I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Dog-Blood Novels — Inside the room, Shen Youqing was sprawled across the brocade quilt…

Feng Xiuyan stood on the beach, still clutching the Summoning Conch. He was still reeling from why Shen Youqing had suddenly become so hostile.

“Your Majesty, you’ve returned?” Gu Li’s gentle voice came from behind him.

He turned abruptly, his misty blue eyes devoid of their usual gentleness, replaced by a heavy chill.

“Did you take him to the underwater Dragon Palace?” Feng Xiuyan’s voice was low, yet it carried an unquestionable air of oppression.

Gu Li stood with his hands down. When he looked up, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but it was quickly masked by his usual respectful tone.

“Your Majesty, I merely saw Young Master Shen waiting by the sea with the Summoning Conch. Thinking you might be in the Palace, I brought him there to find you. I meant nothing else by it.”

“Nothing else?” Feng Xiuyan took a step forward. “Then why was Qingqing so angry? What exactly did you say to him?!”

Gu Li lowered his lashes, his voice dropping a pitch with a touch of calculated grievance. “I truly said nothing… We simply passed the Warming Hall while the Little Prince was looking after the Second Prince. Perhaps Young Master Shen overheard a conversation and misunderstood something?”

Feng Xiuyan stared into his eyes, his blue pupils filled with suspicion. Gu Li had served him for years and was usually steady, but today, something felt off.

However, his mind was too full of Shen Youqing’s misunderstanding to delve into Gu Li’s behavior. He said coldly, “Whatever the misunderstanding, it is you who should explain it clearly to him!”

Gu Li bowed. “Yes, I admit my fault.”

Feng Xiuyan had no interest in Gu Li’s apology. He tightened his grip on the conch, his fingertips already glowing with the pale blue light of a teleportation spell. He wanted to catch up to Shen Youqing immediately and tell him that the reason he hadn’t visited was because the little duckling was transforming.

The sea breeze around him grew restless, his robes whipped loudly, and his silhouette began to blur, on the verge of vanishing.

“Your Majesty, the Little Prince has just transformed. His aura is still unstable and urgently needs your dragon breath to nourish him.”

Gu Li’s voice rose slightly, carrying a perfectly timed urgency. It was like a needle pricking Feng Xiuyan’s most vulnerable point.

Feng Xiuyan’s movement stopped abruptly. The swirling wind around him stagnated, and his vanishing form solidified. He looked back, his eyes full of struggle.

Qingqing had a massive misunderstanding of him. If he didn’t explain now, their progress might be lost. But the duckling was weak and needed his help to stabilize his chaotic spiritual power; otherwise, the consequences would be dire…

He looked toward the direction Shen Youqing had gone, but the figure had long disappeared at the end of the road. He knitted his brows, hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed heavily.

“Never mind.”

The spiritual energy around him dissipated. When he turned back to Gu Li, his voice was tight with suppressed urgency: “Let us see the duckling first.” Without waiting for a response, he turned into a streak of blue light and vanished into the sea.

Gu Li stood alone, watching the spot where Feng Xiuyan had disappeared. He unconsciously rubbed the glowing blue ring on his index finger, a faint smile touching his lips. It was a cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes, like a hidden current in the deep sea.

…

In the Dragon Palace

White mist rose from the spiritual springs in the Warming Hall. On the white jade bed, the little duckling was curled in a soft blanket, his face pale and his dark hair sticking to his forehead.

Feng Xiuyan walked over and sat by the bed, checking the child’s temperature. It was still slightly feverish—a side effect of the transformation. He placed his palm on the boy’s back, letting warm golden dragon breath flow through his meridians to soothe the chaotic energy.

“Bear with it. Once the energy is smooth, you’ll feel better,” Feng Xiuyan said softly.

The duckling nodded obediently, his tiny hand grabbing Feng Xiuyan’s sleeve. “Father… when will Daddy come to see me? I miss him so much.”

He remembered how, back at the villa, Shen Youqing would hold him in his arms and feed him little shrimp. That warmth felt better than any spiritual spring.

Feng Xiuyan’s hand faltered. He looked at the child’s expectant eyes. “You’ve just transformed. Your energy isn’t stable enough for you to leave yet.”

