I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Waiting for the Marriage — Perhaps, once they are wed…

At this moment, Feng Xiuyan was indeed not at the mountain manor.

He was seated upon the crystal throne of the Dragon Palace, his fingertips gently rubbing a half-inch piece of duck fluff hidden in his sleeve—it had accidentally stuck to his hem a few days ago while he was adding hay to Shen Youqing’s courtyard.

Outside the hall lay the endless, surging azure waves, with occasional silver fish flashing by. Inside, thousand-year-old coral lamps were adorned with fine pearls, casting a warm glow upon the crystal floor that made the entire palace shimmer.

The aquatic ministers held their memorials, stepping forward in sequence to report in respectful, rhythmic tones on rainfall schedules and river dredging across the mortal provinces.

But Feng Xiuyan’s mind had long since wandered. What flickered before his eyes were not the characters on the scrolls, but the image of Shen Youqing squatting by the duck pen, laughing as he teased the duckling.

“Your Majesty.” Below, a handsome young man in dark red official robes stepped forward, holding a memorial. Seeing that Feng Xiuyan had not responded for a long time, he reminded him softly, “Next month, the Jiangnan region requires three days of increased rain. I have drafted the deployment plan; shall we send General Mo Ang to oversee it?”

“Mm.” Feng Xiuyan finally retracted his drifting thoughts, though his fingers did not let go of the duck feather. “Handle the remaining matters according to precedent. If there is urgent business, simply send word to me.”

Feng Xiuyan rose abruptly, his dark robes sweeping across the crystal steps with a cold luster. However, the urgency hidden in his eyes seemed ready to shatter the chill of the Dragon Palace. “I have important business; I must return to the mortal realm immediately.”

The young man froze, stepping forward with concern: “Your Majesty, although the undercurrents of the East Sea are temporarily stable, the subsequent flood monitoring and defense deployments still require your personal decision. Leaving the palace now may be inappropriate…”

“Say no more.” Feng Xiuyan interrupted him, tucking the duck fluff carefully into the inner lining of his lapel.

The young man wanted to say more, but before the words could leave his mouth, the blue waves surged, and Feng Xiuyan’s silhouette had already vanished beyond the palace gates.

…

The moment the silver stream that was Feng Xiuyan broke through the Dragon Palace’s water curtain, the hall erupted into chaos. The ministers stood frozen with their scrolls, faces full of disbelief as they traded glances. The respectful atmosphere vanished, replaced by a tide of whispered speculation.

“What has happened to His Majesty? To abandon the defense of the undercurrents for mortal affairs?”

“Indeed! Ever since His Majesty returned from the mortal realm, he has been distracted during court. Today, he simply left…”

“Could there be something in the mortal world more important than the safety of the Dragon Palace?”

At that moment, Mo Ang, clad in black armor, strode forward. “Chancellor Gu,” he whispered to the young man, “His Majesty’s hurried departure… could there be some trouble in the mortal realm?”

An old minister stroked his beard, his eyes lighting up. “Have you all forgotten? The deadline for the marriage alliance with the humans is almost here! For the past month, hasn’t His Majesty been personally screening candidates? In my view, His Majesty must have found someone he favors, which is why he is in such a hurry to return!”

“Of course!” The hall grew lively as ministers chimed in with laughter and congratulations. “Does this mean the Dragon Palace will soon have a celebration?”

Watching this, Mo Ang’s brow furrowed. He barked a command: “Enough! Is the King’s business something for you to speculate on so casually? Return to your duties!”

Meanwhile, Fu Li (Chancellor Gu), who had been frowning since Feng Xiuyan left, looked even colder at the mention of “choosing a consort.” He didn’t look at the crowd again; he simply nodded to Mo Ang and strode away, his dark red robes trailing with a sense of suppressed irritation.

…

By the time Feng Xiuyan rushed back to the manor, twilight had already scaled the courtyard walls. He strode into Shen Youqing’s yard, his gaze immediately scanning the duck pen and the pond.

