Because the place was not one that anyone could freely enter, Zhan had to call Sir Fenghui at the gate after arriving. Sir Fenghui spoke with the security over the phone, and only then did they allow Zhan inside, though he had no idea what exactly Fenghui had told them.
Zhan walked quietly, taking in the sight of the surroundings. The vast garden was filled with lush greenery and beautifully arranged flowers. He had only been here twice before, during school events held in this very estate.
Sir Fenghui had already told him where to find him, so Zhan moved forward confidently, his heart light and excited...as if someone had handed him both the knife and the throat of King Yibo himself.
Reaching near the far end of the garden, he paused before wandering among the winding paths and hidden corners designed for private leisure. These secluded alcoves were usually meant for powerful guests who preferred to avoid the noise and crowd. Zhan lifted his shoulders slightly and chose the first alcove his heart leaned toward.
The beauty of the place nearly distracted him from his purpose; the fragrance of flowers and the soft, soothing breeze gave it a different kind of magic. He felt a flicker of doubt about stepping further in, but quickly suppressed it and continued walking quietly, almost as though sneaking and spying.
By the time he reached the center, unease crept into his chest...there was no sign of another living soul. He froze, pulling out his phone to call Sir Fenghui.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath when he saw he had no airtime left. Lowering the phone in frustration, he fiddled with it absentmindedly as he walked on, unaware of who stood just ahead.
A faint rush of wind carried a delicate scent of perfume that made Zhan stop abruptly, his heart hammering. He raised his gaze from the phone...and there he was.
A man lay half-reclined on a soft red carpet that blended perfectly with the green of the grass beneath it, creating an almost regal setting. Half his body rested lazily against the cushions, his head lowered as he worked on a sleek Apple laptop balanced on a small stand before him.
Beside him sat an elegant porcelain bowl, a golden teapot on a tray, and tiny cups arranged neatly for tea.
He was dressed in pure white garments that revealed the sharp grace of someone accustomed to power and privilege. The bright clothes amplified the glow of his flawless skin, polished like marble. Even with Zhan standing right there, he remained composed and absorbed in his work, showing no sign that he noticed his presence.
"What do you want?"
The calm, low, and steady voice struck Zhan's ears like the sudden note of a hidden instrument, carrying an authority he hadn't expected.
Zhan's chest pounded harder, as though his blood was about to tear through his skin. He wanted to reply, but his body betrayed him...rooted to the ground, unable to lift even one foot, though his heart screamed to run.
The silence stretched. When no answer came, the man finally raised his eyes. His irises, sharp and radiant with a faint brown hue in their depths, fixed on Zhan. Everything else seemed to stop in that moment...like even the wind dared not move.
The sternness of his face softened slightly as he narrowed his eyes, almost deliberately, as though studying him.
Suddenly, the words burst out of Zhan as if dragged from his lips. He frowned, his big bright eyes narrowing with embarrassment as he looked away.
"Even if you're some kind of spirit, I'm stronger than you. What kind of curse is this...that I run into you everywhere I go?" He ended with a puff of breath, cheeks flushed.
The man did not move, nor did he reply. His gaze remained fixed on Zhan, unwavering, steady, piercing.
Inside, Zhan began to feel uneasy. Could he really be a spirit? But no...if he let fear show, this man might destroy him in an instant. Already, his sharp eyes sent shocks through every nerve in his body. Yet Zhan bit down the rising fear, forcing himself to stand firm, even as his resolve wavered under the weight of that gaze.
Almost the same thought lingered in their minds. The stranger too felt convinced that this boy was nothing but a strange being, and he wondered why he kept following him.
From the distance Zhan had created, the stranger realized he was leaving. Just then, he caught sight of Zhan walking hurriedly toward the door. Almost colliding with someone made him quickly step aside.
One of the young men Zhan had encountered earlier....Azaan....stared at him in surprise, his face tightened in suspicion. Zhan glared back at him, sneered faintly, and brushed past, feeling as though his feet no longer touched the ground.
"Zhan!"
At once, Zhan turned at the sound of Sir Fenghui's voice. The man let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temple, certain he had been searching for him for a long time.
"Where on earth have you been? I've been going around this garden with the guards looking everywhere for you. Even your phone refused to connect!"
Instead of replying, Zhan dropped onto a nearby chair, exhausted. With difficulty he said, "Sir… give me some water, please."
The tone of his voice unsettled Sir Fenghui even more, but realizing water was all Zhan truly needed, he rushed off quickly. Within minutes, he returned with a bottle. He opened it and handed it over.
Zhan drank without pause, gulping down more than half before lowering it with a shaky hand and pressing his palm to his forehead, breathing deeply. Sir Fenghui allowed him a moment to settle before sitting across from him.
"Zhan, what really happened? Where did you go? You had me worried, the guards swore you entered here."
