Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 802 Too weak to even hit someone

Where is the old man now? Chen Xuan's eyes flickered as he pondered for a moment.

If asked who knew his whereabouts best, Chen Xuan immediately thought of three people: the current emperor Zhou Chen, the old man Rong who was stationed in the palace, and Eunuch Wang who had served the old man for many years and was almost always by his side.

Zhou Chen goes without saying; that's his father. No matter the reason, how could he not care about his whereabouts? As for Elder Rong, as a Grandmaster, he has cooperated with the old man for many years. Even if the old man relinquishes his power and lives a carefree life, he will still keep an eye on him. Not to mention Eunuch Wang, the two are practically inseparable.

"Forget about Eunuch Wang. He's with Old Deng now, and his whereabouts are uncertain. Should we go to the palace to inquire?" Chen Xuan scratched his butt, somewhat hesitant.

Whether seeking Emperor Zhou Chen or inquiring about the old man's whereabouts from Rong Lao, one must enter the palace. If the old man were still in power, Chen Xuan would naturally have no reservations, but with a new emperor comes a new court, and now there's no need for Chen Xuan to set foot in that cold, impersonal palace.

In the past, visiting there was like a casual visit, because it was the little princess's home. But now, it's at most the little princess's maternal home, and the meaning is different from before. It's not the time when the elders are in charge anymore, and royal family ties are weak. Although it's true that it's the little princess's maternal home, it's a bit of a stretch to say that it's still the little princess's maternal home.

The little princess, coming to her senses, saw Chen Xuan struggling to defecate for a long time and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Husband, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I was just wondering where my father-in-law is right now, and I was planning to suddenly appear in front of him to give him a surprise," Chen Xuan said with a smile, thinking to himself that if there was really no other way, he would have to go to the palace.

If we're going to go, should we go through the proper procedures or sneak in?

It's all a problem. Chen Xuan is no longer alone, so he needs to be more restrained. Going through the proper channels would be too complicated and troublesome, and sneaking in would be inappropriate.

The young princess, intelligent and perceptive, quickly understood Chen Xuan's dilemma. She smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "That's easy, just ask around."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan looked at the little princess, and seeing her radiant smiling face, he immediately understood. He nodded and said, "Yes, we can find out by asking around."

The couple understood each other without saying a word. In fact, Chen Xuan had fallen into a misconception, thinking that the old man's whereabouts were a very secretive matter. Of course, that is true for ordinary people, but Chen Xuan and his family are a family, so how can it be the same?

After the little princess's subtle reminder, the problem became simple. As long as the word was spread, people would soon come to the old man's door with his whereabouts, provided that the old man did not deliberately avoid him; otherwise, it would be difficult for anyone to see him.

Having watched the little princess grow up, Steward Hua knew it was time for him to step up and immediately said, "Master, Madam, I will send someone to inquire immediately."

Where to find out is not the point; the important thing is to spread the word. That's enough.

At this moment, Chen Xuan's mind had opened up. He glanced into the distance, waved his hand, and laughed, "No need for that. I roughly know where my father-in-law is."

Steward Hua stopped and looked at the little princess with an inquiring gaze.

The little princess gestured for her to calm down, then asked in a daze, "Husband, you know?"

After keeping everyone in suspense, Chen Xuan asked in return, "If my father-in-law is in the capital, he'll only stay in a few places. My wife, why don't you guess where he might be?"

Her eyes lit up, and the little princess exclaimed happily, "I understand! Either it's at the imperial estate in the suburbs, or..."

As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted to the floating islands above the capital, the meaning of which was self-evident.

She didn't mention the palace. It's highly unlikely that the old man would stay there. He has completely relinquished power and handed the entire country over to Zhou Chen. Whether it's to avoid suspicion or to put Zhou Chen's mind at ease, it's impossible for him to retire in the palace.

Nodding, Chen Xuan looked at the floating island above Mirror Lake and smiled, "It seems my wife and I want to go together."

That floating island was once bestowed upon the little princess by the old man, and now it nominally belongs to the little princess as well. To put it bluntly, she only has the right to use it, not the right to own it. When it can be taken back is just a matter of the emperor's word. As long as the old man is still alive, Zhou Chen will most likely just turn a blind eye. But once the old man passes away, it's hard to say.

Following his gaze, the little princess let out a soft "hmm" as if deep in thought.

Chen Xuan said with a hint of helplessness, "My wife, you've noticed it too, haven't you?"

She nodded and said, "Yes, I remember the floating island that my father gave me. It used to be much higher off the ground, but now it's just level with the mountain where the palace is located."

