Chapter 2138: King of the Pirates (29)

Chapter 2138: Chapter 2138: King of the Pirates (29)

The people from the Imperial Court were furious.

Those are Pirates. What do you mean by tipping off the Pirates!!

Merchants value profit above all. As long as they can make money, that makes them partners, and besides, the Pirates haven’t actually robbed anyone recently.

The Imperial Court could do nothing about the Pirates; in the end, seeing that the Pirates truly weren’t running rampant, they simply couldn’t be bothered to管 them anymore.

-

A year later.

Phantom Island had regained its liveliness, even more prosperous than before. Pirates came and went, as did well-dressed merchants and guests.

All of them were here to see Chuzheng, but these past few days their Island Master’s mood seemed off, and no one had managed to see her.

"If the Island Master wishes to receive guests, we’ll inform you all again."

"Then we’ll trouble you."

"You’re welcome. Take care on your way." The Pirate politely escorted them out of the Island Lord’s Mansion.

They had never imagined that one day they’d be this polite.

After sending the visitors off, a Pirate asked curiously, "What’s up with the Island Master these two days?"

"No idea... could it be that Young Master Bu did something to displease the Island Master?"

"No way. When has the Island Master ever gotten angry at Young Master Bu?"

"...Then it must be Young Master Bu who’s angry!" The Pirate said with certainty. "Do you still remember a couple days ago when someone came up the island and sent the Island Master two handsome men?"

"That... didn’t the Island Master tell us to throw them out?"

"Before we tossed them out, didn’t Young Master Bu see them?"

"..." The Pirate curled his lips. "Young Master Bu is getting a bit too full of himself, isn’t he? He used to be just a slave. The Island Master gave him a new status, and he really thinks he’s the master now..."

"Hey." His companion shot him a meaningful look, waggling his brows.

"What? I’m not wrong. If it weren’t for the Island Master, right now he—"

The Pirate speaking finally sensed something was off and turned his head to look behind him.

A beautiful youth in splendid brocade stood quietly in the corridor, his eyes calm as he watched them.

Seeing them go silent, the youth lowered his head and walked off in another direction.

Pirate: "..."

They were done for!

If he went to complain to the Island Master, they were all finished.

-

Bu Qing walked to the door of Chuzheng’s room, lifted his robe and knelt down without a word. Just as he finished his report, Zhuang Ping came out and happened to run into this scene, scaring him so badly he quickly backed into the room.

"Something else?"

"I-Island... Island Master... Bu... Bu Qing is kneeling outside."

"..."

Chuzheng walked out of the room; Zhuang Ping didn’t dare linger and slipped away at once.

"What are you kneeling for?"

Bu Qing clasped his hands together, the backs of his hands pressed against his forehead, and bowed to the ground.

Chuzheng: "..."

He’s gone mad?

Is there still saving him?

Chuzheng went over and helped him up. "Weren’t you angry? What are you doing kneeling here with me? How long have you been kneeling?"

Perfectly fine, and yet you’re acting like this—I’m kind of scared, brother!

"..."

Seeing Bu Qing stay silent, Chuzheng brought him into the room.

Bu Qing quietly spread open a sheet of paper on Chuzheng’s desk, dipped the brush in ink, and began to write.

His handwriting was already beautiful. He wrote slowly, as though pondering the wording, and in the end, haltingly filled an entire page.

Bu Qing handed the finished sheet to Chuzheng.

Chuzheng: "..."

Is this a love letter?!

Her gaze shifted from Bu Qing to the paper.

——The Island Master treats me too well, made me forget my own status and gave rise to thoughts I shouldn’t have. It is I who have grown arrogant from favor; it is I who...

This past year had gone too smoothly for Bu Qing. Chuzheng had given him too many things, leading him to develop illusions.

That Pirate wasn’t wrong. What did he amount to...

What right did he have to throw a tantrum at her? Just because she treated him well, he thought he had that qualification?

What if she took everything back?

Bu Qing didn’t dare gamble.

So every word written there, he had written with utmost seriousness.

Chuzheng shook the sheet, the sound snapping Bu Qing back. His body trembled slightly, and he lowered his head even more.

Chuzheng’s voice followed: "If you like them, I’m willing to accept them..."

He was unwilling.

He wanted her to belong only to him.

But...

He didn’t have that qualification.

He didn’t want to lose her either, so he could only retreat and compromise. This way... at least she wouldn’t drive him away or grow tired of him, right?

Bu Qing knew his feelings were humble and low, but what could he do? His life was something she had given him to begin with.

Smack!

Chuzheng slapped the paper down on the table, her face expressionless.

Bu Qing’s body shivered; his chest ached so badly it hurt to breathe. His eyes burned and swelled, heat surging up.

"Bu Qing, you’re willing to accept them, is that it?"

Bu Qing endured the discomfort and nodded.

No... he wasn’t willing!

The voice in his heart was roaring.

"What gives you the right to be willing?" Chuzheng’s tone cooled. "Bu Qing, whose decision are you making?"

Bu Qing’s lips parted, but not a sound came out.

He couldn’t even manage to speak to her...

His mood sank even further, his head drooping lower. Just then, his body was suddenly pushed back by a force, and he bumped into the table behind him.

Someone pinched his chin, forcing him to lift his head.

That familiar face broke into his field of vision. Bu Qing didn’t quite dare look at her and tried to avert his gaze.

But Chuzheng’s grip was strong, and he couldn’t turn his head.

Her face in his pupils grew larger and larger, and just as their lips were about to touch, Chuzheng tilted her head slightly, her lips brushing past his cheek.

"In the future, I want you to say ’You’re not allowed,’ not ’I’m willing.’ Bu Qing, you can be a little more possessive of me. I don’t mind." Of course, you can’t cling to me every minute of every day! We’re adults; we all need our own Space!

Bu Qing understood every word she said, but together like that, there were parts he couldn’t quite grasp.

His mind was a mess as he stared blankly at the person before him.

She... didn’t think his sulking was because he’d gotten arrogant from favor?

Bu Qing reached for the brush, but Chuzheng stopped him, directly picking him up and carrying him toward the bed.

"Leaving you alone these two days, looks like you’ve been overthinking quite a lot."

"..."

The bed curtains fell; clothes slipped down from within, and an indescribable air of ambiguity spread through the room.

-

Bu Qing hugged the blanket, sniffing as he drank ginger tea from Chuzheng’s hand.

The ginger tea was a bit spicy, making him frown with each sip. Steam curled up from the tea, stinging his eyes red, making him look as though he’d just been bullied.

"I’ve been nursing you for so long—how is your body still this weak?" Chuzheng genuinely found it strange.

They’d just done a bit of indescribable something, and he actually caught a cold? This was a noble young master’s body with a Princess’s life!

Bu Qing’s health had been severely depleted in previous years; that wasn’t something that could be restored in a short time.

He finished the ginger tea in a few swallows and lowered his head.

He didn’t know why either. He’d felt fine before, but after a year of being carefully cared for by her, every illness now hit him extra hard.

"Alright, sleep for a bit." Chuzheng pressed him down, pulled the blanket over him. "Next time you don’t feel well, just tell me directly. Don’t force yourself."

Chuzheng felt they’d gone on a bit too long today and Bu Qing had caught a chill; she bore part of the responsibility.

But she was still pissed inside and wanted to collect a little interest from Bu Qing. Could that be blamed on her?

Looked like she needed to get him more good stuff to build him up!