The youth in training uniform jumped down directly from a height of two meters and strode straight toward the person at the front.

Having just broken through the encirclement, waves of sharp pain were spreading from his mental core, but the youth paid it no heed.

His black hair was slightly disheveled, and there was even a bit of dust on his clothes, yet his eyes shone with a frightening brightness.

“Lu Yunwan, what are you doing?!” someone shouted. “Have you gone mad? This is only a training exercise!”

“I know.” The youth waved a hand behind his back and slowly came to a stop with a smile.

“Sorry.” He lowered his head as he spoke to the person before him, his tone unusually sincere.

But Lu Yunwan could see clearly that although the original host said ‘sorry,’ his expression was arrogant to the extreme. He did not feel that he had done anything wrong, nor was he the slightest bit embarrassed.

The person half-kneeling opposite him tried to turn sideways to avoid him, but the original host seized him by the collar.

The other gritted his teeth and looked away.

The original host slowly extended his hand and removed the blue medal hanging from the other’s chest, the one symbolizing his status.

“Beautiful.”

After examining it carefully for a few moments, he unceremoniously pinned the medal onto his own chest.

—From that moment on, anyone who saw it would know that the medal’s original owner had been defeated by Lu Yunwan.

A merman noble having his medal taken by a human was something that had never happened before.

“Many thanks, Your Grace,” the original host said with a smile as he stepped back.

…Your Grace?

Only then did Lu Yunwan see clearly. The one who had just become the original host’s defeated opponent was none other than Duke Pei Hanji of the Empire!

Unlike Pei Hanji, who had been born with a title, the original host at that time was merely an obscure lower-class planet human at the Imperial Military Academy.

Yet he not only showed the duke no respect, he had even humiliated him.

At this moment, although the original host’s tone and movements were restrained and elegant, his actions were arrogantly shocking.

Lu Yunwan realized that perhaps it had not begun from the day he became the Regent, nor from the moment he took control of power.

From beginning to end, the original host had never regarded himself as an ant like the other humans of this world.

……

After witnessing that scene, a sudden pang throbbed in Lu Yunwan’s chest. Not far away, the instrument monitoring his vital signs began flashing an orange light.

He reflexively pressed a hand to his chest. Only after a long pause did the unfamiliar pain gradually fade.

A few minutes later, Lu Yunwan slowly opened his eyes.

A beam of light slipped through a gap in the heavy velvet curtains and fell beside the bed. He squinted, and after adjusting to it, casually activated his optical-brain and habitually began receiving messages.

“Today is the 24th?”

Seeing the date displayed on the optical-brain and the mountain of accumulated messages, Lu Yunwan froze for a moment before realizing that he seemed to have been unconscious for a full four days.

Damn it!

This is bad.

Ever since becoming the Regent, the original host had kept absolute control of power in his own hands. Calling him autocratic and dictatorial would not be an exaggeration.

Although, as a “fragile” human, he often seemed to get injured or fall ill.

Even so, there had never been a time when, after narrowly escaping death and still unable to get out of bed, he had not persisted in issuing orders to the entire Empire, asserting his presence.

Through his actions, the Regent constantly reminded everyone that everything remained under his control.

But this time, Lu Yunwan had been absent from duty for four whole days!

That had never happened before.

At the thought, his heart immediately turned cold.

Lu Yunwan was certain, enough to stake the original host’s reputation on it, that this time, he had absolutely gotten himself into serious trouble.

* * *

The reception hall of the Regent’s residence on Planet Cangrui had black walls on all four sides, and the carpet was the color of poppies, giving the room a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

It clashed sharply with the Empire’s reverence for deep blue.

At this moment, more than a dozen sofas of various sizes in the reception hall were filled with people. Unlike usual, those seated here today were not the Regent’s confidants, but representatives of the Empire’s noble faction.

They had come to cause trouble.

“Major General Aitewen, we truly only wish to see His Excellency the Regent. We have no other intentions,” one female noble said as she set down her coffee cup. “We have already waited three hours. Why is there still no reply from His Excellency?”

“Indeed,” someone by the window added with feigned suspicion, “Major General Aitewen would not have forgotten to inform him, would you?”

“Or perhaps you could tell us where he is now.”

Several people in the reception hall chimed in, and Lu Yunwan’s subordinates reacted as well.

“Of course not. His Excellency the Regent is merely… somewhat occupied at the moment and temporarily unable to spare the time,” the blond young man named Aitewen said.

He was the original host’s confidant and had previously been investigating the Empress Dowager’s death case.

After completing that mission, he returned to his post, stationed in the border star system, and only returned to Planet Cangrui after Lu Yunwan’s accident.

“But…”

The merfolk exchanged glances, intending to press further, only to be interrupted by Lu Sirong.

“How many times have we said it? His Excellency has matters to attend to!” Lu Sirong said impatiently. “What? Do you think you are more important than his official business?”

The room suddenly fell silent.

Although Lu Yunwan’s condition remained unknown, evidently, no one dared to question his family.

At that moment, a soft clink of porcelain against a table sounded from the corner of the reception hall.

A merman narrowed his dark green eyes and set down his teacup. “Mr. Lu, do not be angry. Everyone is simply worried about His Excellency.”

“His Excellency has not shown himself for four days. One wonders whether he is truly busy, or… perhaps unwell?” He deliberately drew out his tone, asking with a hint of ambiguity.

With that remark, the reception hall instantly grew lively again. Everyone began enthusiastically “expressing concern” for Lu Yunwan’s health.

