Chapter 2114: The Lazy Island Owner

He then asked, "By the way, has the Island Lord just returned from the Blazing Gold Plains?"

He had only spoken the first five words when a sudden argument erupted about two zhang behind him, drowning out the rest of his sentence.

It turned out to be three boat owners who had started an impromptu quarrel.

Yes, this place also offered mediation, arbitration, and witnessing services.

"Please wait here," the steward said, walking back with the visiting card and documents.

He Yue didn't have to wait long. After about twenty breaths, the man returned:

"Leave your lodging address, and we will notify you when there's news."

"We're staying at the Glorious Inn."

After leaving the group, He Yue took his guards for a stroll around, increasingly impressed by the bustling order of the place as they walked.

The Central Administrative Office of Suoding Island.

A giant jacaranda tree obscured half of the administrative office's second floor, making the view from inside look like a dreamlike curtain.

Fu Shanyue lay in a lounge chair on the second-floor veranda, sunlight filtering through the dense blue flowers and green leaves onto his face, making him so comfortable he was almost asleep.

Almost.

Just then, someone emerged from the room and stood in front of the chair, blocking the light:

"Your Highness, please sign these documents."

Fu Shanyue didn't even bother opening his eyes. "Why don't you just sign them? You've already mastered 99% of my signature."

"This one needs to go to Lingxu City, and this one must be sent back to Chiyan Nation. Both require a handprint."

Fu Shanyue sighed, opened his eyes, and sat up halfway. "Give them to me."

The person handed him the documents, which he quickly skimmed before signing his name and pressing his handprint. As for stamping them, that was Taozi's job.

Seeing his perfunctory manner, Taozi pouted and said, "Island Lord He is diligent and hardworking; I hear he does everything himself. Your Highness, you're too lazy, throwing all your duties to me."

Fu Shanyue chuckled, "He Xiao is a born workaholic; he doesn't know how to enjoy life, so he deserves to be exhausted. Didn't my royal father also have palace scribes who specialized in handling state affairs for him?"

"Then I want a raise." Influenced by him, Taozi also yawned. "The work is too demanding. The doctor says I'm at the age for growing, and I need more sleep, food, and rest to get taller!"

Taozi was twelve now, no longer the bean sprout she was six years ago. Her eyes were almond-shaped, her skin fair with a rosy blush, and her small face truly resembled a peach—plump and delicate pink. It was a pity she was a bit short.

Fu Shanyue liked to rest his hand on her forehead; the height was just right. That's why she was so eager to grow taller.

"Alright, alright, I'll add two more Fiend Beads to your payment for each training session."

Fu Shanyue leaned back again, placing a book over his face to block the light.

Only two more? How stingy! Taozi pouted.

Just then, someone quietly crept upstairs and placed a basket of letters on Taozi's desk.

"So many more!" Taozi said, displeased, flipping through a couple of them casually.

Fu Shanyue's voice came from under the book: "Work hard. After work, I'll take you to have 'Three Delicacies Stewed in Soy Milk' and then a hot pot. It's a new popular dish along the coast of Mou Nation."

This girl used to be so dedicated, never complaining about any task.

Taozi huffed, "I want an abalone as big as a washbasin!"

"Alright, alright." Anything that could be resolved with money was a small matter, and Fu Shanyue never worried about it.

On another note, after he took over the Yangshan Archipelago, even with prior mental preparation, he was still startled by the islands' flourishing trade and immense traffic.

It was truly a goose that laid golden eggs; the wealth it generated was entirely disproportionate to its area!

Before King Fu Shanlie of Chiyan returned to his nation, he had reviewed the Yangshan Archipelago's profits from the past two years. He was deeply moved, as the income from just the Yangshan Archipelago alone accounted for one-third of the entire Chiyan Demon Nation's revenue!

Chiyan's geographical location was not ideal, and its national power and economic strength were not outstanding among the vassal demon nations. However, it was still one-thirteenth the size of Beggar, making it wealthier than most countries in the world.

In comparison to the Yangshan Archipelago, Chiyan's land area was like a few mung beans next to a peach; they were not on the same scale.

Understanding this, Fu Shanyue felt even more indebted to He Lingchuan. He Lingchuan was willing to hand over such a fortuitous land and even left the original management team in place, ensuring that Fu Shanyue wouldn't be overwhelmed after taking over the islands.

In fact, the Yangshan Archipelago and the Blazing Gold Plains had also relied on Chiyan's takeover to escape their previous predicament. Otherwise, the Yangshan Archipelago, facing suppression and embargo from Beggar on one side and attacks from Mou Nation on the other, would have suffered immense threats to its commerce and security, which would in turn have affected the Blazing Gold Plains' foreign trade and diplomacy.

Currently, no single power could remain unscathed when caught between the two great powers of the era.

Therefore, the people of Yangshan had a very peaceful mindset. The archipelago operated smoothly during the handover, with hardly any disturbances.

After Chiyan took control of Yangshan, Beggar quickly lifted its embargo on the archipelago, and Mou Nation temporarily had no plans for attack.

With the two looming threats removed, Yangshan's business once again boomed as before, and the documents on Taozi's desk piled higher and higher.

She yawned again, then casually picked up a visiting card and glanced at it.

Having helped the Crown Prince handle official duties, she had developed a fast reading speed. She could grasp the gist of ordinary documents with just two glances and decide whether to discard them or pass them to the Prince.

This visiting card was submitted by an envoy from Shen Nation, who claimed to have come at the Island Lord's invitation.

Shen Nation? She had processed so many documents, yet this was the first time she had seen "Shen Nation" mentioned.

"Your Highness, have you invited anyone from Shen Nation to visit?"

"Of course..." Fu Shanyue replied languidly, "No. How long have I been here? Don't you know everyone I've invited?"

"You're right," Taozi said, tossing the visiting card into the trash can at her feet. "This envoy even shares the same surname as Island Lord He."

Countless people requested an audience with the Island Lord daily. Unless it was a matter of utmost importance, Fu Shanyue wouldn't even bother with them.

Was the Island Lord someone just any random person could meet?

An envoy from Shen Nation, surnamed He?

Fu Shanyue's drowsy mind was suddenly roused by these two keywords. He lowered his book. "Hmm? Surnamed He? The He of He Xiao?"

"Yes."

"Wait a moment, Shen Nation is the former Kite Nation, right?"

"That's right, Your Highness! You actually still remember that neighboring country!"

Taozi's exaggerated tone and expression earned her a roll of Fu Shanyue's eyes.

When Kite Nation fell, although he was cultivating in the Yangshan Archipelago, he regularly received the latest intelligence from Chiyan. Kite Nation was right next to Beggar, and its dynastic change was summarized in one sentence in the intelligence Fu Shanyue received:

He Chunhua destroyed Kite, established Shen Nation, and declared himself king.

The reason Fu Shanyue found this sentence particularly memorable was that He Chunhua was none other than He Xiao's father!

Indeed, He Lingchuan's background and origins were known to the gods and to Lingxu City, so He Lingchuan no longer kept them secret from Fu Shanyue.

His concealment back then was for self-protection;

his current candor was due to having no fear.