Slowly, Zhan lifted his large eyes, their whites slightly shadowed, and fixed them on him. Then, just as quickly, he turned away, shaking his head. He couldn't shake the image of that stranger face layered over Sir Fenghui's....an inhuman one. Forcing the thought away, he closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again.
"Sir… time is running out. Where is your friend?"
Sir Fenghui realized he didn't want to answer, so he only shook his head. "Not seeing you threw me into such confusion that he even called me, without realizing it I didn't answer. I call him back but he never answered."
"Oh no… so the chance has slipped from my hands again!"
"Don't say that yet. We can only be sure when we hear from him directly. Just for today, I truly think it may not happen, even for your own sake. Look...barely forty minutes remain before night falls. Go home. I will do everything necessary to make sure you meet him soon."
Zhan's eyes glistened as though tears might fall, but he forced himself to remain silent.
"Please be patient," Sir Fenghui said softly, giving him a gentle look.
Zhan averted his eyes, drew a long breath, and simply nodded. He knew if he spoke, tears would betray him.
PALACE
She knelt before Cao, as the law demanded of all who served her. Despite her high status in the Beiping empire palace, before Cao she was nothing more than a petitioner. As always, the ancient woman....called Cao...was draped in crimson robes. Yet unlike the other days, today only her shadow was visible on the chamber wall.
What was strange was that no fear or hesitation showed in the noblewoman's eyes. Cao's shadow erupted in a hideous, rasping laughter, the kind that seemed it could echo through the entire palace...though in truth, only she could hear it. After indulging long enough, it stopped abruptly, as if it had never been.
"The inner one… my promise has been fulfilled. You may now face anyone with the King's marriage as you want. None will oppose you...not even the Dowager Meiyin, nor the King himself, let alone any counselor at his side. But this time… things will not be the same as before. Hahahaha!"
"Your command is all that matters, Cao, the one who wipes away the tears of the sorrowful."
"Hahh… that is why I never regret helping you, Inner One. I will continue to help you, and you will keep triumphing with all your followers. Letting others hold the Palace household reins will never make them stronger than you. Arrange a grand and dazzling marriage between this boy and the King. That will keep them distracted, making them believe everything has changed...especially after nine months when the remaining queens live in the Palace without even a headache.
I want you to show such brilliance that not even the Empress Dowager Meiyin could rival you. The Beiping empire will remain in the palm of your hand, even if in appearance others claim to be stronger. Weekend will be your day of fortune, hahahaha!"
The sound of laughter lingered as Cao's shadow faded. The Inner One released a heavy breath, smiling with pure satisfaction. She looked down at her fair palm, the blood pulsing through it, and repeated the words Cao had given her... the empire of Beiping rests in the palm of your hand.
Truly, she was fortunate...fortunate enough to prove it before all her rivals, even those who once surpassed her. Her only wish was to live until the day her ambition was fulfilled, not just to prove her power in the Beiping empire, but beyond.
Placing an egg in the basket does not mean the entire poultry yard is yours… and the arrival of a guest does not guarantee the mat's owner is displaced…
★★_______★★
Two days had passed, and Zhan had not contacted Sir Fenghui. He had even switched off his phone, ensuring that even if Fenghui tried to reach him, he would fail. Zhan knew exactly why he had chosen to do this, though his demeanor betrayed his unease...no trace of joy remained in him since leaving the garden that day.
That morning, he skipped school again, instead rising to help Mah with the household chores. Yet the way Zhan moved...slow, drained, as if without strength...worried her.
"Zhan, are you alright? Ever since you came back two days ago, you've been different. Are you sick?"
"No, Mah. It's just a little headache, that's all. Probably because I didn't sleep enough."
"Sleep? What's been keeping you awake then?"
He hesitated, fumbling for words. But when he noticed Mah's eyes fixed firmly on him, searching for the truth, he dropped his gaze.
Mah was a woman of patience, careful and precise in raising her children. She never rushed them, never forced them...but through that patience, she always uncovered their troubles and detected any new paths they had chosen. Now too, she simply turned away, continuing her chores without pressing him further.
Later, she cleverly shifted the conversation to lighter topics, steering him into casual chatter. At first, Zhan resisted, withdrawn and uneasy, but slowly, he relaxed and let his guard down.
The next day, Zhan suppressed most of his worries, not wanting Mah to forbid him from attending school. Yet even at school, he remained distracted, absent-minded, unable to concentrate until classes ended.
When school was dismissed, he joined the crowd at the gate, trying to catch a taxi home. At last, he squeezed in with a few others who lived near his neighborhood, though he would be dropped off last.
Unnoticed, a black car had been tailing the taxi from a short distance, hidden from plain view. Neither Zhan nor his companions paid it any mind. The driver of the black car, wary of drawing suspicion, subtly changed his approach as he followed them.
One by one, Zhan's fellow passengers were dropped off. The black car remained. Finally, as the taxi entered Zhan's street, the driver stopped to let him down. Just as the taxi turned to leave, the black car pulled up and blocked its way…
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