“There’s nothing we can do. My father-in-law didn’t care about so much before, but in the end, the emperor is the supreme ruler of this country. Even if the person sitting in that chair doesn’t mind, what about the people below?” Chen Xuan shook his head and smiled.

A hint of melancholy flashed in her eyes, and the little princess sighed, "In the end, not everyone is like Father."

Xia Meihua and the other stewards lowered their heads and remained silent, secretly alarmed. Were these words something we should be listening to?

Knowing when to stop, Chen Xuan gestured with his chin towards the floating island and smiled, "I can already sense that my father-in-law is there, which saves me the trouble of searching everywhere. Do you need to make any preparations? Or should I take everyone up there now?"

Having not seen him for several months, he was truly missing him and was somewhat impatient. The capital city was too big, and searching aimlessly was a troublesome matter even for Chen Xuan's cultivation and senses. Fortunately, once he realized the general location, the search became simple. As he spoke, Chen Xuan had already locked onto the old man's aura.

In the height of summer, do the elderly seek refuge from the heat up there, or do they stand on high ground to take in as many views as possible of this magnificent landscape?

A gleam of joy flashed in her eyes, and the little princess said with a hint of urgency, "Everything has been prepared in advance. I haven't seen Father Emperor for months, and I miss him so much. I wonder how he is doing. Husband, let's go up now."

"Alright," Chen Xuan nodded, then looked at Manager Hua: "Manager Hua, go see if Hongyi and the others have chosen their rooms. If they have, let them know to come over. I'll take them somewhere later, and then please prepare some fresh ingredients and a jar of mild tonic wine. They won't be back for lunch this afternoon; they'll have a small drink with my father-in-law."

"You flatter me, sir. I'll go make the arrangements right away," Steward Hua said, bowing respectfully before quickly departing.

Soon He Hongyi and the others arrived, their faces beaming with undisguised joy. Having a permanent residence in the backyard meant they were practically living in the family, so how could they not be happy?

Also arriving was Steward Hua, who brought the things Chen Xuan had instructed, which were quite plentiful.

Seeing everyone had arrived, the little princess subconsciously stroked her lower abdomen and couldn't help but say expectantly, "Husband, let's go. I wonder what Father's reaction will be later." Steward Hua handed over the things he had brought to the maids. Seeing the little princess's actions, he was stunned for a moment, then his eyes flashed with excitement, and his voice trembled slightly as he subconsciously exclaimed with joy, "Madam, are you pregnant?"

A blissful smile spread across her face. The little princess gestured for her to be quiet and nodded, saying, "Yes, Granny Flower, it's been a few months already. Let's not make this public for now."

Nodding hastily, Steward Hua suppressed her overwhelming joy and said, "I understand, that's wonderful, wonderful!"

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. She had watched the little princess grow up since she was a child, and now that she was pregnant, what could be more exciting than this? Especially in this era, nothing is more important to a family than the birth of a new life.

It's perfectly normal not to publicize something that's clearly a great thing. There's a saying that good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast. There are plenty of people in the world who can't stand to see you doing well. Once you have something good to do, they may not be able to do anything to you on the surface, but behind your back, they'll be spreading all sorts of malicious rumors and curses against you.

"Alright, Elder Hua, everyone go about your business. My wife is pregnant, so let's not make a big fuss for now. Everyone will receive a big red envelope after the baby is born. My wife, let's go and give your father a surprise."

As Chen Xuan was about to take them to the old man's house, a fleeting thought popped into his mind that he had overlooked something. He didn't quite grasp it, but it wasn't important, so he didn't dwell on it.

He then gently helped the little princess up, nodded to everyone, and then used his true energy to protect them. In an instant, everyone disappeared from the courtyard, and the next moment they appeared on a floating island a thousand meters high. Their speed was so fast that no one could react.

The seven floating islands, which were originally the core of the great defensive formation of the capital, used to be thousands of meters high, towering above the clouds. People on the ground were amazed and shocked but did not feel too oppressive. Now, however, they are only level with the imperial palace on the mountaintop. Why this adjustment was made, who knows? It is not even worth thinking about, for to even think about it would be a sin.

The floating island that nominally belongs to the little princess is usually located above Mirror Lake. Due to the drop in altitude, if you look up from the ground, the huge 'mountain' hangs high in the sky, which always makes people feel scared even if they know it won't fall.

This floating island holds a very special significance for Chen Xuan and his wife. On the night of their little princess's eighteenth birthday, Chen Xuan brought her here. He meticulously prepared desserts and cakes by hand, and the breathtaking scene of thousands of lights rising into the sky completely captivated the young girl...

Having been here many times and even stayed here before, Chen Xuan was extremely familiar with every plant and tree. Even He Hongyi and Guo Qingxue had been here before; he had brought them here when he married the little princess.

