Just as Dowager Ruyan had said, today Zhan's quarters were prepared. But what surprised everyone was that he wasn't taken to his old chambers. Instead, he was moved into one of the newly built chambers of the Beiping empire's palace....rooms that had never been occupied before.
It had long been whispered why King Yibo ordered these chambers built, yet no one knew his true reason. The place was lavishly furnished, not only with rare decorations but also with an abundance of robes and ornaments meant for Zhan.
Special attendants were assigned to him, tending to his body and appearance for the entire day. By evening, Zhan was allowed to rest. The following morning, the grooming continued, and even he began to feel uneasy about it. He had always been one to overthink, and these past days his mind was endlessly turning over questions he could not untangle.
Still, Sir Fenghui's counsel from the other day gave him strength and restored some clarity....reminding him of his plan upon entering the Beiping empire.
Within three days, Zhan's appearance had changed remarkably, so much so that it seemed he had never been ill at all. The fragrance of oils and perfumes clung to him, marking him as someone exceptional. Even he himself felt the change...his body firmer, stronger, more striking than before. He looked less like the frail youngest son of Mah and Babiy, and more like a man whose pride could match his stature. Surely, it was also because of the honor and treatment he was being given.
Word spread throughout the palace that the male royal consort was to be returned to his chambers now that he had recovered. This was confirmed when Dowager Ruyan arranged a reception, calling it the wedding feast that had been delayed because of the earlier incident.
The scale of the reception stirred much gossip. Lavish sums were spent.... so extravagant it seemed a brand-new wedding altogether. For the other royal consorts, who had been brought in before Zhan, this was galling. Neither of them had yet seen King Yibo's face, and the display of honor shown to Zhan only deepened their resentment.
Zhan himself had no idea about the planned reception. Only when he was dressed in elaborate robes fit for a groom, sparkling with grandeur, did it dawn on him what was happening. His head grew heavy. In his eyes, it should have been enough to simply escort him back to his chambers. But to adorn him so splendidly.... especially at night.... made no sense. Deep down, he suspected there was another purpose behind it all. Still, he resolved to endure until he regained the freedom of his own quarters. Then, he would reveal his true self to everyone.
In the past days, Zhan had humbled himself, submitting to the palace's ways to better understand their intentions. It had paid off. He had earned the trust of Daneen, of the loyal attendants, and even of Dowager Ruyan and Dowager Taihou. He knew, however, that in the palace trust was never absolute. Even the smallest needle could bring down a careless man.
It pained him to leave the room he had stayed in for weeks, filled with quiet and solitude. He would not forget the nearly three weeks he spent there.... time that had taught him much, even granting him a secret lesson that would remain hidden in his heart.
Lost in thought, he was escorted to the grand hall of the palace, where all the high-ranking elders and nobles had gathered. The sight left him in awe, but he steadied himself, masking his surprise. In truth, he had no strength to question why this had been kept from him; he simply kept silent, just as he had done in the days of his recovery.
Daneen, his guide, led him gracefully to the seat prepared for him on a grand carpet in the center of the hall. According to custom, the banquet began. Yet Zhan barely touched even a sip of milk. His restraint impressed Dowager Taihou, who believed he was exactly the son-in-law they had hoped for.
After the feast, the gathering settled into order. The reception opened with words of welcome, honoring the return of the new royal consort, and expressing hopes that he would fulfill the promise they all expected of him. Outwardly, everyone smiled and nodded; inwardly, only a few knew the truths they kept hidden.
The second part of the ceremony required the royal consort to offer formal greetings to all present.... the elders, relatives, and dignitaries of the empire. Guided by Jasrah, Zhan rose and removed the hood of his ceremonial robe, which had concealed his face from the very beginning. Though uncomfortable, he understood this was an opportunity to see the powerful figures of the empire... and to remember each face for his own purposes.
Zhan's eyes filled with tears as he knelt before Dowager Ruyan to bid her farewell. He felt a deep warmth toward the elderly woman and had gained from her a rare kind of wisdom about life and people. She blessed him, praising his good character and commending his parents for raising him well.
She ended with words of hope... that his union with King Yibo would bring lasting joy and a prosperous lineage. Those words echoed through the hearts of the court, for everyone understood them as a sign that Dowager Ruyan had accepted Zhan wholeheartedly as the royal consort Ruilan, even more than those who came before him.