Little Black was swimming near the bank, and the duckling was pecking at leftover greens. Both were energetic—clearly, they had just been fed. He breathed a sigh of relief. The kid probably couldn’t sit still and ran out to wander.

Usually, Shen Youqing loved picking wild fruit on the back mountain in the evening; he always came back late. Feng Xiuyan didn’t wait in the yard; he silently slipped into the pond, transforming back into Little White. He submerged himself in the water weeds, occasionally poking his head out to watch the gate, wanting to see Shen Youqing the moment he returned.

But as he waited, the sky grew darker. The footsteps outside turned from a bustle to a trickle, and eventually, even the lanterns under the eaves went out. The familiar figure never pushed the door open.

Unease finally bloomed in Feng Xiuyan’s heart. Even if Shen Youqing went out to play, he never stayed out this late, nor would he leave his yard in total darkness.

He leapt from the water, splashing a spray half a man high, and landed in human form. He searched the manor inside and out, only to realize that not only was Shen Youqing gone, but the other candidates had vanished as well.

Only then did Feng Xiuyan realize: the one-month assessment period had reached its end.

Shen Youqing and the others must have left during the days he was back at the Dragon Palace. Standing in the empty yard, he felt a wave of disappointment. He was late; the kid was gone.

He sighed softly, a complex look in his eyes. “Very well. Since the assessment is over, it means the marriage alliance with the humans should be put on the agenda.”

That kid was noisy, mischievous, and loved to cause trouble. But it was exactly that vibrancy that complemented his own thousand-year-old coldness.

Perhaps, once they are wed…

His thoughts drifted so far that his ear tips turned hot. Realizing he was getting ahead of himself, he cleared his throat and straightened his robes. He was the Dragon King; he couldn’t be so restless over such things. It would be undignified to be too eager. He would wait for the Human Emperor to send an envoy to discuss the marriage—that was the proper way.

He vanished from the yard, but before his tracks were swallowed by the night, he flickered back to the edge of the pond.

The moonlight turned the duckling’s fluff into a warm glow as it chased Little Black’s tail. Feng Xiuyan watched them, his Adam’s apple moving. His voice was incredibly low, sounding awkward yet hopeful: “They are… after all, our ‘sons’.”

If something happened to this duck and fish in the manor, the kid would surely throw a tantrum when they met again. It was better to keep them by his side. A second later, he vanished again, and the pond was left with only shimmering ripples—the two lively little creatures were gone as well.

…

The Imperial Palace.

The Emperor sat upon his throne, his gaze sweeping over the ministers. “I have called you here for one thing. The marriage alliance with the Dragon Tribe is near. We must finalize the arrangements.”

Minister Li of the Rites stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the priority is to find out if the Dragon King has found someone to his liking among the candidates. If he has, we can set the auspicious date. If not, we shall send a high official with a national letter and grand gifts to the Dragon Palace to negotiate.”

The Emperor turned to the Third Prince, Li Beicheng. “Beicheng, you spent a month with the Dragon King. In your view, does he have a preference? Did he pay special attention to any of you?”

Li Beicheng’s heart hammered. He didn’t dare tell the truth—that they spent most of their time fetching water for Shen Youqing and hardly saw the Dragon King’s face.

Jealousy flared in his mind. They were the real candidates, yet they were ignored, while an outsider like Shen Youqing was so close to the King. “Replying to Father… the Dragon King is of a steady and majestic temperament. I did not dare to inquire about his heart.”

The Emperor nodded. “In that case, we shall wait no longer. Minister Li, tomorrow you shall take the national letter, the dowry list, and the candidates to the Dragon Palace to meet the King. Once he makes his final choice, we can settle the date.”

Li Beicheng stood in place, let out a silent sigh of relief. But then he remembered the special way the Dragon King treated Shen Youqing. If the Dragon King demands him tomorrow in public, will Father agree?

The Emperor looked at the plaque above his throne. No matter who it was, as long as this marriage succeeded, peace would be secured for another hundred years.