Chapter 56

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

Yang Chongyin prepared quite a lot for the dinner tonight.

He has worked it out with Bai Lianhua, and tomorrow night, with the help of his subordinates, they will return to where the ‘State Oracle’ is supposed to be staying right now, and then two days after that, the entire procession will return to the capital.

For him, this trip of his has been much more fruitful than he expected. It’s practically a dream come true, so of course he feels like celebrating.

And it’s been long enough that Bai Lianhua has also become used to accepting Yang Chongyin feeding him with calmness… And when he thinks about how he might not manage to have such succulent feasts later, he also can’t help but take a few more looks at the entire table with Yang Chongyin’s cooking on it trying to preserve it in his mind.

——Back in the capital, Yang Chongyin will be the State Oracle that is above everyone else again. So there will probably no longer be such character-shattering images anymore.

But seriously, perhaps the antagonists are weirdly talented or something, but Yang Chongyin’s cooking is no worse than the chefs in the other worlds at all. And because he also knows his tastes well, he manages to always make such delicious food… Oof, he even feels somewhat unwilling to let this go.

The system mocks him, “from being shocked to being unwilling to let go, what a drastic change, host. I did hear that to capture a person, start with his stomach… Emm, so be careful?”

Bai Lianhua seriously starts contemplating if he really is too much of a glutton.

“Why do you just keep staring at it?” Yang Chongyin asks out of concern.

Bai Lianhua laughs lightly, “eh, I just feel a bit sad knowing this kind of an occasion is coming to an end.”

Yang Chongyin pours a bowl of soup for him, saying as he puts it next to him, “no. As long as you would like, it will be there for you.”

“Back in the capital, you can live in my State Oracle’s residence first. We can still live like that. In the imperial palace, I believe there is an annex for the State Oracle as well, though it’s unfrequented by the past State Oracles… Just issue a decree to move me in. If you want to eat something, I’ll make it for you then.”

Bai Lianhua “…” Uhh, I just felt like remarking, you know, and Mr. antagonist you’ve already decided to work out a full solution for me?

Bai Lianhua waves his hands dismissively, “that wouldn’t do. Shixiong, if you personally cook for me, it will damage our reputation.” The noble, virtuous State Oracle suddenly doing such mundane stuff is probably not a contrast many will easily accept, nor is it good for Yang Chongyin’s image… Someone like the State Oracle must have a certain feeling of mystique and distance to be effective in making people fear and adore him.

“It’s alright. I like when you seem happy eating my cooking… Besides, it’s not just that the residence has quite the strict rules and the servants won’t say anything unnecessary, but also, so what if the news got out? Have I not had enough living for other people yet?”

“I am Yang Chongyin, someone that has fallen for you, before I am the State Oracle.”

“If, after you succeed the throne, I manage to garner a reputation of being a bad, seductive influence on you, then sure.”

——They’ll definitely need to have a close relationship for ‘seductive’ to be used after all.

Bai Lianhua doesn’t know what to say. The antagonist sure is something to always remember increasing his favourability of him at every opportunity.

And he really is someone that softball tactics work for – he feels a bit touched.

The system wipes its face in secret. As expected, no matter what world it is the antagonist always finds a way.

…

The next day, Bai Lianhua and Yang Chongyin set up the stall for the last time. Coincidentally, they meet again with the young man who asked them for a divination before happily reporting his romantic progress with them and thanking them again.

It turns out the family of his romantic interest who seemed adamant before has finally started to change their opinion… Apparently, they thought the man had a commendable attitude when they see that after they’ve rejected him several times the man would still treat them respectfully without growing irritated. Since they also know the bachelorette in their family also holds goodwill for him they’ve decided to tentatively open up to him a bit… The young man, while overjoyed, is also convinced that this is also partly because he has been calmed having been told a positive result at Yang Chongyin and Bai Lianhua’s stall. If he were nervous and anxious all the time and didn’t have a calm mind, his future in-laws would definitely have remained unimpressed.

Speaking of which, since Yang Chongyin’s divinations for his relatives and friends all ended up being quite accurate, now they’re all quite happy to look for him for divinations of their own volitions.

