The moment Xu Nian'an learned that the current Xue Qinghe was very likely the legendary Qian Renxue, he became instantly interested.
As for that cousin of his from the original story, whom he had never even met—
What a joke. Did Xu Nian'an look like he cared?
Emperor Xue Ye had sent a message overnight, telling him to acknowledge their kinship and offering him the territory of the Gulei Kingdom.
Wasn't that just an attempt to win him over without spending a single soldier, so they could avoid another war?
Besides, don't forget: back when the Gulei Kingdom dared to send troops against him, would they have done so without a nod from the Heaven Dou Empire?
Since it was all a matter of mutual exploitation, what was there to say about family affection?
Besides, was there any such thing as family affection between imperial and royal families?
It seemed they had chosen the wrong person to win over. Xu Nian'an was no meek, law-abiding sort.
Since the Heaven Dou Empire wanted him to wear their colors, and he needed them to pull strings from behind the scenes and keep the Star Luo Empire from making a direct move against him, why not take advantage of the arrangement?
In front of the Imperial Dining Palace.
Xu Nian'an, clad in a Python Robe, had been waiting for quite some time. From far away, he saw a group of people approaching, chatting and laughing.
At the head of the group was a handsome young man with short blond hair and a face of striking refinement. He wore splendid white-and-gold robes, and it was obvious at a glance that he was someone important.
Judging by his bearing alone—or by the clothes made from such unusual material—Xu Nian'an didn't even need to think.
This had to be his distant cousin, whom he hadn't seen in ages (and had, in fact, never met).
The young man standing in front of the Imperial Dining Palace also caught Xue Qinghe's eye at once.
Xu Nian'an wasn't tall, but the dark, black robes of his Python Robe gave him an unmistakable air of royal authority.
As they drew near, a warm smile slowly curled across Xu Nian'an's lips.
"Hey... cousin!"
Hearing Xu Nian'an's slightly accented greeting, the corners of Xue Qinghe's mouth slowly lifted too.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be my cousin Xu Nian'an, king of the Great Ming Kingdom far away in the East Sea, right?"
"So young, yet already holding up an entire kingdom. Impressive, truly impressive. You're a promising young man. There's still plenty Qinghe could learn from you, cousin!"
Xu Nian'an nodded slowly. Since the other party was happy to exchange pleasantries, he didn't mind praising him in return.
"Not at all, not at all. It's just basic stuff—nothing to fuss over!"
"I can't compare to your noble bearing, cousin, or to the vast lands of the Heaven Dou Empire waiting for you to inherit."
"My little kingdom is nothing much. I hope you won't mind, cousin. If there's ever anything you need, just ask. We're family, after all."
As he spoke, Xu Nian'an slung an arm around the other's shoulders.
The smile on Xue Qinghe's face stiffened noticeably, but seeing Xu Nian'an's enthusiasm, he couldn't say anything. He turned his head, and the smile returned.
"Cousin, your feat of drowning two hundred thousand elite soldiers of the Gulei Kingdom has made your name ring throughout Heaven Dou."
Noticing the subtle change in Xue Qinghe's expression, Xu Nian'an smiled even more broadly. Wasn't that the face of someone disgusted but forced to keep putting up with it?
He could already picture Qian Renxue's helpless expression.
That only made him more certain of the other's identity.
His right hand slid slowly from the other's supple waist to the curve of his rear, then gave it a hard pinch.
"Mm... Cousin... What are you doing?"
Xue Qinghe's expression shifted slightly.
Was his cousin into some sort of special kink?
"Hey, we're family, and we haven't seen each other in years (though we've actually never met). We ought to get close. This is how we greet people back in the East Sea."
Hearing Xue Qinghe's voice start to tremble, Xu Nian'an only grew more excited.
"Didn't you want to hear how I crushed the Gulei Kingdom?"
"After the banquet, let's bathe together. I'll tell you all about it through the night!"
No wonder she was the most beautiful woman on the continent. Even her skin was different from the palace maids': not soft, but firm and elastic.
"What, cousin? Could it be that you look down on someone from a remote kingdom like mine and don't want to?"
Seeing that Xue Qinghe seemed reluctant, Xu Nian'an immediately started laying a guilt trip on him.
If he wanted to claim kinship, surely he had to pay just a tiny price???
Heh heh heh!
"Of course not. It's just that your enthusiasm took me by surprise. Fine... all right. Let's call this the beginning of strengthening our family bond."
Xu Nian'an had no idea that, behind Xue Qinghe, several palace maids were watching them with strange expressions.
The banquet hall was bustling with laughter and merriment. When the old eunuch Xu Fu saw the scene, the corners of his mouth nearly stretched into a Nike swoosh.
Ever since Xu Nian'an ascended the throne, he'd never once seen him smile so happily.
It seemed the power of family really was something else.
Xue Qinghe: My cousin may be young, but I truly admire the courage it takes for one man to shoulder the Great Ming Kingdom.
Xue Qinghe: Though we've been apart for so long, I can still feel the blood in our veins—and the bond between us—running as deep as the sea.
Xu Nian'an: Listen to you! I even held you in my arms when you were little!
Xu Nian'an: Don't worry, cousin. When it comes to choosing the Heaven Dou Empire's heir, I'm absolutely backing you!
Xu Nian'an: Come on, let's go bathe and change...
The bathhouse.
Pink light bathed the room.
Xu Nian'an took off his Python Robe and slowly stepped into the enormous bath, its surface decorated with vivid rose petals.
With the suggestive lighting, a shared bath, and a shared bed to follow, Xu Nian'an was ready to bring Qian Renxue to heel.
You little rascal. You actually wanted to claim kinship? Fine, then—come join my family register!
"Ah, heh heh heh! Ah, Jie Jie Jie!!!"
A smile curled across Xu Nian'an's lips as he laughed wildly in the bathhouse.
Thump, thump, thump!
Just then, footsteps drew near. Xu Nian'an, who had been waiting in the bathhouse, silently lay back.
"Fine, you can wait here. My cousin and I will bathe first. If we need you later, we'll call."
As soon as Xue Qinghe finished speaking, he heard the palace maids answer respectfully.
"Yes, Your Highness, Grand Prince."
Thump, thump, thump—
The footsteps drew closer. Xu Nian'an narrowed his eyes. No, he couldn't rush things.
Splash—
The sound of someone entering the water rang out.
Xu Nian'an impatiently opened his eyes.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, cousin. The clothes weren't ready, so I got held up a little."
Xu Nian'an held back the urge to burst out laughing. His grin was harder to suppress than an AK.
"It's fine. It's not like it was a big—hey, hey!!!"
The moment he opened his eyes, Xu Nian'an jumped in fright. Good grief, Xue Qinghe was indeed Xue Qinghe, but why was he getting into the bath wearing a robe?
"Uh, cousin, it's pretty hot in the bath. We might as well take off those robes, right?"
Xue Qinghe hesitated slightly at that.
"Th-this... is that... all right?"
Xu Nian'an didn't wait for him to finish. He yanked it open.
One minute...
Two minutes...
Two and a half minutes...
"Holy crap!"
Xu Nian'an's eyes stared straight at the other's lower half. He felt so inferior that he clamped his legs together. Holy crap.
What the hell, Qian Renxue? She had more down there than he did!
Xu Nian'an turned and sprinted frantically toward the edge of the bath.
"Cousin, what are you doing?"
Xue Qinghe walked toward Xu Nian'an, his face full of confusion.
"N-no, don't! That's taboo! No way! Holy crap, don't come any closer!!!"
"Brother Jie, no!!!"