Zhan himself felt a pang of pity for the old dowager, knowing that his purpose in entering the Beiping empire palace was far different from the hopes she placed upon him. Not only in the Palace, but across the empire, her words had set expectations for a peaceful union. Yet, deep within, Zhan still clung to his vow to avenge the loss of his sister's.
And his target was none other than King Yibo. Even if others followed, he swore to bring down the greatest among them first. His determination only grew stronger when he recalled the certainty that, once one royal consort was taken into the king's chambers, they rarely came out alive. Added to this was the plot of four allies who had attempted to expose him, (King's own close family). To Zhan, it was proof enough that King Yibo was indeed weaving a dangerous web.
Dowager Taihou also gave her blessing, but her words carried an edge sharper than Ruyan's. She said openly that Zhan was not only her son-in-law but a destined arrow, meant to strike down those who plotted evil within and beyond the Beiping empire.
Her declaration set fire to the hearts of many. Those who harbored ill will toward Zhan grew even more restless, yet they masked it with smiles, welcoming him with veiled courtesy. Even Prince Deng presented a rare gift to the new royal consort.
Zhan, with practiced grace, offered respectful greetings to everyone. Though still young, his sharp wit and careful manners allowed him to observe, study, and memorize each face, their words, and their hidden meanings. The fine robe he wore... chosen for him by Dowager Ruyan... became his shield, concealing his true self while reflecting the flickering lights of the hall. With it, he etched the names and faces of each noble into his memory, as though carving them into stone.
- - - -
By half past ten, the grand reception finally ended. The courtiers expected Zhan to be escorted directly to his new quarters. But the evening took an unexpected turn when Dowager Ruyan herself, in her wheelchair, insisted on accompanying him. Such a gesture had never before been seen in the palace. Even Dowager Taihou and Daneen had to acknowledge the strength of the bond between Ruyan and Zhan.
For Dowager Taihou especially, it was a revelation: a clear signal of the king's place in Ruyan's heart and of her unshakable loyalty to him, which might serve as both shield and sword against their enemies.
Yet what followed stunned everyone. As the guests filed out with polite farewells, word spread quickly: Dowager Ruyan and Zhan had been taken together in a carriage that stopped directly at King Yibo's private residence.
Even Dowager Taihou and Daneen, caught completely off guard, froze in surprise. They exchanged bewildered glances, silently asking how such a decision had been made without their knowledge. But the silence that followed left them with no answer... only the uneasy knowledge that something deeper was unfolding beyond their grasp.
★★.... ★... ★★.....
Everything had come to a standstill on Grandfa's side in the past few days regarding the search for Babiy and Huan whereabouts. The Barrister had retraced every possible path, even trying to use influence and force, yet every route seemed blocked. By now, the three of them understood clearly that everything was part of a plan, just as they had been warned earlier.
But the greatest puzzle remained: Who was behind this scheme? For what reason? Why target Babiy in the first place?
These questions became the constant subject of discussion between Grandfa, the Barrister, and Zeng, who had devoted all his time to helping set things right. Following the Barrister's advice, Grandfa prepared to return to Yizhou, believing they needed to give space to events that were already unfolding around them. Just two days earlier, the Barrister had narrowly escaped being crushed by a convoy of fuel tankers that forced him into the middle of the road on his way to his home from work.
And only yesterday, Zeng's son had been kidnapped on his way to school along with his cousins. He wasn't released until eight in the evening, after hours of panic and desperate searching. A written note was tied to him upon his return... clear evidence pointing to the source of the plot.
Grandfa locked up Babiy's house tightly, then quietly met with Zeng, thanked him, and set off toward where he would find transport to the village of Yizhou. He had barely reached the taxi stop when a driver halted before him and extended a small leather bag toward him.
"Elder, you forgot this. Luckily, I noticed in time," the young driver said.
Before Grandfa could respond, the driver dropped the bag at his feet, returned to the car, and sped away without so much as a backward glance.
"Don't argue, old man. Just take it... it belongs to you," someone muttered from behind him, just as he bent to pick it up.
Startled, Grandfa looked up, but saw only the trail of dust from the speeding taxi.
His temper flared, and his face revealed his irritation. He was tired of these childish games, and the charade was testing both his patience and his preference to abide by the law. He could tell that their goal was to push him to the breaking point, to force him to fight back. Exhaling sharply, he picked up the bag.
