The Whole Empire Raises Me - Chapter 17

 

Chapter 17

Today had been exhausting.

As soon as Wen Xingze stepped out of the shower and sat on the couch to change into his pajamas, he involuntarily fell asleep. The scorching summer was coming to an end, yet the stars outside still sparkled brightly.

In his dream, things were different from the Dragon Clan. The Blood Clan’s home planet wasn’t originally part of the Muse Empire. It was an independent, secluded nation ruled by thirteen royal princes.

Adhering to their reclusive code, they lived in their own world, avoiding contact with outsiders and refusing to join the interstellar alliance. They were a proud and aloof race.

The Blood Clan was formidable.

Wen Xingze’s encounter with them in Desolation was rather peculiar.

They came to challenge him.

At the time, Wen Xingze was on a border exploration mission, accompanied by only a few subordinates. He had spent a month residing on a desolate planet near the Blood Clan’s home star.

During that month, each of the thirteen royal princes had sought him out for a duel. First Soren, then Lilith, Lan, Isabella…

Each prince’s combat abilities were at a bug-level, but fortunately, as the Emperor, Wen Xingze wasn’t a pushover. In the initial battles, he barely won, but once he deciphered the Blood Clan’s fighting patterns, he gained a slight advantage.

On the thirteenth day, after defeating the last prince, Os, a fiery-tempered youth with red hair and crimson eyes, confronted him with a question: “Why don’t you kill us? You’re insulting the honor of warriors like us.”

For the Blood Clan, it was either victory or death — a value they staunchly upheld.

It was strange. Despite being legendary undead creatures known for their cunning, they possessed a chivalrous spirit.

According to convention, Wen Xingze should have reasoned with them, urging them to cherish life and enjoy their time. But he wasn’t skilled at persuasion, so his response was straightforward:

“How can I kill you? Aren’t you the undead?”

Os retorted, “Nail us to a pure silver cross, bind us under the sun for seventy-two hours, and even a prince would turn to ashes.”

Wen Xingze subtly replied, “That seems a bit impractical.” It wasn’t like he was pressing peanut oil.

Os fell silent.

The young demon prince stormed off, his face livid.

Wen Xingze realized he might have angered them. He planned to finish his mission quickly and escape, but he was too late. The next day, he and his subordinates were bound and taken to the Blood Clan’s home planet.

Surprisingly, they had picked a fight with him.

Soren said, “Until we find a method that satisfies you and successfully kills us, we hope you’ll remain on the Blood Clan’s home planet.”

Wen Xingze diplomatically explained his responsibilities as a ruler, but Soren persisted, “The thirteen princes can temporarily assist you in governing.”

These were rulers in their own right, yet they were willing to serve under him. With things having reached this point, Wen Xingze had no choice but to accept.

For the next four months, at Wen Xingze’s suggestion, they tried over a thousand methods. From garlic baths to garlic feasts, garlic-infused water, and garlic-marinated pork…

Wen Xingze vowed never to touch garlic again in his life.

Unfortunately, despite their efforts, every method failed. And with Wen Xingze away from the capital star for too long, the prime minister sent him three urgent messages daily. He had to return.

This time, when he returned, he was forced to bring along some local souvenirs.

A lot of small bats.

It was the first time the Blood Clan had left their home planet. They were extremely cautious by nature, so they appeared in their bat forms.

Wen Xingze didn’t know why they had followed him or how long they intended to stay.

Later, his original finance minister resigned due to the heavy burden on the treasury and returned home to become a farmer. Soren naturally took over the position of finance minister, and the Blood Clan officially joined the Muse Empire.

The entire process still puzzled Wen Xingze. He had no idea what he had done to win over the Blood Clan. The historical records described it as, “His Majesty touched the once cold-blooded race with his warm and compassionate heart”…

A warm and compassionate heart? Wen Xingze felt like he had become a fake emperor.

The Blood Clan had a strong sense of ownership, which manifested in their daily habits. They were extremely fastidious and prone to jealousy.

After spending time with them, Wen Xingze noticed that once they considered something theirs, everything related to it became a sore point.

If someone touched their utensils or cups, they’d sulk.

If strangers stepped on their land on the capital star, they’d sulk.

Even when the morning divination predicted bad luck, they’d sulk.

And if the Emperor didn’t greet the Blood Clan first thing in the morning, they’d sulk…?

When the last incident occurred, Wen Xingze finally realized something was amiss. No wonder his sleeping quarters were always filled with dozens of upside-down little bats lately — they were there to inspect his personal property.

________________________

The night passed uneventfully.

Since it was still a holiday, Wen Xingze slept until after nine in the morning. The central air conditioning worked steadily, blowing a gentle breeze at twenty-three degrees.

Wen Xingze lay on the fabric sofa, curled on his side. His hands were still clasped around the hem of his clothes, which felt somewhat uncomfortable. His brow furrowed slightly.

Suddenly.