“Oh.” The duckling’s ears drooped, and he curled deeper into the blanket, clearly disappointed.

Just then, Little Black walked in with a bowl of algae soup. Hearing his brother, he chimed in with bright eyes: “I want to see Daddy too! It’s been almost half a month. I want to tell him I took great care of my brother!” He puffed out his chest. “And I’m healthy and stable. Can I go see him?”

Looking at the two little ones missing Shen Youqing, Feng Xiuyan had an idea. “Daddy actually came to the Palace today. He was near the Warming Hall. Did you not see him?”

“Daddy was here?!” Little Black’s eyes went wide. “I was in the hall warming the soup the whole time! I never left! How did I not know?!”

The duckling also looked up in confusion. “Daddy came? I didn’t hear anything…”

Feng Xiuyan’s brow furrowed. Gu Li said he was bringing Shen Youqing to find him, so why did he bring him to the Warming Hall alone, and why didn’t Little Black see him?

He recalled Shen Youqing’s anger and Gu Li’s attempts to stop him from following. Doubt began to fester. Was today really a coincidence?

He pushed the thought aside for now. “Perhaps you were busy and didn’t notice. Don’t be sad. Once I finish helping your brother, I’ll find Daddy and bring him to see you, okay?”

“Really?” The duckling’s eyes sparkled, and color returned to his face. Little Black jumped with joy. “Yay! We’re going to see Daddy!”

Feng Xiuyan watched them, his expression softening. Once he settled this, he would explain everything to Qingqing. As for what Gu Li did behind his back? He would settle that account later.

…

The Shen Residence

Moonlight flowed over the eaves of the Shen house. Feng Xiuyan stepped onto the tiles, his footsteps as light as the wind. He stopped outside Shen Youqing’s bedroom, where candlelight flickered against the window paper.

Suddenly, a burst of clear laughter erupted from inside—carefree, cheerful, and warm. Feng Xiuyan paused, a gentle light entering his eyes. This laughter was so vibrant, just like back at the villa. He leaned against a pillar, a smile playing on his lips.

Inside, Shen Youqing was sprawled on his bed, elbows propped on a pillow, staring at a book titled: The Overbearing Imperial Uncle Falls for Me.

He bit his lip, engrossed. He had intended to just flip through a few pages, but he was hooked. He lay on his side, one foot swinging off the bed, letting out muffled giggles.

“Holy crap, ancient people know the ‘Overbearing CEO’ tropes too?” he whispered, his finger tracing the lines.

The cold-faced Imperial Uncle pinned the Chancellor’s daughter against the golden dragon throne. The metal was cold, but his palm against her waist was hot. His voice was deep and husky: “Why do you hide? Is my throne not large enough for one little girl?”

Shen Youqing rubbed his arms as goosebumps broke out. “Ew, that is so ‘dog-blood’ (cliché)!”

“Pffft!” He hit the mattress. “Hahahaha, what kind of insane plot is this? Hahahaha!”

“God, I’m laughing so hard I’m crying!” He wiped his eyes. He was so caught up in the drama that he didn’t notice the figure outside watching him through the window, whose gaze was warmer than the candlelight.

Feng Xiuyan stood guard silently. He listened as the laughter subsided into the rustling of pages. Suddenly, the boy inside cursed: “Dammit! This second male lead is so evil! He’s actually using drugs!”

Shen Youqing leaned forward, anxious. “Male lead, hurry up! Your wife is about to be bullied!” He hated characters who had wives but still harassed others with despicable means.

Fortunately, the book didn’t leave him hanging. The next page described the male lead kicking the door down and protecting the heroine. Even better, he exposed the second male lead’s true face: the man didn’t just have a wife, he had twenty concubines and nearly ten children hidden away, all while claiming to be a bachelor to pursue the heroine.

“What a scumbag!” Shen Youqing slammed the bed frame. “Total trash! Thank god the male lead made it in time!”

He was so agitated that he didn’t realize he had rolled to the very edge of the bed. The force of his slam threw off his balance. Before he could react, he tumbled off the bed.

“Aiyee!”

The moment he hit the floor, the bedroom door was kicked open. A dark figure, bringing with it the chill of the night wind, rushed inside.