"Boss, he took it," a thin young man whispered from inside a taxi parked some distance away, pressing a finger to the Bluetooth earpiece lodged in his ear.
"But he's clearly furious today... you could read it right off his face," he added, reporting to the man he called Boss, though his sharp eyes never left Grandfa, who still lingered by the roadside.
After a pause, he adjusted the black cap on his head and muttered, "Looks like he missed the transport he was waiting for. I'm going to approach him now. I'll keep the line open so you hear everything."
Just as Grandfa was preparing to leave with the bag, the young man intercepted him with a polite greeting.
Grandfa answered curtly, still annoyed. His piercing stare bore into the boy, and under that heavy gaze the youth felt his nerves tighten. Swallowing hard, he forced a shaky smile and asked, "Elder, are you traveling?"
Grandfa studied him carefully, then smirked and said flatly, "You're one of their boys, aren't you?"
The young man's chest tightened, but he forced a scowl and retorted, "Whose boys? I'm just a taxi driver. I only saw you standing here, so I came over."
Grandfa kept staring, then blew out a slow breath and turned away, watching the crowd moving along the busy street as if dismissing the matter.
"Leave like your are annoyed with him becouse we won't want him to gets suspicious," came a sharp order through the youth's hidden Bluetooth.
Grandfa had barely taken three steps when he turned back, his sharp eyes following the boy. Almost unexpectedly, the youth heard Grandfa's steady voice behind him:
"I'm going to Yizhou."
The boy acted as if he hadn't heard. Annoyed, Grandfa raised his voice, but the driver only kept walking toward his car, ignoring him. When Grandfa caught up from behind, he pressed, "Young man, can't you hear me?"
"I hear you well, Elder," the boy replied calmly. "But I understand this isn't a journey I can force you into... it's not my place to interfere."
For the first time in days, Grandfa smiled faintly.
"Ah, forgive me, my son. Grandfa spoke gently."
"You've done nothing wrong, Elder," the boy reassured quickly. "This is my duty. I had already heard where you were headed, and since my path led that way, I thought to come meet you. I'm actually traveling to the next village beyond it."
"Good, then we share the same road," Grandfa said with relief. "Let me just fetch my things."
The boy only took two more passengers before setting out with Grandfa, and nothing about him raised suspicion in Grandfa's heart. If anything, they fell into easy conversation, as though they had known each other for years. After dropping off the others, the driver even carried Grandfa all the way to his home.
Grateful for the kindness, Grandfa invited him in for a drink of water. The boy hesitated at first, but Grandfa pressed gently until he agreed. The truth was, the youth had been hoping for such an invitation all along.
Inside the courtyard, Mah sat quietly with Wei Po. Her face was pale, darkened by the weight of grief. Grandfa felt his knees weaken at the sight of her...so changed, so worn by sorrow. Mah's eyes followed him intently, though she said nothing. Wei Po, knowing everything because of their daily calls with Grandfa, rose calmly to greet him.
"Welcome back," she said softly.
He nodded and glanced behind him. "Young man, come in."
With a polite greeting, the boy stepped inside. Mah lowered her head.
They settled on the mat that Wei Po laid out for them. The youth greeted Mah respectfully, but she did not answer. Embarrassed, he fell into silence. Wei Po, carrying water for the guests, filled the silence by saying, "She doesn't speak, boy."
"Ah, I see," the youth murmured with a sigh, bowing again as though to honor her in silence. Wei Po responded kindly, though her attention remained on Grandfa, who still studied Mah's every move as if watching a scene unfold before him.
At last, with tears filling her eyes, Mah rose slowly and slipped into her room. All of them followed her retreat with their eyes, but none spoke. Wei Po disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a tray of food.
★★... ★★★... ★★
Zhan walked as though burdened with chains, following behind Dowager Ruyan's wheelchair. It was late in the night, so few attendants were about, yet guards stood everywhere, ready to shield any life their presence was sworn to protect.
The few servants they passed dropped to the floor in deep bows, though only Dowager Ruyan acknowledged them. Zhan could hardly keep pace; every breath was a heavy sigh, his heart overwhelmed by the dazzling wealth that glittered around him. He could no longer measure or name it...his thoughts tangled in confusion and disbelief.
