NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60: I want your body
“I want to use your body.”
Rian almost choked. “Pardon?”
Ren Xiyang’s eyes swept down Rian’s body. “A perfectly good male body, correct?”
Rian faintly blushed. He cleared his throat. “While I’m quite cute now, I’ll be much more handsome in the future.” He narrowed his eyes. “Now, explain what you mean, Ren Xiyang.”
“Let me ask you a question first,” Ren Xiyang said. “Have you heard of anyone whose gender was different from their physical body?”
Rian raised an eyebrow. “Only you.”
“Do you know of any men who married other men, or women who married other women?”
Rian was taken aback. “That’s possible? People did that in your previous world? But why?”
“Yes. Did you know that, technically, it is the husband or man that typically determines the sex of a baby, not the woman?”
Rian’s mouth dropped open. “Really?! Wait, is this something your world discovered? This is even bigger than germs! Earl Rosewood, do not delay telling me everything.”
Ren Xiyang smiled faintly. “This is payment for a favour.”
“Understood, now explain, Earl Xiyang!”
And so, Ren Xiyang explained. It was the longest he had talked for a while.
He told Rian about genes, and chromosomes, and how sex was typically determined. He told Rian about the existence of queer people, and how gender and sex were conceptualised in his old country. And he told Rian about how transgender people could medically transition through hormones and surgery. He explained as clearly and thoroughly as he could: it wasn’t as though Rian could go somewhere else to learn this information.
Rian was extremely shocked. His worldview shifted tremendously. This was much bigger news than tiny germs that he had never seen before! This was about people. Had he completely missed the existence of these kinds of people in his first life? If a baby’s sex was (primarily) determined by men, then that cast a new light on several historical events…! That information could make some nobles very angry and some nobles very smug!
“…So, to go back to your first question about what I plan to do as I grow up, I plan to transition. I did it once in my previous world. I can do it again,” Ren Xiyang said, casually dropping another big piece of information.
Compared to all the mind-blowing information Ren Xiyang had already given him, Rian was currently too shocked to be shocked anymore. At most, he felt that Ren Xiyang had been unlucky twice. His mind went back to what Ren Xiyang had just told him about medical transition.
“It won’t be easy to find a healer who could help you.” Rian rubbed his chin in thought. “We’d need to find a trusted healer, but they may not like us at the moment due to the germs fiasco. I don’t think they’d believe in these hormones you spoke about.”
Ren Xiyang smirked. “I have some ideas. And it involves your body.”
The sly smile on Ren Xiyang’s lips made Rian a bit embarrassed. “Don’t stop talking there,” he scolded.
“As a first step, I want some of your blood,” Ren Xiyang said. “There are hormones in your blood, and I might be able to identify the differences between your blood and my own. But if you don’t want to give me your blood, I could ask Alexius or some other boy.”
“I’m not so lacking blood that I can’t give you any,” Rian said drily. He was very clear that Ren Xiyang was provoking him.
Ren Xiyang felt much lighter now that he had told Rian the deepest hidden truth about himself. “Rian, thank you for listening to me,” he said, smiling from the bottom of his heart. His red eyes sparkled with warmth.
Rian’s heart strangely skipped a beat.
—This was the most relaxed, earnest smile Rian had ever seen from Ren Xiyang.
Rian absently rubbed his chest and replied, “Of course I listened. Now, we need to have a snack first, and then I have many more things to talk to you about.” He narrowed his eyes at Ren Xiyang. “Did you tell me all this just before you planned to leave on purpose?”
Ren Xiyang gave a short laugh. “I didn’t, actually.” He stood up. “Come on, I’ll make something for us to eat.”
As expected, Rian immediately also stood. “What are you going to make?”
“Oh, do have a request?”
“You know quite well that I’m here to be pleasantly surprised…”
It was very late at night by the time Rian finally departed from the Rosewood Capital House. He and Ren Xiyang (his actual name was Ren Xiyang, not Ayden!) had talked for far longer than he expected: about the differences between their worlds, healing and transition, and future plans.
Ayden Rosewood/Ren Xiyang had been quite reticent when they had first met. But now, Rian was realising just how talkative he could be, as long as it was the right subject and the right communication partner (himself, of course).
Rian learnt so much new information and had so many revelations. He wanted to stay with Ren Xiyang for longer and tease out all the bits of knowledge stored in Ren Xiyang’s head. Unfortunately, Ren Xiyang wanted to go back to the Rosewood fief.