And his name has also spread quite a bit. There are even relatives of his that live far away interested in asking him for a divination.

Bai Lianhua thanks him for his patronage, but says, “this is the last day we are setting up the stall here.”

The young man ‘ah’s with a dumb expression, and then quickly asks, “you’re leaving.”

Bai Lianhua smiles and nods, “yes. The time for us to leave has come.”

The young man seems to be saddened, but he also understands these can’t be helped… Diviners liked to travel. It’s rare for them to stay somewhere for long.

He laments, “then you’ll be unable to share in my future marriage candies …”

He moves his hands over to his sleeve, taking a small cloth bag out which has dried nuts like peanuts inside, giving it to Bai Lianhua, “I don’t have anything else on me except this small bag of snacks I use when I feel like eating a little something… Please accept it as my premature marriage candy for you between me and the one I love.”

Bai Lianhua chuckles. He sure is a person madly in love… Right now it’s just the family of her feeling like tentatively opening up but he’s already thinking about his wedding with her.

Still, given there’s Yang Chongyin’s divination here there’s nothing to worry about… The young man and his love would definitely stay together until both their hair grow silver.

Bai Lianhua takes a peanut out of the bag, cracks it open, and divides the two nuts inside between him and Yang Chongyin, lifting the other to his mouth.

——It’s quite clear the young man meant this for the both of them.

Yang Chongyin seems slightly surprised, and then obediently bites onto it… When Bai Lianhua realises that act of his was slightly too overly familiar it’s too late. The corner of Yang Chongyin’s lips have perked up already; clearly he’s in quite the good mood right now.

Bai Lianhua could only retract his hand feeling slightly embarrassed. He puts the remaining nut in his mouth as he tries to nonchalantly brush over it, saying with a light tone to the young man, “thank you… Let’s hope we will meet again.”

…

Same as when he arrived, Yang Chongyin’s State Oracle-level of procession is still quite the spectacle when they return.

Though there is no longer a Bai Lianhua that has set up a stall in a corner as part of the onlookers, because right now he is sitting alongside Yang Chongyin in this carriage that is meant for the State Oracle only.

When the carriage is turning a corner, as the distance between him and the onlookers have reduced, Bai Lianhua can hear what the people are saying too.

“Sigh. The State Oracle was only staying in his place this whole time, and we couldn’t see him at all… I wonder if that rumoured artefact has been found.”

“Of course it has. The State Oracle himself has come forth, so of course it’s found.”

“True… Though what kind of artefact would it have been, I wonder, to have been just by you and me. I haven’t really heard anything about something strange happening about the place recently either? Curious…”

Bai Lianhua can’t help but glance at Yang Chongyin, wanting to see how he’d react given the guy used this artefact search as an excuse, but he only discovers that the antagonist is neither blushing nor appearing embarrassed. He seems to be completely normal and unaffected.

Phew, the antagonist sure overshadows him when it comes to the ability to act dumb.

Bai Lianhua adjusts his posture feeling slightly uncomfortable. Yang Chongyin sees it and says in a considerate tone, “the road we’re taking might be slightly bumpy, especially when we’re out of the hamlet, when the condition of the road is even worse. If shidi you feel uncomfortable, you can lie down on my thighs.”

Bai Lianhua “???” While blinking in confusion, he does not accept this offer by Yang Chongyin.

——This horse-drawn carriage is already very luxurious when considering contemporary technology, and it doesn’t feel that bad sitting in it either… As for sleeping onto Yang Chongyin’s legs… Excuse him, but he’s only heard about getting drunk and sleeping onto a beauty’s thighs, but not lying on the side on a shixiong’s thighs.

Meanwhile, the system pops up again, “to be honest, the antagonist’s looks in this world do live up to being called a ‘beauty’…”

After that, perhaps to show it still loved its host the most, it adds, “of course, if we compare the two of you, host, you’re the one that fits ‘beauty’ the most.”

Bai Lianhua “…” I don’t particularly want to hear that clarification, thanks.