"Sit," Dowager Ruyan commanded at last, pointing to one of the velvet chairs in a vast sitting hall filled with treasures beyond counting.
Zhan obeyed, though he could not even recall how his feet had carried him this far. The Dowager said nothing more, having already read the turmoil written across his face.
In the third hall, loyal attendants prostrated themselves before her. She only raised a hand, silent. The chief attendant immediately stepped to the intercom and announced:
"May life and health endure for our Lady. He has arrived at the upper sitting room."
Dowager Ruyan gave no reply.
Zhan, heart pounding, waited anxiously. At last, the Dowager gestured for him to rise, then wheeled herself forward into the lift. Together, they ascended to the grandest chambers of the entire palace.
When the doors opened, Zhan's chest tightened. No sitting room was more magnificent than this the whole palace not only the part, and seated within, commanding presence with quiet authority, was a figure whose face Zhan had seen before, he long stop compare him to be a ghost but wondering in his mind why....he saw this face in two separate worlds, where no connection should exist.
His steps faltered; his legs felt heavy and numb. His gaze locked on that face, searching for answers his heart already feared.
King Yibo reclined lazily on an ornate chair shaped almost like a daybed. Before him sat a teapot and a small cup, half-touched, as though he had been drinking or was about to. His eyes shifted from the television screen to the new arrivals.
His gaze first landed on Zhan, who walked stiffly, almost like a puppet. His face remained hidden, his hand clutching the folds of his robe tightly. With a flicker of disinterest, King Yibo turned his eyes away, fixing them instead on Dowager Ruyan.
The Dowager gave him a careful, meaningful glare, her expression both attentive and tinged with concern. Slowly, his piercing gaze moved away from her too, his lips curving into a faint, powerful smile.
Even after he had exchanged formal greetings with his grandmother without rising from his seat, Zhan stood rooted, motionless, like a statue planted in the ground. Dowager Ruyan turned to him at last and called his name. Zhan answered firmly, for he had promised himself never again to let his weakness show before anyone.
But before Dowager Ruyan could say more, Zhan's knees bent of their own accord, and he lowered himself to the floor. He sank onto the thick carpet....so soft it seemed even a cat would find comfort there. The room's subtle fragrance filled his lungs, heavy and intoxicating.
"Long live the King," Zhan said.
He hadn't spoken from his heart...he spoke because the King's sheer authority pressed down on the room, suffocating him. The sitting room was vast, yet under King Yibo's presence, Zhan felt crushed, unable to voice the storm of emotions clawing at his chest.
Just as on that earlier day, King Yibo gave no reply. Not even a flicker suggested he had heard Zhan's greeting. From beneath the edge of his robe, Zhan clenched his fist and bit his lip hard, so hard it was as if his teeth would pierce the skin.
Dowager Ruyan's calm voice broke the silence.
"Escort the male royal consort to the chamber where His Majesty will rest tonight."
The command, directed at the bowed attendants pressed against the floor, stole the breath from both Zhan and King Yibo in the same instant. None of the servants dared lift their heads until the head of kitchen maid rose, trembling, and walked toward Zhan.
Zhan had no choice but to rise. Dowager Ruyan's words allowed no resistance, no hesitation.
The room remained hushed until the maid returned from guiding Zhan to the door of the royal chamber. Once she withdrew, only King Yibo and Dowager Ruyan remained. He fixed his piercing gaze upon her, but she turned her face aside as though oblivious.
"He will stay here," Dowager Ruyan said evenly. "You may decide where his chamber is to remain during the week. From tomorrow, attendants will serve him as is proper. I entrust him to your care, and I hope you protect him well. May this be the beginning of a new life for you both. Congratulations on your marriage."
Her tone was smooth, her face unreadable.
King Yibo did not flinch. Even as she wheeled herself from the chamber, his eyes remained still, unblinking, as if carved from stone.
(🤔 Is this old woman well? She deliver our Zhan straight into the King's den… 🥱🤦)
★★...★★...★★
Though it was late, the entire palace buzzed with the shock of Dowager Ruyan's decree. None had expected such a move... not even Dowager Taihou, nor Daneen and Jasrah, who were left stunned in their own quarters.
All they knew was that Zhan had been sent not to his own wing, but to the King's private chambers.
