...He stubbed out his cigarette in the delicate glass ashtray before him. "I hadn't even considered that," he muttered. He ran both hands through his hair, thoroughly agitated. He tended to get overwhelmed when too many things happened at once.
Consort Xuan Ji fanned herself, saying in her mind, "You really are a fool who understands nothing. My two main goals are to eliminate that wretched boy Yibo and to ensure you suffer for it. Just look at what I've become since you helped me enter this palace." A deceptive smile actually played on her lips and said in the open. "Just wait until your are the king tomorrow. Then you can enjoy your confusion in peace."
"I don't understand, Xuan Ji. However you plot and scheme, that cunning boy Yibo is several steps ahead. They say his father was powerless against his stubbornness and sharp wit."
"For all his sharpness and stubbornness, we will be his end, him and that spirit-like husband of his. I've lost track of which devils realm they found him in; he might as well be the son of a Jinn King."
(She means Zhan 😂).
"Fine, so be it, even if he is the son of a Jinn King. Do you not see that we have failed to locate where those two elusive individuals are hiding? Did you think Barrister Lie Hua would remain loyal after we handle Zhan relative to him?"
"Honestly, I don't think that way. I know who Barrister Lie Hua is; that's not the issue now. You will confirm he has a reason to hide himself. Ever since we gave him the tip to eliminate the Aas family, who were his friends, he has been in hiding. We just have to keep waiting. Right now, my focus isn't even on that. It's on your maddening nephew, and on her...are you still so fixated on that matter that her wretched mouth is still locked shut?"
Prince Langya let out a heavy sigh. "A locked door won't open by itself; I have to open it myself. However, I can't kill two birds with one stone. I will visit her tomorrow morning."
"Very well. Let me be on my way now it's alright down." He pulled her back, a smile that didn't reach his eyes on his face, his voice a low murmur. "Give me a little while. It's been days since I last had you in my sights."
She pursed her lips, pulling her body away as she continued adjusting her clothes. In a voice dripping with deceit, she said, "I, too, long for that, but my time here is up. Go to your stupid wife over there; I know she can't sleep because she finds you not beside her."
His heart twisted slightly at the insult aimed at Jasrah today, though it wasn't the first time Consort Xuan Ji had disparaged her. He said nothing, lying back down and trying to relight his cigarette.
She, now fully composed and having touched up her makeup, came before him, took the hand holding the cigarette, and brought it to her lips for a drag. She blew the smoke directly into his face. His hand moved to grab her waist, but she slipped away with a light laugh and left....
(Hmm, I know you readers haven't forgotten who Consort Xuan Ji is. She was one of the wives of Late King Murong, King Yibo's father. Let me clarify for you. Consort Xuan Ji is the woman Prince Langya often mentions that lady, and Prince Deng knew her too, even before she entered the palace. She was his courtesan—one might even say he was the one who made her one 🤦. Initially, she came seeking his help, and he paved the way for her to marry King Yibo's late father, King Murong, all because of his disastrous love for her. She was the daughter of a wealthy tycoon from Minhou, a true heiress in her family. She first fell for King Murong when she accompanied her father to a Lunar New Year greeting. Seeing him, she became infatuated with him and him alone. However, he never returned her affections. In her father's presence, she managed to get his number and constantly pestered him with messages, which he ignored. Her obsession became so severe her father approached King Murong at the time, but he showed no interest, as Xuan Ji wasn't even older than King Yibo; he said she was the youngest among all his concubines, even though Consort Danish-Ara was much older. Just as she was enduring this, she happened to meet Prince Deng on a flight. He had fancied her at the time, but before he could confess, she approached him with a matter concerning his brother. This pained him, but since he was a cunning man, he promised her he would help her possess King Murong if she agreed to be with him. Her disastrous desire to become Murong's concubine made her agree. Being an heiress with no lack of displine in her family, this began to ruin her life. It was as if she was fixated on one person, to the point he eventually treated her almost like one of his own wives 😭. Finally, with Prince Langya's help—who went ahead and interceded with Dowager Ruyan, since he was her favorite—he succeeded in fulfilling her wish to become King Murong's concubine.
However, after Xuan ji married King Murong, she refused Prince Deng again, despite his continued advances. Furthermore, she failed to win King Murong's love. He didn't mistreat her, but he was indifferent to her. It took nearly seven months before he agreed to be intimate with her, mainly to avoid the guilt of depriving her of her rights. Unlike all his other concubines, she was the only one who didn't come with her virginity, which contributed to his increased coldness towards her because of how he had found her.
And so, he became fed up and discarded her without a second glance. After their single encounter, she felt her obsession with him resurface. Their time together held no joy during the seven years they were together, as he only truly shared his bed with her once. There was no happiness between them; even his smiles were situational and not for her, until his death. After he passed away, she grew closer to Prince Langya, partly because she knew his secret, and also because she revealed her goal to avenge everything King Murong had done to her upon King Yibo.
