Dance Of The Dragons-Chapter 514 : (Extra) Separating The Twins (2)

Xie Jianyu’s day was the same as always, but the Crown Prince was unable to focus on anything.

He did not have much of an appetite, even sleep failed to offer its usual solace.

He only felt slightly better when his husband came home that night, and the first question he asked Zhang Fengxi was, "Did you come back from Longjing Palace?"

Lips curving into a smile, Zhang Fengxi draped an arm around Xie Jianyu and pulled him close.

"Yes. Are you worried about Mingrui?"

"I wonder if he’s studying well," Xie Jianyu said. "Did he cause any kind of trouble to Palace Master Zhang and Lady Song?"

Zhang Fengxi arched a brow at his wife.

"Is that all?"

Xie Jianyu averted his gaze and pressed his lips together into a tight line. No matter how many years they had been married to each other, Xie Jianyu never liked to display any sign of weakness.

It included the weakness of the heart.

"Junjie’s cultivation and studies are progressing according to plan," he said slowly. "Naturally I trust Mingrui won’t fall short."

Zhang Fengxi tipped Xie Jianyu’s chin upward so that they could see each other in the eyes.

"If you are so worried, why don’t you visit Mingrui from time to time?"

It’s not that the idea did not cross his mind several times, but...

"It won’t do," Xie Jianyu whispered. "If I go there, Mingrui won’t be able to focus. He is going to be attached to me the whole time."

"Baby, Mingrui will always be attached to you," Zhang Fengxi reminded his wife. "You are his mother. Why won’t he be attached to you?"

"I..."

Xie Jianyu gently pushed Zhang Fengxi away.

"I just can’t. I don’t want to ruin Mingrui’s focus."

Zhang Fengxi heaved an exasperated sigh.

"Alright, Baby," the Supreme General hugged his wife from behind and rubbed his face against the latter’s nape affectionately. "I will listen to you."

Alas, it did not help.

Xie Jianyu made sure to ask Zhang Fengxi about Zhang Mingrui’s progress every time the alpha returned from Longjing Palace, but Zhang Fengxi’s answer lacked details and depth.

Xie Jianyu wanted to know more.

He wanted to hear that Zhang Mingrui was excelling, hopefully at the cusp of breaking through to another cultivation level, or probably winning a sword competition at his age level.

But no.

No such news reached Xie Jianyu’s ears.

Given the unclear circumstances, Xie Jianyu decided to pay an official visit to Longjing Palace. Not as a mother visiting his son, of course, but a Crown Prince visiting his subject.

As expected, Zhang Zhiyuan practically rolled out the welcome carpet the moment Xie Jianyu arrived at the Longjing Palace’s gate.

As soon as he arrived, he was escorted to the palace master’s study.

Xie Jianyu took every chance to look around, trying to catch a glimpse of a certain tiger boy he had not seen for days.

Probably in the middle of practicing swords, or being punished by kneeling in the courtyard.

He knew that it was the kind of punishment Lady Song liked to give.

But no.

There was no sign of Zhang Mingrui, not even a trace of his shadow.

Xie Jianyu and Zhang Zhiyuan discussed about the realm affair for almost two hours before the Crown Prince had to take his leave.

On his way out, again his eyes searched for his son, and again he had to swallow his disappointment.

In the end, once he was safely seated on top of Wangshu, Xie Jianyu could not restrain himself anymore. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Father," he softly called out, no longer addressing Zhang Zhiyuan with his official title.

"Yes, Crown Prince? Ah, I mean, Little Xie. Oh no, I mean..."

Panic clawed at Zhang Zhiyuan. Xie Jianyu had been his son-in-law for more than ten years now, but he still struggled to find a fitting form of address.

"Where is Mingrui?" Xie Jianyu asked impatiently.

"Oh? Mingrui went to study together with his friend Yu Weimin from Qingyuan Palace today."

Xie Jianyu’s lips fell open.

"... The entire day?"

"Yes," Zhang Zhiyuan confirmed. "Is something the matter? Should I summon him back home?"

"Nothing," Xie Jianyu curtly answered. "Please excuse me, Father. I am in a hurry."

He then lightly tapped at Wangshu’s body and soared with his flying mount to the sky.

By chance, he also had some official business to discuss with Zhou Guizheng. Usually, he chose to speak to the palace masters at the conclusion of morning assemblies.

Seeing that he was already out of Fuxi Palace for the day, he might as well pay a visit to Qingyuan Palace.

In order to access Qingyuan Palace, one must first descend on Coral Reef Town at the Human Realm.

While Xie Jianyu’s visit was welcome, it also came as a surprise to Zhou Guizheng. After all, Qingyuan Palace’s isolated location was the main reason why the mermaid clan rarely saw guests from the Heavenly Realm.

Zhou Guizheng could not remember the last time the Crown Prince paid a visit to his underwater palace.

It had been a while indeed.

And maybe that’s why the Crown Prince was exceptionally curious during his visit this time around.

He kept craning his neck left and right, his gaze sweeping across the mesmerizing underwater panorama.

If Zhou Guizheng did not know better, he might suspect that Xie Jianyu came here to conduct an unannounced investigation on behalf of his elder brother, the Heavenly Emperor.

He entertained Xie Jianyu two hours long, answering the Crown Prince’s penetrating questions and giving him his expert opinion on various topics.

Finally, it was time for the Crown Prince to leave.

Xie Jianyu already restrained himself from asking about his son for two whole hours, but he couldn’t take it anymore.

With a flicker of restrained indignation crossing his face, he turned to Zhou Guizheng and asked, "Excuse me, Palace Master Zhou, but have you seen my son, Zhang Mingrui?"

Zhou Guizheng stared at Xie Jianyu for three seconds straight before an "Oh" escaped his lips.

"Reporting to the Crown Prince, Prince Zhang Mingrui already left an hour ago."