Chapter 95: As If I Were There in Person (1)

It was settled, then. Next year, we will see whether Tiger Girl can come with me. After several days of study, Ye Lang finally laid out his route. According to his map, he would visit every place on the continent most worth seeing, and naturally it would take him an astonishingly long time—far longer than anyone could imagine.

If he followed this plan to the end, it would take five or six years just to cover the distance, not counting the time spent enjoying himself along the way.

Wasn’t that a little too much? A bit excessive, perhaps?

Of course it was. If the people of the Ye family found out, they would certainly cancel his plan. Or rather, they would insist that he return home at regular intervals before continuing his journey.

But if that happened, wouldn’t his route lose all meaning? Then it would have to be centered on the Star Soaring Empire instead.

That could wait for later. For now, Ye Lang could only take things as they came.

For that reason, he decided it would be best not to let them know just yet. It was better to act first and explain afterward.

“Little brother!” Ye Lanyu suddenly appeared behind him.

“Ah? What is it?” Ye Lang hurriedly stuffed his route map into his ring. He thought his intentions had been discovered.

“What are you hiding?” Ye Lanyu asked suspiciously.

“Nothing, nothing...” Ye Lang whistled innocently, but the very act made him look guilty.

“You dare lie to me? The moment you moved your hips, I knew exactly what you were thinking. Do you think you can fool me?” Ye Lanyu said, a trace of anger in her voice.

“Really?” Ye Lang looked at her in confusion, then made a deliberate motion and shook his backside.

“...”

This brat couldn’t possibly be...

“Do you know what I want to do right now?” Ye Lang asked her.

“Your backside is itchy, and you want a beating, don’t you?” Ye Lanyu slapped the rear he had turned toward her.

“You really were lying. What I want right now is to run—not because my backside is itchy!” Ye Lang said with a laugh, clearly pleased with himself, as though delighted that his sister had not guessed his thoughts.

“...”

Ye Lanyu rubbed her forehead; her brother had gone silly again.

Even if I didn’t understand, even if I were wrong, you’ve already blurted out your thoughts...

Ah, no, trying to run?

After saying that, Ye Lang was already sprinting away. In a few steps, he had reached the door of the study.

“You little rascal, stop right there!” Ye Lanyu shouted as she gave chase.

“No way. If you catch me, you’ll ask me about the trip again!” Ye Lang shouted back. Those words were practically the perfect self-exposure.

“...”

“I already know now. You don’t need to run,” Ye Lanyu said after a brief silence, then came to a stop with a calm smile.

“Huh? How do you know I’m planning to stay away from home for several years?” Ye Lang also stopped, staring at her blankly.

“...”

“I didn’t know before. Now I do! You little brat, you actually dared to think of staying away for years without coming home!” Ye Lanyu seized Ye Lang by the collar and scolded him.

“It’s only going out to have fun. Of course I want to enjoy myself properly. At worst, I’ll write letters back, all right? Sister...” Ye Lang put on a pitiful look and begged her, and her earlier anger vanished at once.

“No. Unless you agree to go with me.”

Ye Lanyu steeled her heart and held her ground. This was a matter of principle.

“Absolutely not. You do strange things all day long. Traveling with you would be a huge hassle,” Ye Lang refused as well. This was also a matter of principle. Ever since childhood, he had carried a shadow in his heart; he rarely went shopping with Ye Lanyu, let alone traveled with her.

“You still remember that? Be good, that was something from when we were children. I wouldn’t do that now. Besides, even if I wanted to, your current figure isn’t suitable anymore,” Ye Lanyu said with a smile, holding his hand.

“I don’t believe you!” Ye Lang said flatly.

“...”

“Hmph. If you refuse, I’ll never let you go. And if you try to run, I’ll have people all across the continent searching for you, so you won’t even be able to enjoy yourself!” Ye Lanyu glared and threatened him.

“All right, all right. If you have time, I’ll let you travel with me for a while,” Ye Lang finally gave in. He was a little afraid of this sister of his; he knew she was capable of anything.

“Tsk, how did I not think of that? You may not go home, but I can find you anytime and join you whenever I like. Fine, it’s decided!” Ye Lanyu said with a pleased smile.

“Because you’re stupid,” Ye Lang replied.

Bang!

Ye Lanyu punched him on the head.

“Hey...”

“How dare you call me stupid! Listen carefully, from now on you are never allowed to speak ill of me!” She pinched his cheek and warned him.

“Why not?” Ye Lang asked.

