This time, Jace returned with a great dealāessentially everything Tang Feiliu had emphasized. The greatest surprise, however, was the two doctors he brought back.
They were studying human anatomy when caught stealing corpses and nearly hanged by local officials. These two showed little joy at escaping death's grasp. They said they'd prepared to die for their beliefs the moment they took their first step.
Naturally, they were immensely grateful to have avoided death and continue their research.
Jace brought them back partly because he felt their crimes didn't warrant death, and partly because much of what they said aligned with Xiao Lans's philosophy.
This time, Tang Feiliu had found something truly fascinating. After lengthy discussions, he realized these men represented the dawn of Western medicineānot mere mystics, but practitioners with practical experience. They were swiftly captivated by Tang Feiliu's theories of future medical advancements. The group spent their days conversing near the castle, exchanging knowledge. Soon, the two declared their intent to settle there and establish their own laboratory.
In those days, Western medicine was still undeveloped, and basic surgical procedures seemed almost like cult practices. Yet these two had already performed bone-setting and fracture reduction on animals. They also appeared to have knowledge about common colds and wound care. Rumor had it they were even researching sheep-gut intravenous infusion techniques.
Tang Feiliu, flush with wealth, generously funded their endeavors. His only request was that they provide free medical care to the workers of his enterprises. The workers were thrilled by this prospect. The two men, delighted to gain access to sample specimens and a cooperative population, were overjoyed themselves. They had already decided to dedicate their lives to research, putting down roots in York.
Medical progress wasn't something that happened overnight. Tang Feiliu also described medicinal herbs to them, asking if they could explore purifying traditional Chinese herbs for more effective use, especially those for common ailments. Tang Feiliu had opened a whole new world for them, and lately, they'd been working like madmen. Luckily, Tang Feiliu had given them a wooden pass to eat at the factory cafeteria; otherwise, they might have starved themselves to death.
After settling the two, Tang Feiliu began examining the items Jace and the others had brought back. The golden corn made Tang Feiliu want to jump up and kiss Jace right then and there. He gave Jace a tight hug before continuing his inspection: tomato seeds, corn seeds, pumpkin seeds... Everything that needed to be instructed before departure was accounted for. But that litter of half-grown pigs... Tang Feiliu was genuinely baffled.
"Wait, how did you bring these pigs back?" Tang Feiliu was utterly perplexed, pressing Jace for an explanation.
"Didn't you say pigs around here are mostly lean meat, but the tastiest is white pork?! These pigs are white! And supposedly they grow hugeāthe biggest ones can be several times larger than our pigs! The biggest sows are said to weigh over 200 jin!" Jace was clearly a bold thinker and doer. While the safe sea route in this era meant the voyage from the Americas to Europe took less time than Columbus's actual journey, it still required nearly half a year at sea. To deliberately bring a litter of piglets along for that long voyage... Tang Feiliu was thoroughly impressed.
"Wait, why is this litter so small?" Tang Feiliu realized the timing didn't add up and questioned Jace. Jace scratched his nose and explained, "I was worried, so I only brought pregnant sows and a few piglets... But the piglets grew too big during the voyage, and there was simply no room left in the hold... The sows died after giving birth... In the end, only this litter survived..."
"...It's fine." Tang Feiliu was won over by this logic. He thought Jace was truly remarkableānot only bold and decisive, but also remarkably carefree. Yet the heavens had granted him favor, allowing him to bring these piglets back alive. Tang Feiliu wasn't worried. "No problem," he said. "We'll just crossbreed them with local pigs later. Jace, you're amazing!"
Tang Feiliu and Jace chatted cheerfully, both already fantasizing about tender, succulent, enhanced braised pork and rice mixed with lard. The delicacies described by Tang Feiliu made Jace's mouth water so much he could practically hear himself drooling. He wished this litter of piglets, who had endured the rough seas to reach them, could grow up instantly and transform into the delicious feast on the table.
