Who Stole My Eggs?

Xie Zuo slept until midnight. The effect of the ointment gradually faded away, and his palms began to hurt again.

“Old man,” Xie Zuo sat up with difficulty, “I will definitely give you a hard time when I go back…”

He was extremely thirsty now, but because he was in solitary confinement today, all the palace attendants had been dismissed, and he had to fend for himself.

Xie Zuo got out of bed and glanced at the other bed. Mu Rong was sleeping soundly like a log. He couldn’t rely on him at all.

Walking to the table, Xie Zuo stood on the small stool, intending to grab the kettle with his hands to pour water. However, because his fingers were thick, swollen, and painful, his knuckles couldn’t bend at all, making it impossible to grasp the kettle.

Xie Zuo had no choice but to use his wrist to hold the kettle. The kettle, with its small mouth and large belly, was extremely smooth. Suddenly, it slipped from his wrist and crashed to the ground.

“Pah!” The kettle shattered into pieces.

Xie Zuo glared at the useless kettle, then glanced back at the other bed. Mu Rong hadn’t stirred at all. Well, this fool would make him parched by the time he woke up.

Just as Xie Zuo contemplated going out to search for water, the door creaked open, and Huo Yao walked in, carrying a large tray.

“Why are you here?”

“I volunteered to keep watch and take care of you,” Huo Yao replied, setting down the tray and approaching Xie Zuo.

Feeling a bit embarrassed to be treated like a child, Xie Zuo allowed Huo Yao to lift him up. When Huo Yao offered him water, he disregarded his pride and drank two large cups.

“Ah… refreshing,” Xie Zuo sighed.

“Give me your hand,” Huo Yao instructed.

Xie Zuo obediently extended his hands, allowing Huo Yao to apply ointment once more.

This time, the ointment was refreshing and cooling, instantly relieving the burning pain.

Xie Zuo blinked and scrutinized Huo Yao carefully. It had been about three months, and he had grown taller and leaner.

.

Suddenly, Xie Zuo leaned into Huo Yao’s arms, burying his face in the crook of his neck and rubbing against it. He wished Huo Yao would regain his past memories, so he wouldn’t have to pretend anymore. But then again, if Huo Yao remembered, he probably would scold him again, which would be boring!

Huo Yao gently stroked his head. The toddler version of Xie Zuo was undeniably adorable. Chubby, fair-skinned, with a face that puffed up like a bun when he was angry. His tantrums were both pitiful and amusing.

Despite Xie Zuo’s forgotten past, his natural fondness for Huo Yao filled the latter with a secret sense of pride.

Xie Zuo asked Huo Yao, “What did you do with your father?”

Huo Yao didn’t conceal anything from him. “There are a few spies from Yuzhao Kingdom infiltrating our Yunzhao’s borders. This matter cannot be made public, so I went with my foster father to repel the enemy.”

“Oh.” Xie Zuo understood that anything involving secret guards was usually kept confidential.

Now that the heads of the sixteen kingdoms had established crown princes, these princes, descended from the deities of the Southern Kingdom, had gradually matured. Their shared goal was to unify the Southern Kingdom. Upon returning to the Immortal Realm in the future, they would become the new emperor of the Southern Kingdom. Consequently, trials and tensions among the sixteen kingdoms became more frequent, and a large-scale war seemed inevitable.

Presently, the Wuzhao Kingdom and Mengzhao Kingdom in the north formed the strongest military alliance. Meanwhile, the historically antagonistic Yunzhao Kingdom and its neighbor, the Yuzhao Kingdom, remained bitter enemies, each rallying neighboring nations to their cause.

Xie Zuo followed Huo Yao only because he wanted to be with him, he had no desire to unify the Southern Kingdom or become one of its emperors. As the mighty demon king and master of his realm, the position of a mere deity held no appeal.

However, Huo Yao was devoted to the Yunzhao Kingdom, and pressure from those around him urged him to assume the responsibilities of a crown prince. It seemed troublesome to Xie Zuo to be a benevolent ruler in the future.

Snuggled in Huo Yao’s arms, Xie Zuo suggested, “You can sleep with me.”

“Sure.” Huo Yao carried him back to bed, lying beside him in his clothes.

Savoring the familiar scent of pine wood emanating from Huo Yao’s body, Xie Zuo felt serene and content. Was this the love Lao Luo spoke of? Simply being with the person you care for, without the need for words or actions, felt remarkably comforting.

“Do you want to talk?” Xie Zuo wondered.

“You have school tomorrow, so you should sleep early,” Huo Yao reminded him.

“I’ll sleep later,” Xie Zuo turned to face him. “I recently read an interesting book called Wumeng Immortals. It talks about various deities residing on Wumeng Mountain.”

“Really?” Huo Yao’s tone remained indifferent.

“There are deities of wind and rain, deities of heaven and earth, and a particularly powerful Deity of Thunder,” Xie Zuo continued.

Huo Yao’s response was flat, “I see.”

