As soon as Bai Yuan entered the market overflowing with natives, he was awed. Everything was so different and much more lively than the life inside the Blue Sky manor in which he resided. He looked at the busy people with sparkling eyes, filled with excitement.

Ahhh~It is my first time seeing an ancient market!

His pale orange hanfu fluttered in the air as he swiftly walked inside the market, like the wings of a flapping butterfly among tree leaves. At a distance, a few men were busy decorating the streets and shops with colorful papers and lanterns. Bai Yuan went to them with curiosity and catching a man's attention asked,

"Ge, Why is the market so lively today? Anything special?"

The man was quite taken aback by being asked such sudden questions by someone so captivating. Consequently, he stammered a little and then properly replied, "A-Ah, everyone is preparing for a festival to celebrate our Emperor's victory in the battle with those barbarians!"

Bai Yuan was greatly amazed, "You guys really love your Emperor, right?"

The man proudly replied, " Of course, we do. His majesty and the late Emperor are great rulers of all time. They've always stood beside us, poor citizens. We respect them very much!"

Bai Yuan nodded and replied, "Hm Hm, his majesty is a great ruler, I see..."

Suddenly a small kid crashed into Bai Yuan while playfully running on the streets with his peers. He didn't see Yuan standing there and colluded with him. As a result, he fell back and let out a painful groan.

"Ack-"

Bai Yuan somehow controlled his balance from stumbling and asked in a concerned tone, "Ah, hey, buddy, are you alright?"

The kid stayed lying on the ground and stared at Bai Yuan for a while. Seeing him flatly lying on the streets, Bai Yuan sighed and crouched down to help him stand up.

"Are you hurt? Can you stand up?"

But the little boy who seemed to be somewhere around 10 kept looking at him like he was bounded by some kind of spell. There was a hint of red on his ears and cheeks. Bai Yuan was too busy or too careless that he didn't notice that small detail. He patted the dress of the boy and shook him by his arms, "Are you listening??"

Finally, the boy opened his mouth to speak, "I need to tell Mother that I've found my bride!"

Bai Yuan wasn't expecting such remarks from a barely 10-year-old boy who should be going to school instead of fantasizing about a marriage partner.

"...h-hold on."

The boy clasped Bai Yuan's hands with seriousness and said, "I've never seen someone as enchanting as you."

"!!!"

Seeing Bai Yuan's cringed expression, the boy again spoke, "You don't need to worry at all, my father is a famous merchant. I'll treat you like a queen! Will you marry me?"

The crowd gasped.

Bai Yuan was already losing all his calmness and with the final blow, his strings finally snapped and he burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, Oh my my. You're so small and you're proposing to me in the middle of the street. Ah, my stomach hurts from laughing so much!"

The boy was now feeling really embarrassed, he puffed his cheeks and replied with confidence, "I'm not joking at all! "

By then Bai Yuan had already stood up and he saw an adorable boy puffing his cheeks like a puffer fish. He wasn't even tall enough to reach Bai Yuan's waist yet he proposed to him like that in front of so many spectators. Poor Bai Yuan was having a hard time controlling his laugh.

"Haha, little boy, what's your name?"

The boy clutched on Bai Yuan's robe as if he had no intentions of letting him go and replied, "Wen Bin."

"Actually, Wen Bin, I am already-"

"Married and my wife is already the Queen."

Bai Yuan was cut off from his speech and felt an arm wrapping around his waist from behind, "Ah- You surprised me!"

Wang Yiheng was closely following Bai Yuan from the moment they entered the market. As a result, he heard everything the boy said, and to not have his wife stolen, he felt the extreme urge to step in and bring that enemy down, even if it was small, a threat was always a threat.

The boy seemed pretty hurt and tears streamed down his puffed cheeks, "Father! Uwaaa"

Bai Yuan, "...."

Wang Yiheng, "...."

The crowd, "...."

Soon a middle-aged man came running to the scene and screamed, "My son!"

He was about to shout at the person who caused his only child misery, "How dare-" But then as if his mouth was scotch tapped, he stopped talking. After finding his lost soul back, he stammered in his speech and fell on his knees, "G-golden eyes...The Royal family! "

Wen Bin cried, "Father!"

Wen Bin's father slapped his foolish son's head and dragged him down to kneel with him, "You fool, why did you offend the royal family? Apologize now!"

Bai Yuan exchanged some glances between the grumpy emperor who was busy tackling a 10-year-old and the pathetic duo of father and son who just realized that they had unknowingly offended the royal family.

Bai Yuan quickly waved his hand and replied in a nervous tone, "It's okay, It's okay, he is just a child. I didn't mind at all."

"I mind," Yiheng replied with a grumpy tone. Bai Yuan looked at him with sharp eyes, " I'll deal with you later. Thanks to you, our identities are exposed!"

Bai Yuan freed himself from Wang Yiheng and instead took his arm to drag him to an isolated corner. The crowd had already dismissed themselves by then.

Reaching the corner, Bai Yuan immediately Kabedon-ed Wang Yiheng. But, since Yiheng was a head taller and more muscular than him, he was having a tough time declaring his dominance.

Kabedon-refers to a character asserting their dominance over an individual by entrapping them against the wall using their hands.

Bai Yuan clicked his tongue, "Your majesty, did you have to hurt the child like that?"

Wang Yiheng just helplessly stared at him and didn't reply. It was not like him, what was he even trying to prove by winning against some random kid? Bai Yuan was his wife, and they have an adorable son, now that he was back from the battlefield, he just had to win his wife's heart and make the culprits responsible for Bai Yuan's sufferings pay back. So why did he act so childishly?

