The Rebirth Of A White Robe Man: I'll Follow You This Time (BL)

In the Prime Ministers Residence, Ren Yuan's hair was messy from the constant scratching and gripping after reading the letter with only a few words of 'I'm alright. I'll send a letter when I feel like coming back.'.     

"He didn't even tell me where he went this time! And he promised to never do this to me after the day he ran away before!"     

Damn… was he conscious when I ki… ki… ki… urgh!      

Ren Yuan could not even finish that one word in his mind, while his face turned bright red, which fortunately could be mistaken because of anger instead of embarrassment.     

"Cousin, for you to react like this. You really like him a lot, huh?"     

A slender young woman with a soft and gentle appearance elegantly places the cup of tea on the table, while a warm smile graces her lip with curiosity brimming in her clear eyes.     

Although, the paleness on her face couldn't be ignored, left behind by her long-term illness, but there is no denying that her appearance could easily arouse a man's pity when they see her.     

"Cousin, If he is back in the Capital, can I meet your special friend?"     

I'm really curious about the person who can make you react this way.     

Different from usual, the young woman watches with interest as his always confident cousin hesitates instead of the usual straightforward assurance of 'Yes of course I could do that!' she usually got from him.     

"Eh, I'll have to ask him first. An, you should have heard what kind of person he is, I can't force him to do something he doesn't want to."     

… Interesting…     

She knew her cousin at a young age, even the fake persona he showed to most people. And he rarely hesitates and rarely thinks of other people's feelings before making his move. And yet, there is someone who could make him react differently from usual.     

"But don't worry An. I bet he would accept meeting you if I'm the one asking it. Didn't I tell you how I am his special friend?"     

Ren Yuan's peach blossom gray eyes flash in delight, once again remembering how the young man treats him better than anyone out there.     

Although, he couldn't help but frown when he remembered the time when he just received a letter about the young man leaving the Capital in his wanderlust again after returning to the Capital in a day.     

He completely knew and understand that it was difficult for a person to stop what he had been doing for years, but Whitey didn't even come to visit him before leaving! Or did something happen while he was healing?     

Ren Yuan kind of regretted leaving the young man in the Sacred Mountain no matter what kind of explanation that young priestess had told him.     

And no, he didn't run away.     

"I see… I can't wait to meet him."     

Xiao An gently smiles, while inwardly observing every change of emotions appearing on her cousin's face, in which she is honestly surprised at what she saw before lowering her gaze down to hide the emotion that flashed in her eyes.     

After all, she knew how sharp and perceptive her cousin could be.     

"Anyway, don't worry about quickly returning to the Xiao Residence. Mother prefers for you to stay here and relax instead of constantly facing those vicious and ambitious relatives of yours. It would be bad for your health."     

"Hmm, I know. Thank you for always looking after me."     

"Don't worry, not only I owe your parents. Father and Mother had been extremely close to your parents too. The least we could do is to take care and look after the daughter they left behind after everything they had done for us."     

Ren Yuan quickly but gently folded the letter in his hands before storing it inside his robes. Before turning around to gently pat the young woman's head, uncaring of how he made a mess of the carefully brushed hair.     

Although he couldn't help the frown on his face after seeing how thin and pale her face is since his cousin looked way younger and smaller than her age should be.     

"We have to deal with the problem of your relatives trying to marry you off. You are going to turn twenty this year, even though Mother has gotten the right to take care of your well-being. But those relatives of yours won't stop from making their move."     

It honestly gives Ren Yuan a headache that the Xiao family that his mother and cousin belong to is simply chaotic on the inside. Their association and ally are split into different factions too, meaning, unlike the usual family who got only one person or powerful family backing them.     

The Xiao Family got over one person or family behind them.     

It was a miracle that the Xiao Family continued to prosper, although the spread of power and influence had made their family survive for so long. It also doesn't change the fact that their power had been decreasing with every generation since the Xiao members fought each other for their own ambition.     

