Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 74 : The Tragedy In The Bathtub (1)

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 : The Tragedy In The Bathtub (1)

Xie Jianyu was used to cultivate on his own. Without any external help, he was able to reach a high level of cultivation, comparable to those who had cultivated for a hundred years or so.

Had he been more focused, he might have broken through the late stage of Nascent Soul by now. Instead, he encountered his very own bottleneck that he could not resolve for a few days already. This bottleneck made Xie Jianyu quite irritable.

He spent the entire day in his study, poring through scrolls and cultivation manuals in an attempt to enlighten himself and advance to the next stage.

"Your Majesty."

Mingyu, his trusted maid, came over with a basket of steamed buns. Her face was practically blooming with smiles.

"These buns came fresh from the kitchen. Your Majesty, would you care to have some?"

Xie Jianyu shook his head. He was too gloomy to eat anything.

"An envoy from the Qifeng Palace arrived an hour ago to send over some lotus cakes and apricot pastries. Your Majesty, would you care to have some?"

"... No."

Mingyu refused to give up.

"An envoy from the Golden Dragon Palace arrived half an hour ago to deliver cured pork belly and fresh giant tuna steaks from the palace kitchen. Your Majesty, should we prepare some dishes for you?"

"... No."

Mingyu bowed her head in disappointment.

"Alright, Your Majesty."

She took the basket of steamed buns with her and left.

Xie Jianyu went back to his scrolls and manuals. Barely half a shichen passed when a servant came to the study to disturb him again.

"What is it?" Xie Jianyu asked impatiently.

The servant cupped his hands and stammered, "U... Um... an envoy from the Shuiran Palace..."

"I don’t want to eat anything," Xie Jianyu interrupted the servant mid-sentence.

"This servant apologizes deeply for disturbing Your Majesty, but the envoy brings a few jars of bath salts..."

Bath salts?

Xie Jianyu’s interest was piqued.

"What bath salts?"

The envoy bowed and held up a rolled parchment with both hands in front of Xie Jianyu.

"A handwritten note from Lord Xie came with the bath salts."

Xie Jianyu took the parchment and unrolled it.

"Little Yu, thank you for helping Muchen with his bottleneck. Although I am confident that you can advance your cultivation without difficulties, I still want to contribute somehow.

Here are a few jars of bath salts that hailed from the volcanoes near the Eastern Sea. They are rich in natural energy and rejuvenating minerals.

You only need to use two handfuls every time you take a bath. Hopefully, it can help you relax and gain new insights."

The bath salt was white and pink in color. Xie Jianyu hummed as he let the bath salt trickle down his hand playfully.

Well, it was worth a try.

"I want to take a bath," he announced to the servant. "Pour two handfuls of these bath salts when you draw the bath."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xie Jianyu went to his bedroom to prepare for a bath. He almost bumped into Mingyu who just turned a corner.

"Your Majesty! This subject is truly sorry!" Mingyu gasped.

"Why are you running around?" Xie Jianyu frowned. "Did some more envoys come?"

If he did not know better, he might think that today was New Year’s Day.

"Uhh... no, but Prince Zhang Fengxi from the Longjing Palace is here."

Mingyu was astonished to see how Xie Jianyu’s mood turn gloomy in a flash upon hearing Zhang Fengxi’s name. Were the two princes not on amicable terms with each other?

"I am not available," Xie Jianyu answered briskly.

What was Zhang Fengxi there for? To tell him the good news about his engagement or to invite him to his wedding? Or maybe both?

"Just ask him to leave the wedding invitation behind. I will naturally attend."

Not out of free will but a sense of duty.

Mingyu was a little perplexed. Nevertheless, she left Xie Jianyu to enjoy his bath and went to give Zhang Fengxi the message.

"My master is not available. Your Highness can leave the wedding invitation with this subject. This subject will hand it over to His Majesty personally."

"..."

Wedding invitation? What wedding invitation?

Zhang Fengxi required surprisingly some time before he recalled his wedding plan to Liu Wenyuan. After going through the horrid scenario at Abyssal Ice Pond today, all thoughts about Liu Wenyuan evaporated into thin air.

Zhang Fengxi sighed while rubbing the spot between his brows.

"I don’t have any wedding invitation with me," he said in a helpless tone. "Never mind, I will just wait for him here."

Mingyu stared at Zhang Fengxi.

"..."

"... What is it? Can I not wait for him?"

"..."

Mingyu did not know what to say. She did not think that Xie Jianyu would want to meet Zhang Fengxi after he finished taking a bath. He might want to take a nap instead. Besides, Zhang Fengxi being here, insisting to meet Xie Jianyu, was a little improper when one considered that one was an alpha and the other was an omega.

And yet maybe Zhang Fengxi just did not know that Xie Jianyu was an omega. It was Fuxi Palace’s biggest secret after all.

Aaaaarghhhhh!!!

Then what was Mingyu supposed to do? Of course she did what she had to do when a guest came to visit.

"T-Then... Prince Zhang Fengxi, let me bring you some tea and snacks."

Mingyu heaved a sigh of relief.

Good that Fuxi Palace had more than enough treats for Zhang Fengxi to gobble while he waited.

Zhang Fengxi was lost in thought while he nibbled at a lotus cake.

One lotus cake turned into many, and Xie Jianyu was nowhere to be seen. Mingyu’s smile became stiffer and stiffer. Even her legs had gone numb from sitting on her knees for too long.

And then, hurried footsteps were heard and someone burst through the door.

"Sister Mingyu!"

Mingyu rose to her feet in full alert mode.

"What happened???"

"His... His Majesty has been inside the bathtub for an hour now, but we haven’t heard a single sound!!! Could it be that something happened???"

Zhang Fengxi stood up in a flash and grabbed the shrieking servant by his lapels.

"Show me the way to the bathroom, NOW!"