Ch 96: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

The Heavenly Court had been aware of everything ever since Emperor Yi’s offering to the heavens. Naturally, they also knew that Jiang Lin had escaped from the Void Abyss.

“Very well,” the Jade Emperor murmured, holding a chess piece between his fingers, his brows knitted in faint anger. “The Human Emperor and the Dragon Clan have joined forces to challenge the Heavenly Court.”

“Why must Your Majesty be so angry?” The elegant goddess sitting across from him chuckled softly. “They’re just two desperate ants struggling in vain.”

The Jade Emperor’s expression softened. “You’re right. Whether it’s the Dragon Clan or the Shang Dynasty, both are at the end of their ropes. Even if they join forces, what can they accomplish?”

His gaze penetrated the layers of clouds, looking down toward the mortal realm.

The sages had previously foretold that the Shang Dynasty’s fate would last no more than fifty years. Fifty years was merely the time of a single meditation session for celestial beings.

“The Shang Dynasty has many talented individuals,” the Jade Emperor remarked, placing the chess piece down with finality. “It’s time to add some new names to the Investiture of the Gods.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Lin had settled in Zhaoge. Now that his life force was connected to the entire city, nothing within Zhaoge could escape his notice.

When Emperor Yi learned of this, he didn’t hesitate to send Emperor Xin to Jiang Lin’s residence. His reason was perfectly justified: “I plan to officially start Prince Shou’s education at the age of three. Until then, this will be the most free time of his life. It would be a shame to keep him confined within the deep palace.”

Besides, Emperor Yi knew there was no one who would hope more fervently than this dragon that Prince Shou would grow up well.

Jiang Lin: “…”

Don’t think I don’t know that it’s because Prince Shou is so energetic and noisy that you and the queen are overwhelmed and are looking for an excuse to send him here.

Now that Zhaoge was extremely safe and Jiang Lin’s residence was very close to the royal palace, Emperor Yi and the queen could visit their young son anytime they wanted.

Emperor Yi was tall and handsome, the queen was gentle and graceful, and Prince Shou inherited their best features, making him an adorable child.

Jiang Lin had always been gentle with young ones, especially since this little one was crucial to his mission and his own life. He paid special attention to Prince Shou.

Qingluo and the others also liked the child, curiously observing this little baby. The only one who wasn’t too pleased about Prince Shou’s presence was Little Lord Zong, who often seemed displeased.

Just as Zong Yu had followed the aura to Zhaoge and found Jiang Lin, he encountered Emperor Yi handing his son over to Jiang Lin.

Strangely enough, the child, who was noisy and hard to calm even for his mother in the palace, quieted down the moment Jiang Lin held him. He even flashed a toothless smile and instinctively reached out with his tiny hands to loosely grasp Jiang Lin’s robe.

Jiang Lin, who rarely had the experience of holding a child, was intrigued. “He’s quite well-behaved.”

Emperor Yi, seeing this, was speechless.

He looked at Jiang Lin’s face and suddenly felt a sense of crisis. Prince Shou, only a year old, already seemed to know how to appreciate beauty?

This was worrisome for the concerned father.

But regardless, he solemnly entrusted Prince Shou to Jiang Lin’s care.

Jiang Lin nodded, “Rest assured, Your Majesty.”

After Emperor Yi left, Huaiyin and the other demons cautiously approached. It wasn’t that they were timid, but Emperor Yi’s imperial aura naturally suppressed anything demonic. Even getting close made it hard for someone like Huaiyin, who had once carried heavy sins, to breathe. This was under the condition that she was recognized as Jiang Lin’s subordinate, which barely granted her tolerance. Otherwise, entering Zhaoge would have caused her to be suppressed by the royal aura, forcing her to reveal her true form.

In the original myth, the Nine-Tailed Fox could enter the palace by possessing Daji, which showed how much support the gods had given her.

Even young Prince Shou carried some royal aura, though it wasn’t as strong as Emperor Yi’s, making it less oppressive to demons. Huaiyin and Qingluo could barely get close with their strong cultivation, but they couldn’t harbor any ill intentions.

Only Zong Yu seemed inexplicably irritated by the sight of the baby clinging to Jiang Lin.

Emperor Yi sent his son over, not really expecting Jiang Lin to personally take care of the child. He had arranged for twelve palace attendants to look after Prince Shou, specifically responsible for the young prince’s daily needs. However, it seemed that Prince Shou was particularly fond of Jiang Lin; he only liked being in Jiang Lin’s arms and would cry as soon as he was taken away.

Whenever that happened, the palace attendants would be at a loss, ending up kneeling on the ground with the little prince in their arms, pleading with Mr. Jiang to comfort him. Jiang Lin obliged the first couple of times, but by the third or fourth time, he refused.

“Let him cry, and no one is allowed to comfort him!” Jiang Lin said firmly, lifting the little one into the room with one hand, ignoring the pleading and troubled expressions of the attendants.

Zong Yu, feeling pleased, eagerly poured Jiang Lin a cup of tea, not bothering to hide his schadenfreude. “I told you, kids this age are a real hassle. Now, someone like me, at my age, is much more convenient—well-behaved and obedient.”

Jiang Lin sighed. “You’re really something else,” he said, tempted to drag this brat outside for a cold splash of water to wake him up. “Comparing yourself to a one-year-old baby.”

Zong Yu retorted confidently, “Well, who isn’t a baby in their own way?”

Jiang Lin was speechless.

Suddenly, Jiang Lin asked, “What did you just say?”