The blanket that had been on the bed floated up, suspended in mid-air, and then gently settled over Wen Xingze. Simultaneously, his posture shifted to lying flat, hands folded on his abdomen.

In the empty room, a nursery rhyme began to play.

“Sleep, my beloved Majesty… Everything in the world belongs to you.”

The voice was still clear and childlike, ethereal and pleasant. However, the lyrics deviated slightly from a typical lullaby. To an outsider, it might seem eerie, but Wen Xingze, deep in slumber, relaxed his furrowed brow.

He slept soundly.

________________________

Noon arrived.

If it weren’t for Xu Qianqian calling him to come downstairs for lunch, Wen Xingze might have slept until the afternoon or even evening.

“Xiao Wen, did you just wake up? Hahaha, Zhu Bo and I have been scrolling through Weibo for three hours…”

Xu Qianqian’s voice came through the phone.

“Remember your roots when you’re rich!” Zhu Bo shouted in the background. “The power of humans to avoid work has no limits, Aze."

Wen Xingze responded with a very confused “uh-huh.”

He had slept too long, and his consciousness wasn’t quite clear. He quickly washed his hair, a bit of foam sticking to his eyelashes, blurring his vision. Clutching his toothbrush, he fumbled around the sink, searching for toothpaste, but couldn’t find it for the life of him.

Suddenly, someone placed toothpaste in his hand.

The person hesitated for a moment, then took the toothpaste and Wen Xingze’s toothbrush together, squeezed out the toothpaste, and handed it back to him.

“Thank you,” Wen Xingze said gratefully. “Could you also pass me a towel?”

“As you wish,” the voice of the young boy replied with a smile.

The next second, a warm towel covered Wen Xingze’s face, carefully wiping away the foam from his eyes. The boy also used a hairdryer to blow-dry his hair, quickly drying the damp strands that clung to his cheeks.

Wen Xingze could finally open his eyes. His amber gaze still held a hint of mist, and he let out an “ah.”

The toothbrush was gently placed in his mouth, and Wen Xingze thanked him before brushing his teeth.

In the eyes of the Blood Clan, the most adorable sight was their Emperor, just waking up and still groggy.

No Blood Clan member could resist such an unexpected encounter. If not for the limitations of their spiritual forms, the only Blood Clan present would have transformed back into their bat shapes, flying rapidly through the air, performing three and a half spins.

Wen Xingze yawned, changed his clothes after brushing his teeth, and found that a set of clothes had already been picked out and laid out in the wardrobe. Without much thought, he put them on.

“Your buttons aren’t fastened. Let me help,” the young boy’s voice continued. “By the way, I’ve prepared hot milk for you, just the way you like it.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Wen Xingze replied.

The boy said, “How could it be a bother? This is something I’ve always dreamed of.”

Wen Xingze nodded, and then said, “Oh…”

Wen Xingze: “Huh?” Wait, who was he talking to just now? Wasn’t he staying alone in the hotel?

Ding.

The long reflex arc finally reached its end, and Wen Xingze woke up. A light bulb lit above his head.

His vision slowly focused.

“Your Majesty?” The young boy looked at him, puzzled, as he approached nervously. “Are you okay? Feeling unwell?”

The boy had large, reddish eyes, sharp little fangs, and black bat wings behind him.

He wasn’t standing on the ground; he floated in mid-air. Despite it being summer, the boy wore a complete little suit, holding a gentleman’s hat in his hands.

Although confused, Wen Xingze quickly remembered his name: “Lan?”

Lan was the prince of the Neutral Party among the Blood Clan. Despite his appearance as a six or seven-year-old boy, he was actually one of the oldest among the thirteen princes, conservatively estimated to be over a thousand years old.

Lan sniffled.

Wen Xingze said, “Don’t cry…”

The boy’s nose turned even redder. After staring at Wen Xingze for a few seconds, tears welled up in his eyes:

“You remember my name, and I’m so happy! You must also recall that on the morning of July in the 235th year in the cosmic era, at 8:24, you said you ‘loved drinking milk heated by Lan.’”

“…”

How did he remember the exact time down to two decimal places? Wen Xingze had actually forgotten about such things.

But to prevent Lan’s emotions from spiraling further, Wen Xingze quickly reassured him, “Of course, I remember. How could I forget something so important? What’s wrong?”

The little boy fell silent.

After a moment, the young boy blinked his reddish eyes, and tears fell.

Wen Xingze: “?”

The boy said, “You never actually said that.”

Wen Xingze: “???”

Lan: “I lied to you.”

Lan continued with a three-part inquiry: “You don’t remember, do you? Why did you remember to say ‘good morning’ to Soren first? Do you really prefer Soren?”

After uttering this, the young boy flew to a corner, wings flapping in frustration, curling up into a ball, and began sulking.

Wen Xingze: “…………”

Isn't there a law against entrapment!

________________________

Half an hour later, at the rooftop restaurant.

The cast of Encounter with the Dragon stayed at the best hotel in the film city — a four-star establishment with decent privacy and comfort. Most actors had their own suites.