Fortunately, the Shao Family had the most control and power regarding the military side, which had started from the previous generations to the present time, while Ren Yuan's father had taken most of the authority and influence in the Royal Court from the Xiao in this generation.     

And yet, the Xiao Family is still powerful, as the oldest and most influential families remaining in the Chang Empire. There is a reason the Xiao Family has survived all these years, even after countless changes of rulers, so it's not so easy to pull them down.     

They have a hand in everything, from military generals to the various ranks and officials in the Capital and other places in the Chang Empire.     

And it wasn't surprising if those Princes and Consorts with powerful families backing them up in the Palace had reached over to some people in the Xiao family. The preparation to fight for the throne is once again underway.     

The only fortunate situation that Ren Yuan could see was the fact that the Emperor didn't have a wife from the Xiao family or the structure of power would become more chaotic. And even though they could send much younger women to the Harem after many years of the Emperor sitting on the throne.     

But it's a widely known fact that the Emperor doesn't easily receive a new wife in his harem. Even if the Emperor was known as a romantic person, the man seemed to keep some intelligence regarding the chaos it would lead him and the Empire.     

Besides, there is also the fact that the Emperor had more skill in handling his backyard instead of governing the Empire and making it better.     

Honestly, Ren Yuan doesn't know what to think of the present Emperor. Although he wasn't an enlightened ruler to have changed anything good to their Chang Empire, but, he also wasn't making things worse during his rule.     

Well, it was better for the previous Emperor who mostly indulge in the harem though, and causing more damage and chaos than the present ruler. So everything is alright and content with the one reigning today.     

"Besides, you are the only few relatives I can count on to never backstab me."     

You are one of the few people who know my deepest secret that I wanted to bury in my death.     

Ren Yuan's eyes darkened before the emotions upon it quickly disappeared and finally thought of dropping by the young man's restaurant since the dishes seemed specifically made for his taste and nothing else can compare to them.     

Although he preferred to eat what the young man made himself, but he couldn't even find the man's exact location.     

Sometimes, he only receives news after days when the young man only appears in a few towns once in a while before disappearing again. Sometimes going to the north, then back to the south again then to another different direction.     

It was extremely difficult to pinpoint where the young man was going.     

Ren Yuan honestly doesn't like how extremely skilled the young man is from hiding and leaving no evidence to follow. If Whitey really doesn't want to be found then no one can find him.     

"Anyway, stay here. I also got some news from Luoyang that he got a lead to the person I am looking for. If I'm gone and you need something, you can always contact Xing Ning."     

"Ok cousin, take care of yourself out there."     

Ren Yuan nodded his head and turned around, his mind already thinking of the various dishes he liked to eat, completely ignorant of the unreadable eyes of the young woman watching him leave.     

And after a few seconds, a young female servant appeared in the room with a worried look in her eyes. After all, the news reaches them about what the Young Master Yuan had been up to while they are traveling back to the Capital.     

Even she could tell that it was utterly different from usual.     

And based on a woman's instinct alone, she could tell that it was something more serious.     

"My lady…"     

"... Hm… Zhi, what's that look for? I'm happy for Yuan. He found someone he could be easily comfortable with."     

"But…"     

"Don't worry, I'm not sad or anything."     

Xiao An gently smiles toward her worried female servant, before showing a tired expression on her face since her body is honestly weak, especially since she is still feeling exhausted even after a few days pass by when they return to the Capital.     

The Xiao family should have known the condition of her body and yet, they still called her back. Just that alone told her that something serious is going to happen, even without Ren Yuan telling her he would handle the situation.     

"I'm a bit tired. I'll go to take a rest."     

When Xiao An lay in bed despite being early and closing her eyes, she couldn't help but think of the person who easily integrated himself into Ren Yuan's life.     

Shao Cheng is it?... I wonder what kind of person you are… and what you wanted from my cousin.