Zong Yu tilted his head in confusion. “Say what?”

Jiang Lin clarified, “I didn’t quite catch what you said earlier.”

Zong Yu, with an air of pride, repeated, “Who isn’t a few thousand-year-old baby? You should treat me better!”

“Alright,” Jiang Lin said, revealing a crystal-clear memory stone in his palm. “I’ve recorded that.”

Feeling pleased, Jiang Lin added, “When you regain your memories, don’t regret it.”

Zong Yu, who now understood that he had likely lost his memories due to some accident and had reverted to this childlike form, was unperturbed by Jiang Lin’s words. “What’s there to regret? I’m a baby right now.”

As he spoke, he even wiggled the horns on his head.

Jiang Lin suddenly found him adorable and couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the delicate, curved horns.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he touched them, Zong Yu jerked back sharply.

He jumped up from his seat, clutching his head and retreating several steps, his face flushed red.

“Don’t touch my horns!” he exclaimed loudly.

Jiang Lin hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. “Sorry,” he said, retracting his hand. “I didn’t know. It won’t happen again.”

Zong Yu, realizing he might have overreacted, lowered his hand, still blushing. Awkwardly, he muttered, “I wasn’t blaming you, but… my horns can only be touched by someone really important to me.”

Seeing this, Jiang Lin immediately understood what Zong Yu meant by “really important.”

Clearing his throat, Jiang Lin couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. He apologized once more, “I see, I’m sorry.”

Zong Yu stared at him with wide eyes and then suddenly said, “If you really like me, I suppose I wouldn’t mind letting you touch them.”

Jiang Lin was taken aback.

Zong Yu, with complete sincerity, continued, “You’re so good-looking, and you cook well. Letting you touch them isn’t a loss for me.”

Jiang Lin, shaken by the boldness of this child, grew more composed in response. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not interested in kids.”

“Not like I won’t grow up,” Zong Yu muttered.

He then seriously added, “Even though I don’t remember anything, my heart tells me that being close to you makes me happy. If you’re looking for a Dao companion, you could consider me, you know.”

Jiang Lin sternly said, “We can talk about this when you’re older.”

Xiao Zong stared at him suspiciously. “You better not be trying to fool me.”

Just then, a palace attendant approached Jiang Lin with a happy expression. “Sir, the little prince has stopped crying.”

The attendants didn’t know Jiang Lin’s true identity, only that he had a mysterious background and was highly regarded by the king. With his ethereal, almost divine appearance, being in his presence made them feel as though they were desecrating something sacred. The palace attendants who were assigned to care for the young prince hardly dared to breathe in his presence, and they didn’t dare to look at him directly.

Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow. “He’s quiet now?”

He stood up. “I’ll go check on him.”

He felt a bit relieved. The amnesiac Xiao Zong was much more straightforward than before. That wasn’t too much of a problem, but what surprised Jiang Lin was that he had felt a rare moment of emotional stir when Xiao Zong spoke so openly. Even though Xiao Zong had lost his memory, his instincts still drove him to stay close.

Jiang Lin shook his head, dismissing those thoughts. There were more pressing matters at hand. He entered the room to check on the future Emperor Xin.

After crying for a while, the little prince’s pale, chubby cheeks were still wet with tears, his eyes red, and his lashes damp, making him look quite pitiful.

When he saw Jiang Lin, he pouted and reached out, asking to be held.

Jiang Lin walked over, squatted down by the bed where the child was safely lying, and looked at the baby eye to eye. “Not crying anymore? Let me tell you, crying won’t get you what you want from me.”

The baby blinked his eyes.

Jiang Lin didn’t mind if the baby understood him or not. He picked him up by the back of his collar and said, “Come on, let me show you your kingdom.”

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Lin was already holding the prince in the air.

From up high, looking down at Zhaoge, the capital city appeared grand and majestic, a place of great splendor through the clouds.

The little prince, having never seen such a sight before, kept craning his neck to look around.

Jiang Lin murmured, “This is your kingdom. If you don’t become a good king, it will be trampled upon, and the legacy of the Shang dynasty will turn to dust. I’ll end up going down with you.”

He looked into the innocent, clear eyes of the prince, pinched his chubby cheek, and smiled. “So, enjoy these next two years while you can.”

After finishing court duties, Emperor Yi changed into lighter attire and, together with the queen, quietly left the palace. Today was Prince Shou’s third birthday, and it was also the day they would bring him back to the palace.

When they arrived at Jiang Lin’s residence, they were greeted by Qingluo, who was already well-acquainted with the royal couple. She cheerfully said, “A Shou is in the back courtyard with Daddy.”

Hearing this, both Emperor Yi and the queen couldn’t help but show concern on their faces. Ever since A Shou was able to walk at a little over a year old, this was a common occurrence.

Most of the time when they came to see their son, he was in the back courtyard.

And what was he doing in the courtyard?

As the couple approached the back courtyard, they heard the joyful laughter of a child.

It was A Shou’s voice.

They took a few more steps forward, and the scene in the courtyard came into full view.

In the spacious yard, what should have been a flower garden had been transformed into neatly arranged plots of land, filled with various green seedlings.

In the northeastern corner, Emperor Yi spotted his son.

Little A Shou was squatting, his chubby body holding a small bronze trowel, digging something.

No matter how many times Emperor Yi saw this scene, he always wanted to cover his eyes.

If you asked him how he felt at that moment, it was regret—deep regret.

When he entrusted A Shou to the Dragon Prince’s care, he had no idea that the Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon Clan’s greatest hobby was farming!