Of course, this treatment wasn’t constant. During certain shoots for Encounter with the Dragon, the entire crew would head into the mountains, and they might have to stay in local houses or even tents.

That’s why Xu Qianqian and the others had suggested seizing the moment.

Lan was currently in his spiritual form, visible only to Wen Xingze. The little boy remained huddled in a corner, and Wen Xingze had almost given up, planning to finish his meal and then chat with him later. But at the last second before leaving, Lan followed him with a reluctant expression.

“Lan, I really didn’t mean it… By the way, why are you here? Is it related to the Light Tower?”

Seeing that the boy was still downcast, Wen Xingze attempted an apology: “I like both you and Soren. Lilith, Os, and the others too.”

Lan: “Hmph, men.”

Wen Xingze: “???”

After that, Lan sat there with a stern expression, making Wen Xingze recall the three months when his Minister of Finance refused to speak.

Although Lan wasn’t talking, he continued to follow Wen Xingze closely. He glared fiercely at anyone who dared to approach Wen Xingze. When a female waitress passed by and glanced at Wen Xingze, Lan even bared his fangs menacingly.

Wen Xingze: “……”

The hotel’s most famous feature was its rooftop revolving glass restaurant. The floor was entirely transparent, offering a unique view both day and night. Of course, the price was equally impressive.

When Wen Xingze arrived, the table was already filled with salads.

“Because I had braised squab yesterday, I need to avoid certain foods now,” Xu Qianqian explained. “Otherwise, if the main cast of Encounter with the Dragon ends up looking like chubby pigs during post-production, it wouldn’t be ideal.”

Zhu Bo chimed in, “Speaking of chubby pigs, it reminds me of humanity's good friend, Xu Baijing.”

Xu Qianqian burst into laughter, and Wen Xingze asked, “Humanity's good friend, Xu Baijing?”

Wen Xingze sat down at the table, pondered for a moment, and then asked the waiter to add an empty chair. Lan, who had been floating in mid-air, scrutinizing them, finally sat down next to Wen Xingze, maintaining a dignified posture.

Now Xu Qianqian sat on Wen Xingze’s left, and Lan on his right.

Xu Qianqian, to Wen Xingze’s left, said, “Don’t you know? Xu Baijing’s pig-head expressions have become incredibly popular online. The latest catchphrases are ‘Don’t be too Xu Baijing’ and ‘You’re so ugly, it disgusts me.’ It trended as the top search for twelve hours!”

And on Wen Xingze’s right, Lan suddenly spoke up: “Your Majesty, the reason I’m here is that today, the Light Tower Delivery System officially launched. It allows the weekly delivery of one inanimate object to you.”

Wen Xingze paused, fork in hand.

Xu Qianqian laughed, patting Wen Xingze’s shoulder. “Xu Baijing has really gotten himself into trouble this time. For some reason, none of his five dads are helping him clean up the mess. And all his past scandals have surfaced — it’s quite satisfying.”

Lan’s crimson eyes bore into Xu Qianqian’s hand on Wen Xingze’s shoulder. After a moment, he coldly remarked, “The Blood Clan sent the Soul Casket to you because we're the only race capable of freely controlling where souls reside. Each day, one soul can stay here for three hours.” His tone carried a hint of bitterness.

Wen Xingze’s gaze gradually grew distant: “…”

To his left, Xu Qianqian continued, “And the ‘Masked Vampire Brother’ is also gaining popularity. Many fans of Encounter with the Dragon suspect it’s you, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. The best part? There are already video edits circulating online, and they’re quite well done.”

To his right, Lan seemed to compete with Xu Qianqian: “I drew the first lot. Tomorrow should be Lilith, and the day after will be Soren.”

Wen Xingze’s brain was thoroughly scrambled: “???”

Having people talk simultaneously on both sides felt unexpected — a sensation anyone who’d experienced it would understand. Sitting there, utterly bewildered, Wen Xingze felt like he was splitting into two.

Zhu Bo across from him looked concerned. “Xiao Wen, are you okay? Want some juice?”

Wen Xingze hesitated, then picked up the glass of orange-flavored sparkling juice. It was chilled and surprisingly refreshing.

As he took a sip, the discussions on both sides finally reached their conclusion.

Xu Qianqian added, “By the way, there’s a change in the Encounter with the Dragon filming schedule. We might have simultaneous shoots on both sides. A director will temporarily take over here for a week. Can you guess who? You’ll never get it.”

Lan chimed in, “And to make your stay more comfortable, we’ve acquired this hotel.”

Xu Qianqian exclaimed, “—It’s Chi Yan!”

Two bombshell announcements.

Outside the window, a white dove flew by, and the large clock chimed thirteen times. The hour hand pointed to one in the afternoon.

Wen Xingze: “…”

Wen Xingze: “…………”

A soft clatter.

Maintaining his original posture, Wen Xingze dropped the spoon on the floor.

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