It was clear that places like York, though backward in their systems, were quietly progressing. While Edward lifted all restrictions and frantically developed his own lands, elsewhere, shrewd lords were likely expanding their influence at breakneck speed. This autumn, the second potato harvest was approaching, and winter was drawing near in York. The corn Jess brought back was certainly too late to plant. Yet Tang Feiliu pondered whether to try growing tomatoes under glass.
He craved tomatoesādesperately craved them. Tomato scrambled eggs, tomatoes stir-fried with chili peppers, tomato pasta, beef stewed with tomatoes... Vegetables couldn't be preserved, and Jess and the others had only brought back seeds. Tang Feiliu stared longingly at the seeds now, wishing he could just bite into them right then and there.
Even after arriving locally, Jace hadn't dared to eat. The Americas hadn't begun developing yet; everyone was trading with the natives. Besides the indigenous people, there were only exiled convicts, and public order was in utter chaos. Jace dared not act recklessly. Now that he'd finally returned, Tang Feiliu was drooling, but Jace was drooling even more than him.
That evening, Edward hosted a welcome banquet for his returning subordinates. The knights gathered in a large circle in the courtyard, astonished to see rows upon rows of bread piled high, large bowls of steaming meat sauce noodles, pots of fiery hot offal stew, and finally... the Duke's current favorite: egg pudding.
This dessert was an adaptation of the traditional blood sausage pudding. Upon hearing it was pudding, Tang Feiliu scooped a generous spoonful. After just one bite, he nearly vomited on the spot. It turned out that in this era, pudding was made by stirring and simmering animal blood and offal together. The taste was so soul-shaking that Tang Feiliu was speechless for a long while. Then he spent the entire afternoon tinkering in the kitchen, eventually concocting a sweet egg pudding.
When the knights left home, Black Swan Castle was a lonely, ancient fortress. At night, a single bolt of lightning felt like vampires and bats were about to burst forth. Upon their return, the town of Black Swan below now glowed with tavern lights at night. Everyone seemed to have gained weight, and the women's dresses were all fresh and new. If not for the familiar faces and the familiar castle, the knights might have thought they'd returned to the wrong place.
They had always been among the well-fed, enjoying the finest bread under the duke's careābut today was different. The bread was softer and sweeter than before, and there were pies drizzled with sugar syrup. Biting into the apple filling was refreshingly sweet, balancing the richness... Nothing comforted weather-beaten souls more than a splendid meal. They ate with such abandon they pounded their chests in delight. Jess roared, "Good heavens, how many feasts like this have we missed!"
In this era, nearly everyone was a bit of a foodie. Though the knights were already full, Jace's outburst made them feel they'd been shortchanged. Instantly, they began piling pasta and meat pies onto their plates with frenzied abandon, as if determined to make up for lost time in one sitting.
The Duke, ever the magnanimous host, tapped his cup and announced that every knight returning to the castle would receive a rewardāa full thirty pounds each!
That was a hefty sum!
Though well-compensated, knights were among the most financially unencumbered men. Most had no wives or children, no domestic ties. In this era, knights were less romantic symbols and more war reserves. Of course, in Nat and the surrounding imperial territories, economic growth had made warfare increasingly rare. Knights were gradually fading into obscurity, with few opportunities to prove themselves beyond dueling over noblewomen. Yet at York, at Black Swan Castle, the knights seemed busier than ever.
They were men Edward had won over through countless battlesāhis trusted confidants in every sense, comrades who had shared life-and-death experiences. At night, Edward would laugh loudly and drink with them. For the first time, Tang Feiliu slept in the vast, empty main bedroom, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Hardly anyone in the castle was restingāexcept him.
The duke forbade him from staying up late, claiming the doctor had warned that it would stunt a child's growth. For heaven's sake, Tang Feiliu was nearly seventeen! In this era, seventeen-year-old men in the villages were already considered adults, and some had even fathered children!
Yet Tang Feiliu couldn't even listen to the knights' tales of sea adventures in this entertainment-starved era. Instead, he had to obediently sleep alone in this pitch-black room. Tang Feiliu was naturally timid; he actually feared the dark and being alone in the house. The thought of sleeping alone on this entire floor of the massive ancient castle, the room growing ever quieter, the moonlight filtering through the bed curtains cast shifting shadows that conjured images of monsters from movies and TV shows... The more Tang Feiliu thought about it, the more frightened and wide-awake he became. Wrapping himself in his quilt, he rolled over, climbed out of bed, and began racing barefoot down the stairs.