“I like the Deity of Thunder the most!” Xie Zuo’s eyes sparkled in the darkness. “The book says even demons, ghosts, and deities fear him. No one dares to challenge him.”

“Everyone feared him, why do you like him?” Huo Yao inquired.

“Because he’s the strongest!”

“If one day he is no longer strong, will you still like him?” Huo Yao asked.

Xie Zuo hesitated, genuinely unsure. Just as he didn’t understand why he liked Huo Yao, if Huo Yao ceased to be the Great Deity of Thunder, would he still hold affection for him?

Unable to comprehend, Xie Zuo simply pushed the thought aside. Whatever the case, he liked Huo Yao, and that was sufficient.

Huo Yao noticed Xie Zuo’s silence and steady breathing, realizing he had drifted off to sleep. Unable to resist, he reached out and pinched Xie Zuo’s cheek gently.

.

The next day, Xie Zuo awoke to find Huo Yao still by his side, much to his satisfaction. This was the life he desired, where he could see Huo Yao every day.

Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, three more years had passed. Xie Zuo was now eight years old, while Huo Yao had turned sixteen, marking his adulthood according to Yunzhao Kingdom customs.

After rigorous training under Imperial Teacher Wen’s tutelage, Xie Zuo had caught up in his academic pursuits. While not as gifted as Mu Rong, he displayed insight into governmental affairs, possessing a unique perspective and quick wit. These qualities finally put Imperial Teacher Wen at ease.

Through diligent calligraphy practice, Xie Zuo had become proficient. As the saying went, a person’s calligraphy reflected their character, and Xie Zuo’s writing mirrored his own nature—clear, vivid, and graceful.

As he matured, Xie Zuo shed his childhood chubbiness, standing tall and slender like a sapling. His features became more striking, with rosy lips, picturesque brows, and affectionate, smiling eyes that captivated hearts at first sight.

Observing her son, Queen Bai Hualiang felt a mixture of pride and concern. Xie Zuo was exceptionally gifted, leaving her pondering where to find a girl worthy of him. Even within the entirety of Yunzhao Kingdom, or the vast Southern Kingdom, she struggled to identify someone as intelligent as her son. If one were to make a serious comparison, perhaps only the guard Huo Yao, who had been caring for him, could come close.

.

One day, after school, Xie Zuo accompanied by Mu Rong approached Bai Hualiang. With Huo Yao’s coming-of-age ceremony approaching, he sought permission to leave the palace and attend the event at Huo Mansion.

As they reached the palace gate, they saw Bai Hualiang and Cai Que emerging with smiles, followed by a bashful girl.

“Queen Mother, Nanny Cai Que!” Xie Zuo greeted enthusiastically.

Bai Hualiang hugged him, noticing his sweat. “Why are you so sweaty?”

Mu Rong knelt and bowed before standing beside Cai Que.

Seeing her son, Bai Hualiang’s focus shifted, and she turned to the girl. “You should go back now.”

“Yes,” the girl agreed softly, blushing as she departed.

Once the girl was out of earshot, Xie Zuo inquired, “Who is she?”

Cai Que smiled coyly. “Don’t worry about who she is. Just tell me, is she beautiful?”

“Well, she’s pretty,” Xie Zuo responded, lacking interest.

Bai Hualiang turned to Mu Rong and asked, “What do you think, Mu Rong?”

Mu Rong’s face reddened. “She looks beautiful, very beautiful.”

Bai Hualiang and Cai Que burst into laughter.

Xie Zuo was perplexed by their amusement. “What’s so funny?”

“Mother, I have something important to tell you!” Xie Zuo exclaimed.

“What is it?”

“Master Huo is holding a coming-of-age ceremony for Huo Yao the day after tomorrow, and Mu Rong and I want to attend!”

Mu Rong whispered, “I didn’t say I wanted to go…”

Xie Zuo shot Mu Rong a fierce glare before tugging at Bai Hualiang’s sleeve, acting coyly. “Mother, you have to agree. It’s important for me to be there for Huo Yao’s major life event!”

Bai Hualiang smiled and relented, “You’re lucky this time. I’ll attend Huo Yao’s adult ceremony as well. You two can come with me, but don’t even think about leaving the palace on your own otherwise…”

Xie Zuo raised an eyebrow. “What are you planning?”

Bai Hualiang lowered her voice. “I’m telling you in advance, so keep it quiet. I’m arranging a marriage for Huo Yao!”

“A marriage?” Xie Zuo exclaimed. “Who are you arranging him to marry?”

Bai Hualiang didn’t see anything odd about Xie Zuo’s reaction. “Master Huo Zhen has taken a liking to Imperial Teacher Wen’s granddaughter and asked me to suggest her to Huo Yao—the girl you saw earlier. Do you think they make a good match?”

“Not at all!” Xie Zuo shouted, startling Bai Hualiang and the others. “They’re not a good match at all!”

Note: our baby is jealous^^