As they looked around, Chen Xuan immediately spotted the old man.

Only the old man and Grandpa Wang were there, leisurely enjoying a relaxing afternoon by the small pond.

The old man, dressed in gray linen clothes, sat on a small stool, holding a bamboo fishing rod and fishing, just like a friendly old man next door, without any of the former imperial majesty. Grandpa Wang was dressed similarly, standing quietly by the side, afraid of making the slightest sound to disturb the fish in the water.

There's nothing surprising about having ponds for fishing on floating islands far from the ground.

Seeing the old man again after several months, Chen Xuan suddenly felt a pang in his heart and his nose stung with tears. Just a few months ago, he was full of energy, but now he was on the verge of death, like a piece of rotten wood.

In just a few months, the old man became emaciated. Most of his once snow-white hair and beard had disappeared, losing their luster and resembling withered grass. His eyes became extremely cloudy, and his wrinkled skin was covered with age spots. Even from a distance, one could faintly smell the 'old man smell' emanating from him.

He was once an emperor, so majestic and noble, always keeping his emotions in check and standing ramrod straight. But now his back is bent, his eyes have lost their sparkle, and he has difficulty breathing. He is almost at the end of his life!

Time is the most ruthless knife; it treats everyone equally, whether you are a humble peddler or an emperor or general.

He has worked tirelessly for the country for decades, leading his troops across thousands of miles, handling countless official duties day and night in the imperial court, and dealing with international situations with ease. However, he could not withstand the test of time and his life is about to come to an end.

This is a complete exhaustion of energy and spirit; there is no cure and no way to reverse the situation!

According to normal circumstances, the old man should have passed away several years ago. It was that painting of pine trees and cranes symbolizing longevity that unexpectedly extended his life by several years...

With a flicker in his eyes, Chen Xuan suppressed the bitterness in his heart and the urge to cry. In a short moment, he composed himself, released the little princess, and subconsciously took two steps toward him. As always, he waved and greeted her casually, "Old Deng, did you miss me? Last time you sneaked off without a word, and I searched everywhere for you. Today you're hiding here fishing without calling me."

When they arrived, Grandpa Wang noticed them immediately. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly smiled and gestured for the old man to be quiet and not to disturb him while he was fishing.

The old man reacted noticeably slower, frowning as he looked over with his cloudy eyes. He squinted and looked closely before he could see clearly, and subconsciously said irritably, "What? It's you again, kid. I finally get a moment of peace and quiet, and you disturb me like this."

At this moment, Chen Xuan's attention was focused on the old man, and he did not notice the brief change in Wang Gonggong's expression. He deliberately tried to amuse him, put his hands on his hips and pouted with displeasure, saying, "Oh ho, Old Deng, you don't like me? Then I'll leave?"

"Go wherever you want, I find you annoying," the old man said, waving his hand dismissively as if shooing away a fly.

Chen Xuan's expression froze. She thought to herself, "This isn't right. Does Old Deng really not want to see me like this? Or is it that he's been so dignified all his life and doesn't want his juniors to see him on his deathbed?"

The little princess beside her already had red eyes, her vision blurred by tears, and she whispered in a choked voice, "Father, your daughter has come to see you. I am your little Fuyao..."

Upon hearing this, the old man paused, turned his head, squinted, and murmured a few words. His eyes were full of affection, and his gaze regained some of its luster. He clearly wanted to say something, but when he noticed Du Juan and the others, he immediately glared at Chen Xuan and gritted his teeth, saying, "I'll beat you to death, you brat!"

As he spoke, he suddenly became energetic, carrying the fishing rod and striding towards Chen Xuan. He seemed unsteady, but every step was firm, and he began to slap him hard.

Upon seeing this, Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He realized that he had forgotten something before. How could he have overlooked this? He had been married to the little princess for less than half a year and had promised Old Deng not to provoke other girls for a while.

Oh wow, he'd look ten years younger and become a grandson, yeah, beaten up like a grandson.

Chen Xuan immediately covered his head and ran away, weakly pleading with the old man, "Old Deng, no, Father-in-law, Dad, Dad, please let me explain!"

"I'll beat you to death today, you little bastard! Even the Heavenly King himself couldn't stop me!" The old man glared and began to beat her mercilessly.

What could Chen Xuan do but let the old man vent his anger?

My heart aches terribly, and I secretly wipe away my tears. Old Deng doesn't even have the strength to hit people anymore; he's truly reached the point of exhaustion.

The little princess, seeing this, was both crying and laughing; it was hard to tell whether she should be happy or sad… (End of Chapter)