Then, as he descended the stairs, he tumbled all the way down. The half-drunk Duke, concerned about the little one sleeping alone, was just about to go upstairs to check on him when he saw a bundle wrapped in silk quilts thudding down the stairs, coming to a stop at his feet.
Edward looked down. Tang Feiliu, hiding inside the quilt, sensed something blocking his path. Terrified, he felt the thing quietly approach and grab him.
"Aaaahhhhh Edward, help me!!!" Tang Feiliu screamed, his voice breaking into sobs, only to hear the Duke's stifled chuckle.
Tang Feiliu pulled back the quilt in confusion, only to find the Duke laughing brightly.
Held in Edward's arms, Tang Feiliu felt the vibrations radiating from the duke's chest. Watching this usually stern man suddenly burst into laughter, he found himself utterly mesmerized.
"Edward, you look so beautiful," Tang Feiliu murmured, his fingers tracing Edward's face like a love-struck fool.
Edward, clearly overindulged, had drunk more than he intended. The knights, tasting distilled spirits for the first time, had lost all sense of moderation. Though Edward was accustomed to such revelry, heād been swept up by his jubilant subordinatesā urging. Heād thought himself still lucid, but perhaps his mind was already thoroughly intoxicated.
He watched the golden little head emerge, blue eyes fixed on him. His angel reached out a soft hand to gently stroke him, radiant like a holy child bathed in rosy light.
Edward's dark eyes suddenly deepened. He lifted his angel as if afraid to startle him, whispering softly into the angel's ear, "I'll take you somewhere fun, okay?"
"Mm?" Tang Feiliu murmured blankly, wrapped in his arms as they passed the bedroom and ventured deeper into the castle's shadows.
It was a place rarely mentioned by the servants, a carefully sealed chapter of the Duke's past.
Tang Feiliu, still held close, could smell the wine on the duke's breath as they wound their way up the tower. Pushing open an iron door, then passing through a wooden door clad in iron plates, Tang Feiliu grew increasingly nervous. Clinging tightly to the duke, he was carried all the way to the top of the tower, into a small room that resembled a prison cell.
Inside, the space was extremely cramped. There was a single bed and a small wooden chest. In the corner stood a wooden barrel. Beyond that, the room contained nothing.
No, there were also vast murals covering the walls. Painted in gold, they depicted a golden-haired, blue-eyed Holy Son draped in a pure white robe, spreading enormous, snow-white wings.
Tang Feiliu stared in shock at the walls. The entire dome and all four walls were covered in murals of the Holy Son, large and small. Especially the entire wall facing the bed was filled with images of the Holy Son gazing tenderly.
"I've got you now..." Only then did Tang Feiliu realize Edward seemed utterly drunk. His expression held cruelty and madness as he pulled Tang Feiliu out from under the covers. Grasping the trembling angel's wrist, he pinned him against the mural.
He lowered his head, sucking and biting the poor angel fiercely, listening to him whisper hoarsely, "Edward... Edward..."
In a daze, he sensed the angel flapping its wings, like a dying swan.
Edward dreamt a long dream. In it, he finally spread his demonic wings, enveloping the trembling angel beneath them. He tore into him without mercy, filling the angel's blue eyes with tears, then licked them away bit by bit, drawing hoarse cries for mercy from his angel.
But a tainted angel could never return to heaven. He would remain forever within the demon's tower.
Edward thought wickedly, pulling the angel's slender legs toward him, forcing him slowly back into his embrace. No matter how much he cried out, not a single sound escaped his lips.
Author's Note:
Apologies for not updating yesterday. I actually finished it long ago, but I hesitated about revealing the Duke's dark and uncontrollable sideāafter all, I'm writing a sweet, slice-of-life romance.
I'll do my best to handle it well. Thank you all for your patience and support.