Fortunately, Rian had given him that new, special communication mirror so he’d be able to see Ren Xiyang’s face when they talked in the future.
When Rian returned to the Imperial Palace, one of his servants notified him that his Imperial Father was waiting for him in his quarters.
Rian put on an innocent expression and entered his rooms.
King Edric was seated at one of the sofas. He turned his head and gave Rian a penetrating look.
Rian walked over. “Imperial Father! Is there a problem?”
“It seems your Mother is right,” King Edric said pointedly. “Do not stay up late again.”
Rian blinked innocently. “Imperial Father, I’m young. However, you have to work hard every day. Please have a rest, Your Majesty. You could have reprimanded me in the morning.”
King Edric: “…”
“Earl Rosewood is regrettably leaving tomorrow, so this was my only chance to speak to him after the trial. But thank you for your worry, Imperial Father.”
King Edric gave a light snort. “If you wish to lighten my worry, you know what you should do.”
“I know,” Rian said. “But do you prefer I act to optimise the short term or the long term?”
“You are the eldest prince. The answer is both.” King Edric stood up. “Now go to sleep.”
Rian bowed his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
After King Edric left, Rian’s servants helped him prepare for bed.
Then, the last lights in the room were extinguished and the servants quietly left.
Now that he was in bed, Rian could privately digest all the things that Ren Xiyang had told him.
Earl Ayden Rosewood, Ren Xiyang, currently had a female body. That it used to be Alyssa Rosewood’s body. How it would feel? What would he have done if he had died and was reborn in a body that wasn’t his own? He had never realised that gender and sex could be different.
He was flattered that Ren Xiyang wanted to use his body as a model. He was also a bit worried, because his body was currently only twelve, far from the tall and handsome body he’d had as an adult. Cough, he needed to improve his health and fitness before Ren Xiyang scrutinised him.
He was also extremely honoured and happy that Ren Xiyang had trusted him. He was the only one who knew the truth about Ayden Rosewood’s mysterious background.
He was Ren Xiyang’s closest friend, without a doubt. And Ren Xiyang was relying on him. Ren Xiyang wanted him (his body).
Feeling very pleased with himself, Rian fell asleep.
The next morning, Rian headed back to the Rosewood Capital House to see Ren Xiyang off. He was satisfied to see that Ren Xiyang was wearing one of the clothes he had gifted.
“Don’t forget to remain in contact,” Rian reminded. “Regular shipments of food are also appreciated.”
Ren Xiyang smiled faintly. “I’ll remember.”
“And I’ll see you in the Capital in three weeks. I’m organising the catering again so you must come.”
“Very well.”
Kel quietly stood at the side, looking between the earl and the prince. They were much closer than when she had seen them last night.
Master Otto Silvercharm, the new accountant, remained silent watching this exchange. Internally, he was still in disbelief that Solicitor Carmine had recommended him to Earl Rosewood for employment, and Earl Rosewood had hired him immediately after the interview.
After goodbyes, Ren Xiyang climbed into the Rosewood carriage and departed with his team.
“Your Highness, you will be late for your first lesson,” one of the Royal Guards said politely.
“I know. Let us return.”
Rian headed back to the Imperial Palace. He was late for Count Aegean’s tutorial, but counter to Count Aegean’s accusations, Rian knew his priorities—Ren Xiyang was much more important than Count Aegean.
As the Rosewood carriage rolled through the Capital streets to the west exit, Ren Xiyang’s sense of Rian’s heat pattern faded. Eventually, the edge of Ren Xiyang’s powers was reached and he could no longer ‘see’.
There was reluctance in his heart, but Ren Xiyang resolutely turned his mind forward.
His time in the Capital had been leisurely. But once he returned to the Rosewood fief, it would be work in full force once more. They were now at the start of autumn, of cooler weather and the harvests, which meant he needed to figure out store food and minimise food waste, how to collect taxes, how to prepare for the winter, and how to conduct the census. He had promised Rian to make some attempts at diplomacy with people in the Angio Kingdom, and there were other trading exchanges between the Rosewood fief and the Aegean fief (for seafood) and the Rosewood fief and the Sage fief (for rice). The water systems engineers would also be coming to the Rosewood fief in a few weeks; he also had the gold Anthony Fulvous kindly gave him, and a vial of Rian’s blood for analysis. It would also be nice to fix the roads and improve the suspension on the carriages.