Why had Dowager Ruyan suddenly changed the plan? Why alter what they had carefully arranged?
"I truly don't understand, sister," Jasrah said with deep worry. "What was the reason for Momma's decision? Why change everything at the last moment?"
Dowager Taihou had been silent for some time, staring into nothing. At last, she pressed her temple and muttered, "Even I don't know, Jasrah. My head is clouded."
Jasrah clasped her chest, unease growing. "This frightens me. My heart tells me there's another motive behind this…"
★
In another part of the palace, Daneen sat restless, lost in thought. Her calculations differed from the others.
From the reception hall, she had followed Dowager Ruyan to her rooms. After less than forty minutes, she saw her again. One look was enough for Daneen to lower her gaze.
The maid behind Dowager Ruyan set down the milk tray, bowing low to Daneen. The Dowager only lifted her hand.
"I am exhausted. I want nothing but rest," she said curtly, wheeling herself toward her bedroom without sparing Daneen another glance.
Daneen's suspicion deepened. Though the Dowager had spoken lightly, her words meant she wanted no interference, no company. With a troubled heart, Daneen withdrew, her thoughts racing.
No matter how much Dowager Taihou tried, she could not sleep. Fear and worry for Zhan weighed heavily on her heart. Deep down, she could not bear the thought of losing him...for he had carved a place in her soul. The affection she felt for him was the same as that of a mother for her son. At times, she even marveled at the strength of her attachment, but she knew well it was real, undeniable love.
Her fingers clenched tightly around the phone in her hand. She had tried calling Zhan four times, each time cutting off before the line could connect. She simply wanted to hear his voice, to know he was safe, to calm her restless mind. But another part of her whispered warnings...that nothing about this night would end well.
★★...
"What exactly is this old woman planning? Could she be the one we've been searching for, the one Li Pu warned us about?"
Prince Langya exhaled slowly, at first reluctant to speak. Then he turned to face Prince Deng, shaking his head.
"My mind is in knots, Brother Deng. I can't make sense of any of it. The only thing I know is this...if that boy dies now, it will be like the death of our entire cause. We've built all our hopes on him. He must not die...not yet. Not until he completes the task we've spent years preparing for."
"What do we do then?" Prince Deng asked, his voice anxious. Langya's words had unsettled him further.
Prince Langya's response was sharp and direct. "We'll visit Li Pu tonight...before that stubborn Dowager with her pointless schemes throws everything into chaos."
"That's best. No use wasting time. Go, make ready."
Prince Langya nodded and rose. Prince Deng watched him go with a narrow-eyed stare and a sly, poisonous smile twisting his lips.
"It isn't just that woman who's useless," he muttered to himself. "You too, Langya. Once you've served your purpose, I'll remove you as well. I alone should rule the Beiping Empire...not with brothers to rival me. I know your ambition for the throne, fool. And I won't leave you alive to become my enemy."
Royal Consort
Despite the unease gnawing at his chest, Zhan kept his composure as he was led into the chamber. After walking the long, gold-adorned corridor, he paused to cast one last look at the towering walls. His heart ached. He thought of the people of Beiping....thousands of them, sleeping in hunger and thirst on cold streets.
Yet here, the King's chamber gleamed with golden embellishments, walls glittering with golds as though painted with wealth itself.
"How can anyone still believe life holds value when power is hoarded like this?" Zhan whispered bitterly, his eyes filling with tears of anger and sorrow. His hatred for King Yibo only deepened.
(😭 It's over… Zhan has stepped into the chamber of death! 😱🙆)
NB
What was Dowager Ruyan's true reason for sending Zhan directly into King Yibo's chambers? Why had she changed her plan, defying even Dowager Taihou? Could she herself be the INNER ONE guiding everything? 😱🤫🤭
What would happen between Zhan and King Yibo now? On one side, the title of Royal Consort bound him...but would the King spare his life this night?
And from the shadows, new enemies emerged. Prince Langya (husband to Jasrah, and brother to King Murong) and Prince Deng (also a brother to King Murong) plotted their schemes. But who was the mysterious woman they kept mentioning without ever speaking her name?
Ha ha ha… Truly, the real game begins now. This is only the opening of TAKING REVENGE. The stage has finally been set. Now, dear readers, prepare yourselves...for the true play has only just begun. 😉🥱🏇
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