More than thirty officials crowded the sitting room. For a moment even Aitewen found it somewhat difficult to handle, while Lu Sirong was nearly furious to death.

Just as Lu Yunwan reached outside the reception hall, he heard the noisy chatter and a familiar voice.

It was Pei Zhaoan.

…Even he, who was said never to leave the Capital Planet, has come to Planet Cangrui?

In Lu Yunwan’s presence, his subordinates were always cautious, afraid of saying even a single wrong word.

In his memory, the reception hall had never been this lively.

Yet Lu Yunwan was not in a hurry to enter. Instead, he leaned against the doorway, a half-smile playing on his lips as he looked toward the hall.

Seconds ticked by, and as the chatter gradually faded, he finally spoke. “How is it that I never knew Mr. Pei cared so much about me?”

The moment Lu Yunwan’s voice fell, the hall went completely silent. Everyone turned in unison toward the door.

In the next second, they could not help but draw in a sharp breath.

…Th-this… This is His Excellency the Regent?!

Standing by the doorway, Lu Yunwan was not dressed in his usual heavy cloak, wrapped tightly from head to toe.

He had only just awakened from his coma and come straight through the corridor to the reception hall, without even having time to change.

A black night robe that trailed along the floor hung loosely from his frame, cinched only at the waist, outlining an impossibly striking curve.

His waist was slender, so slender it seemed as though it might snap with the slightest force.

He leaned lazily against the doorframe, his expression relaxed as he looked at the crowd.

In the corner, Pei Zhaoan’s gaze darkened.

At this moment, the Regent appeared casual and at ease, yet in reality… Lu Yunwan was dying of embarrassment!

A buzzing filled his mind.

—He had rushed out in a hurry just to take a look and had never expected that so many people would have gathered on Planet Cangrui today!

Ahhh, can someone please let me go back and change clothes?

Fortunately, Lu Yunwan had always possessed the ability to remain composed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Adhering to the belief that if he was not embarrassed, then the embarrassment belonged to others, he gritted his teeth and endured it.

Drinking was popular in the Empire, and the Regent’s residence, like everywhere else, kept ice wine on hand.

Before long, Pei Zhaoan, who had been sitting in the corner, stood up with a glass of ice wine.

He walked slowly to Lu Yunwan’s side and slightly raised his hand in an inviting gesture. “You are the Regent of the Empire. Every subject should be concerned about your health.”

Tch. Concerned about when I will die, more like.

Lu Yunwan rolled his eyes inwardly, then turned his shame into acting.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against the cold rim of the glass.

The warmth of his breath instantly coiled around Pei Zhaoan’s fingers. His arm trembled, and he nearly dropped the glass.

The dark red wine slid along the glass and slowly flowed into Lu Yunwan’s mouth.

His lashes lowered, his expression unusually focused.

“You…” Only when Pei Zhaoan spoke did he realize that his voice had grown hoarse.

“Mr. Pei, what is wrong with your hand?” After drinking half the glass, Lu Yunwan finally lifted his head and exposed him directly.

As the saying goes, wine emboldens the timid.

And Lu Yunwan had always been audacious since childhood.

After finishing that half glass on an empty stomach, the slightly tipsy Lu Yunwan became even more straightforward.

Pei Zhaoan immediately shifted his gaze. He did not answer the question, instead saying, “Earlier, Mr. Lu Sirong mentioned that you were handling official business… May I ask what exactly His Excellency the Regent’s official business is?”

Official business?

Having never coordinated answers with Lu Sirong, Lu Yunwan gradually lowered his eyes and slowly began to smile, as though mocking how foolish the question was.

In truth, Lu Yunwan himself wanted to ask… dressed like this, what “official business” could he possibly be doing?!

The bitter fragrance of the wine spread through his mouth, like tiny needles pricking at his nerves again and again.

Everyone in the reception hall was watching him.

Lu Yunwan knew that no matter what he said, the answer would quickly be carried across the entire interstellar realm by these political enemies.

Thump. Thump.

He could almost hear his own heartbeat.

And at that moment, from the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure appear at the other end of the corridor.

It was Chu Xuanzhou.

After discovering that Lu Yunwan was no longer in bed, he came searching through the corridor.

The instant Lu Yunwan saw him, an answer formed in his heart.

He did not respond to Pei Zhaoan’s question. Instead, he turned toward Chu Xuanzhou. “Your Highness, come here.”

Chu Xuanzhou paused briefly, then walked to Lu Yunwan’s side.

The crimson carpet swallowed every sound. At that moment, Lu Yunwan lifted his head and smiled brilliantly.

Having slept in bed for four full days, his voice was even hoarser than usual, yet when it reached the ears of those present, it carried an indescribable sensuality.

Lu Yunwan extended his fingers and slowly brushed Pei Zhaoan’s hand and the glass aside.

With a crisp crash, the glass fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Looking into the dark green eyes before him, Lu Yunwan said, “Doing official business together with His Highness, what do you think?”

Everyone in the reception hall held their breath.

Pei Zhaoan paused and subconsciously bent down to pick up the glass.

At that moment, Lu Yunwan suddenly leaned close to Chu Xuanzhou and lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear.

“Your Highness, help me.”

His voice was like a dagger, carving straight into Chu Xuanzhou’s heart.

“Tell him what ‘official business’ we have been doing.”

𓇼 ˚｡⋆ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞⋆｡˚ 𓇼

Author’s Note:

Lu Yunwan: If I cannot solve the problem, I will let someone else do it XD;

Chu Xuanzhou: ???