The Rosewood contingent arrived at the manor in the evening. Ren Xiyang wasn’t surprised to see many of the staff waiting for them outside the manor—he had long sensed them before the carriage approached—but he didn’t understand why they waited.
“Welcome back, Earl Rosewood!” Mrs. Cooks said warmly.
“Welcome back, my Lord!” the other staff chorused.
“Hello, everyone,” Ren Xiyang said. “Is there something wrong?”
Mrs. Cooks’ smile became even warmer. The little Earl was a little awkward and shy in front of them all! And he looked very lovely in his new clothes!
“Not at all, my Lord,” Mrs. Cooks said. “Please, come in and take a rest, we have prepared a return feast for you.”
“I’ll manage everything else, my Lord,” Kel said. “And I’ll schedule all the relevant meetings for tomorrow!”
Ren Xiyang closed his mouth again. He had been just about to mention the meetings. “Okay then…thank you.”
After Earl Rosewood left, all the remaining servants looked curiously at Kel and the new Master Otto Silvercharm.
“So, what happened at the Capital?” Mrs. Cooks prompted.
Kel put on a mysterious expression. “A lot. First, everyone, meet Master Otto Silvercharm, who is our Lord’s new accountant. As for what happened, oh, so much.”
Master Otto Silvercharm felt he had entered into a new world upon arriving at the Rosewood estate. The commoner staff had respect for him, but they weren’t very polite and distant, even though he was a noble.
He didn’t know how he felt about that.
And their attitude towards Earl Rosewood was even more casual and impolite! At the feast that night, servants, knights and Otto himself all sat at the same table as the Earl! Earl Rosewood drank milk! And he served himself! And Kel retold the story of his duel with Prince Rian right in front of him, and he didn’t even interrupt!
Earl Rosewood had seemed much more refined and appropriately stand-offish at the Capital, and the servants at the Rosewood Capital house had been much more demure. It was not this.
Oh, what had he agreed to? Solicitor Carmine hadn’t dug him a pit, right?
The very next day, Ren Xiyang had a little wander around the fields. Many crops had matured substantially over the last few weeks.
The farmers who were up early were initially shocked but soon recovered. A few of them came up to him. “Good morning, my Lord. How can we help you?”
“I’m just taking a look, you can go back to your work.”
The farmers followed him anyway. He let them be as he walked down the rows and rows of ripening crops.
The wheat fields were full of large ears of wheat, gold with hardly a hint of green. The corn kernels were starting to deepen in yellow colour, with pole beans growing between them and pumpkins growing at their feet. The soybean plants were starting to gain a brown tinge to the green, signifying the start of their maturity. In the vegetable gardens, the herbs were vibrant green and the chilli plants were full of red chillies.
Ren Xiyang checked the soil moisture and texture in multiple places and examined the plants carefully for pests. He popped a few grains out of some wheat heads and pinched them, judging their texture—getting firmer, but not ready for harvest just yet.
Over at the vegetable gardens, Ren Xiyang cast the new plant spell Florence had taught him. It made a handful of vegetables rapidly grow and mature. Ren Xiyang frowned. As he had suspected, the ground around these growth-accelerated plants had become extremely dry and poor. The magic in the spell provided some energy, such as the sunlight equivalent of weeks of growth, but it couldn’t provide everything, meaning that nutrients and water had been drained from the surrounding area.
After his inspection, Ren Xiyang turned to the farmers following him. “The crops look good. I’ll water the plants this morning, you can take a break for now, and pick some of the early-ripening vegetables later. Some areas in the vegetable garden need to be re-fertilised after I used magic to mature the vegetables.”
“Yes, my Lord!”
With a sweep of Ren Xiyang’s hand, rain fell upon the Rosewood estate fields, with different amounts on different fields. Some fields had no rain—the mature wheat fields at this stage didn’t need much water.
In a week or two, the first major crops will be ready for harvest. Given that Ren Xiyang had only transmigrated into this world during summer, this year’s yields were looking good.
Count Aegean: Late for class! What is your excuse?
Prince Rian: Earl Rosewood is more important than you. (You wouldn’t understand.)
Count Aegean: (┛ಠ_ಠ)┛彡┻━┻
By the way, others wrote some kinktober fanfics for some English BL, which you can find here:
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/OG_BL_Kinktober/works
One of them is a fanfic for Dao of the Salted Fish!