Bai Yuan propped his hands on his hips and remarked, "Also, those sparkling jewel-like eyes of yours! Man, they attract so much attention! I saw some young ladies stealing glances from time to time."

Hearing so, Wang Yiheng's ears became slightly red, but, as if Bai Yuan had the leisure to notice that. He searched around and found a shop that was selling cloaks. He paid the shopkeeper for a cloak and with swift gestures, put it on Wang Yiheng.

"Now, you look good and normal."

But, catching him by surprise, Yiheng also took a cloak and covered Bai Yuan with that. He whispered in his deep voice, "They only stole glances, but someone tried to steal my wife from me in broad daylight. Also, my wife looks better in this cloak than me."

Bai Yuan's face became instantly red and he threw his fists in the air, "Whatever, whatever, why are you so talkative today? Shoo!"

Yiheng also paid the shopkeeper and followed Bai Yuan to their next destination.

"Wife, we should head back now. Yeye and Xu Ying are waiting."

Bai Yuan was just starting to have fun and then Wang Yiheng ruined the mood. He whined and said, "Aaa~ can't we go to the palace a day later? Let's stay here in an inn for today. I bet Yeye will have so much fun too!"

Yiheng shook his head, "You can't do that. Also, the festival is not today. It will go on for 3 days. I promise I'll take you to the festival."

"Promise?" Bai Yuan stretched his pinky finger towards Yiheng. Although he was a little bit surprised by the gesture, he promised Yuan by interlocking their fingers.

"I promise."

"I'll go back but let's just go to that one last place, please please please!" Bai Yuan bounced like a rabbit while grabbing Yiheng's hand.

Yiheng's lips curved into a smile, but because his face was covered under the hood of the cloak, no one noticed.

Bai Yuan dragged Yiheng in front of a pawn shop. Because it was bustling with people. Bai Yuan tip-toed to catch a glimpse of what was happening inside. He also saw some frustrated men coming out of the shop. Yiheng whispered from behind, "Wife do you want to go inside?"

Bai Yuan wasn't paying much attention and replied lightly, "It's okay as long as I can see from here....ah why is this lobby so crowded!?"

"As you wish."

"Hm"

No sooner did Bai Yuan hum, he found himself in the air. "Aaa!"

To avoid falling, he tightly clasped his arms around Yiheng's neck. He hastily replied, "What are you doing? You-" Bai Yuan lowered his voice and continued, "Your majesty, put me down!"

Wang Yiheng was pragmatic, he calmly walked inside, "Look, everyone stopped pushing each other and made a path for us."

He was telling the truth, the people crowding earlier had already broken apart and cleared space for them.

"Still, I'm a grown man, it's embarrassing!"

Yiheng had to admit defeat, "Fine, stand carefully." He put Bai Yuan down and Bai Yuan stood in front of the shop owner. The owner blinked at the two strangers, dressed in black cloaks. He hurriedly spoke, "W-what do you guys want? Don't try to rob me, I'll call the guards!"

Bai Yuan removed his hood and revealed his unparalleled beauty in front of them. Not only the shop owner but also the whole crowd's jaws fell wide open. Seeing that extreme reaction, Yiheng helped Yuan put on the hood halfway, just leaving his face revealed.

Bai Yuan was amused to see a plate and some money on the table. He curiously asked the shop owner, "Mister, what's this all fuss about?"

This time the owner spoke in a sweet voice, "Distinguished guests, I've placed a bet."

"On what?"

"You see this plate and money? I'll cover the money with this plate. The challenger must take the money out without touching the plate with hands, using a stick, or breaking it."

Bai Yuan propped his hand on his chin and asked, "That's all? No rewards?"

The owner replied gaily, "Of course! I've many precious items in my shop. But since our empire won a big battle, I'm giving away one of my best collections of all time to someone worthy of having it! There is a penalty too."

Bai Yuan looked greatly interested in the bet, "Tell me. "

"The challenger must leave every penny in his pocket here if he can't take the money out within 3 attempts."

Bai Yuan thought for a while and said, "Can I use anything except hands and sticks?"

The owner gave a smug look, "Are you sure to challenge? None has won it even for once!"

Bai Yuan also gave him an arrogant smirk and replied, "We'll see. Let's see the reward first!"

The owner pulled out a small box from a drawer and placed it on the table, "Take a look."

Yiheng picked up the box and opened it, instantly something flashed in Bai Yuan's eyes. Inside the box, they discovered a round Canary Diamond.

Bai Yuan asked with disbelief, "Is it even real?"

"If you don't believe, take a hammer and try to break it."

To test the pawn shop owner, Bai Yuan picked up a hammer to break the diamond. All the spectators let out screams of disbelief. But the owner didn't even flinch.

I guess he's telling the truth.

He then turned towards Yiheng, "Give me all your money, I'm going to play this game!"

Yiheng didn't waste a single moment before handing him the huge pouch of gold coins.

"Woah, you don't care if I lose all of it?" Bai Yuan shook the heavy bag, "There is so much money inside!"

Yiheng replied in his calm usual self, "I wholeheartedly trust every action of my wife. It doesn't matter if you lose this money, I'll make more capital if needed."

Bai Yuan flung a big thumbs up to him and thought in mind,

Bai Yuan thanked Yiheng and then turned to face the shop owner. Both of them put down their offerings on the table and a spark ignited between their gazes.

The owner smirked, "Let's begin!"

I was checking the views and votes and wondering if we can hit 200K views before February start.? I always appreciate your votes and comments. So don't be stingy to shower some love(voteee) on Yuan, Yiheng, and Yeye

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(Milestone:2330 words)