…

They make progress smoothly. And it is these two days that Bai Lianhua actually discovers that Yang Chongyin the State Oracle has a well-trained group of underlings besides him.

When Yang Chongyin left and went about his business, they could flawlessly maintain the illusion that Yang Chongyin was busy making divinations every day while dealing with a bunch of nobles at his rank that came to visit. When Yang Chongyin is returning now with an extra Bai Lianhua by his side, not one person among them seems to be expressing curiosity and whatnot. No wonder Yang Chongyin says that the Residence of State Oracle is quite the strict and disciplined place, which can be seen manifested here.

Yang Chongyin chuckled when he realises Bai Lianhua is surprised by that, explaining to him that these are the personal guards each State Oracle would have. They pass down from father to son to grandson hereditarily, forming a bloodline.

While this was originally part of the emperors’ schemes of keeping an eye on the State Oracles, but as each and every State Oracle ended up completely devoting themselves to the dynasty and people without showing the slightest disobedience, the royal family started to ignore them. These personal guards have had less and less contact over time with the royal family and they’ve relayed any news in secret less and less, and grown more distant as well… Later, the emperors have probably also forgotten that these are people left behind by their ancestors and instead thought they were part of the Residence of State Oracle’s corp.

If the first generation of the personal guard could be said to be only faithful to the emperor, then when their descendants are all born and raised in the Residence of State Oracle, and have grown up admiring the State Oracle’s capabilities, then no matter how much their elders would try to brainwash them telling them their duties, their sense of such would still inevitably diminish generation after generation. Over time, these personal guards have started to become loyal to each and every State Oracle, until now when it has become the case that other than the State Oracle, they wouldn’t even listen to the emperor.

They can be quite useful if the situation calls for it.

Yang Chongyin jokes with him, “if shidi really doesn’t come back forever… When the years pass, even if the royal family discovers the problem with the national fortune and wants to present me as a sacrifice to the Heavens, I wouldn’t be defenceless either. Worst case I can just take them with me to live secluded in the mountains, and the world’s chaos would have nothing to do with me.”

This really isn’t a joke Bai Lianhua can make himself laugh at. He can only look directly at Yang Chongyin, again, soothing him, “but I’m back.”

“Yes, you’re back… So none of that would happen.” Yang Chongyin takes hold of Bai Lianhua’s hand. While Bai Lianhua moved his hand feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he chooses not to let go.

…

Back at the capital, while the sun is yet to set, but according to procedure, Yang Chongyin is set to head directly for the Residence of State Oracle to rest and only go see the emperor tomorrow.

——Being the State Oracle, he of course has the right to enjoy exceptions and be nonchalant like this, unlike others whose first order of the day when they reach the capital is to immediately present a request to report on their duties.

This is part of the tacit pact formed by the emperor towards the State Oracles.

Yet, the moment Yang Chongyin’s procession enters the Residence of State Oracle, a decree reaches them saying that the emperor is making his way here, and that the Residence is to prepare for his arrival in two hours.

A personal guard has already tried to acquire information from the eunuch that came to announce the news, who now turns to report to Yang Chongyin.

It turns out that the emperor wanted to call for him as soon as he got the news that Yang Chongyin has entered the city. Though when he is reminded of the State Oracle’s identity that means he cannot just call him for him to show up at his whim, and that Yang Chongyin, having just arrived off his journey, must be allowed time for lunch and a cleansing bath with a change of clothes before leaving the Residence again, so he can only be summoned in the afternoon at the earliest, decides he can’t wait anymore and he should just head directly for him.

Since the Residence is already someplace that past emperors would all head for in secret to discuss secrets or ask for divinations, he might as well do so too.

Yang Chongyin chuckles, “apparently I’ve managed to tug at his desires. He urgently needs this so-called artefact to prove that he is a capable ruler, so much so that even the Heavens have given him this beneficial artefact to encourage him.”

He turns to look at Bai Lianhua, “it seems you’ll not stay long in this Residence of mine.”

He wanted to make detailed plans first, but it sure is unexpected the emperor is showing up as soon as they returned… His junior disciple really did have the fortune, even the Heavens are helping him.

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