“Because I’m your sister!”

“...”

That was a very good, very powerful reason indeed.

“Sis, what did you want with me just now? You rarely come to the study to find me at this hour,” Ye Lang said suddenly, remembering that Ye Lanyu’s appearance had been rather odd.

“Oh right, I almost forgot the real matter. Xiao Qi and I have both been looking for you. His Majesty seems to be dealing with something rather troublesome, and he wants you to go there,” Ye Lanyu said, tapping her head.

“I... don’t want to go!” Ye Lang felt a little headache coming on. If even the emperor couldn’t solve it, why should he go? Whatever the situation, this would certainly be troublesome.

And once it was solved, would they keep dragging him into things in the future? That seemed very likely.

“You don’t need to worry. They said this matter requires a special person to handle; it’s not that the problem itself is especially difficult. If they’re lying to us, then we can just leave,” Ye Lanyu said. She understood Ye Lang very well, and she knew exactly what he was thinking.

Ye Lang nodded. “In that case, let’s go take a look. And Xiao Qi?”

“No need to mind her. She can go back on her own,” Ye Lanyu said briskly, pulling him away.

The two of them still did not get along. Whoever found Ye Lang first would never wait for the other; in other words, if the Seventh Princess had found him first this time, she would have taken him away just as readily, without waiting for Ye Lanyu.

“Oh...” Ye Lang was dragged away like that.

“Hmph! Ye Lanyu, just you wait!” When the princess arrived at the study and learned that Ye Lang had already been taken away, she stamped her foot and hurried after them, hoping to catch up.

Inside the palace, in the imperial study, the emperor explained the matter to Ye Lang. Only a handful of people were present—those the emperor trusted most, among them Ye Lang’s father, Ye Jitian.

“So, Your Majesty, this is the problem?” Ye Lang asked after hearing the whole story, frowning.

“Yes. None of us are suited to step forward on this matter, and we feel only you are the most appropriate choice,” the emperor said gravely.

“What’s there not to be suited for? Since you already know the answer, just be straightforward. What are you afraid of?” Ye Lang said.

“You wouldn’t understand. Many matters are involved, but it is merely a question of appearances. Even if they know we had you do it, nothing will come of it. Just as we ourselves cannot handle this matter directly,” the emperor said, without bothering to explain the reasons in detail.

For them, explaining it to Ye Lang would be troublesome, and in truth it was not important enough to matter.

“If that’s the case, you should have picked someone else at random. Why choose me?” Ye Lang was not interested in the rest; he only found this point strange.

“Because if it’s you, there will be a reasonable explanation. You can touch this matter without drawing attention, and you may even step into it yourself. Most importantly, no one will question the reason you were involved,” the emperor said with a smile.

“You people who play politics really are nothing good,” Ye Lang said very frankly, expressing exactly what he felt inside. That left the emperor and the others speechless.

“Cough. You can go handle it now. Do as you see fit; just bring back the result,” the emperor said, clearing his throat before waving Ye Lang off.

“Got it. I’ll let it go this time, but don’t come to me with matters like this again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not giving you any face!” Ye Lang said with a swagger, showing not the slightest awareness of hierarchy between ruler and subject.

“...”

Forget it. Since this brat was the boss now, let him be.

“Little brother, what did they ask you to do?” As soon as Ye Lang emerged from the study, Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess crowded around him. They had been waiting outside the whole time, because the emperor and the others had said that while the matter could be done together, it could not be heard together.

“They want me to release some people, kill some people, and imprison some people. The matter itself is simple enough,” Ye Lang said with a shrug.

“Kill people? No. How can you do such a thing? Father is really something else—why would he let you do that?” Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess almost said the same thing at the same time. By “father,” each meant a different man, and both of those men were inside the room.

“It’s not as if I’m the one doing the killing. They decide, they kill; I’m only handling the middle part. Still, I’ll inevitably be involved a little, so I’ll feel uneasy for a while. Fortunately, they’re not exactly good people either,” Ye Lang said calmly.

“Then don’t do it. Let someone else handle it,” Ye Lanyu said.

“Since they called for me, there probably isn’t anyone else more suitable,” Ye Lang said, scratching his head. In truth, he had not declined because he already understood he was the best choice.

“Then you can refuse! Why be afraid of them? If anything happens, I’ll handle it!” Ye Lanyu said, shielding Ye Lang. No matter how great the disaster, she would bear it for him.

That was Ye Lanyu’s protection of Ye Lang, a love that would never change for an entire lifetime.