From that point, Prince Deng also resumed pursuing her in secret, while she also maintained her alliance with Prince Langya.
And there you have it. I hope you now understand what I explained; If not... I can't help it 🥱).
★... DOWAGER TAIHOU ★....
From the moment she entered her Chamber, she collapsed, unable to move. Nothing came to her mind except Zhan's face and what she had seen in his eyes.
He had certainly arrived, and he had arrived at a shore. A shore she had never anticipated reaching.
Her! She, Dowager Taihou, wife of the late King and mother of the King who holds the sole authority over the land of Beiping! A mere youth, a commoner, had looked her straight in the eyes and informed her that if she killed him, she would be killing a snake without cutting off its head; even if he stopped breathing, his spirit would return to avenge the spirits of his siblings.
Oh, what kind of day was this? What day had come upon her? She was the one! The star of stars, the white moon, the celestial beacon, the sun that assigns tasks to all, the ocean of astonishing depth, the lioness none dare provoke, the unyielding fortress none can crush, the woman with the strength of men, fierce and unmatched. The pepper so hot none dare chew it. The wine not for the young, which makes even seasoned adults sleep in the wilderness. The elephant seen from afar is a game for children; the iron bow only breaks with fire. The DOWAGER, the King's wife, the King's mother, of pure royal blood.
She felt a dizzying nausea, a desire to vomit. Slowly the room began to spin around her. She could only shut her eyes, hoping it would dispel the dizziness she desperately needed to be rid of...
★★.. KING YIBO ★★...
After Zhan finished bombarding him with his bewildering words and ran out, King Yibo was left reeling, almost chasing after him to demand answers. But he didn't move a muscle, because Zhan's deeply unsettling words were swirling relentlessly in his mind. He could swear no being had ever given him such genuine fear as Zhan did. He definitely needed to reconfirm the true identity of that youth, after what he had been told before.
Slowly, the image of that dot flashed again in his eyes, along with his words about using his uncles, not being used by them, and that he came here on his own, not because he was brought. King Yibo felt his heart begin to race again, and the pain in his head that had started when Zhan left him last night returned.
Abruptly, he pushed everything aside and got up to go to the bathroom. He started his bath and finished, preparing to leave.
★....
Contrary to King Yibo, who slept little, Zhan, the moment he returned to his room, fell asleep where he entered. He slept for a solid three hours before waking with a start. He was drenched in a cold sweat that wasn't from the heat, haunted by a terrible nightmare that lingered vividly in his mind. He felt it was connected to something ominous, as it was the first time he'd had such a dream. He prayed, just as his grandfather had instructed him to do whenever he had such dreams, and he finally found some calm before lying down.
Zhan entered the bathroom and washed his face. Standing in front of the mirror, looking at himself, he kept seeing shifting shadows behind him. He showed no sign of fear, even when the mirror's surface seemed to ripple before his eyes, but in his heart, he was reciting prayers.
He continued watching the shadow, and then the shadow began to fade, as if a mist was starting to disappear. Zhan turned around slowly and, to his amazement, saw that in reality, a mist was indeed fading away in a few seconds, vanishing completely.
With a heavy heart, Zhan took a deep breath to relax. In a state of disbelief, he shrugged and turned back to the mirror, reaching behind him to gently touch his right shoulder blade. His heart leaping, to lifted his shirt and looked, and another thought pushed into his mind, insisting that the dream wasn't real.
His restlessness made Zhan leave everything behind and step out. He meditated for nearly an hour before returning to bed and lying down. Instead of sleep, what had happened between him and Dowager Taihou earlier came back to him. He knew she had chocked him, but he didn't know what happened after that until he found himself on King Yibo's body with a nosebleed.
King Yibo had helped stop the bleeding, even drawn a bath for him, given him clothes to wear, and made him tea. And after start drinking that tea... Zhan couldn't remember anything else that happened between him and King Yibo until now, waking in this room from that horrible nightmare.
Had he really finished the tea King Yibo gave him? How did he even get to this room? He had no idea....
🚴 This is a intricate one, King. You better guard yourself, it seems Zhan is not... (🥱 I almost let my mouth run away with me just now).
***
King Yibo had been in his gym since leaving his chamber early in the morning, working out. His trusted aide had delivered the message requesting Prince Aoying's presence.
Prince Aoying was also considered trustworthy by him now, so he was granted entry. The Prince glanced at him once, then respectfully averted his eyes. Today, the King was exercising without a shirt, wearing only long pants. A small towel on his neck dawn to his shoulder helped cover his body somewhat. Without stopping his exercise or looking directly at his uncle with his usual calm intensity...a heat that Zhan had reignited in him last night...his voice returned to its low, even tone as he spoke, "Is there a problem?"
Prince Aoying quickly bowed again with respect and said, "Yes, but it's not too major. I received the news last night but hesitated to inform you, knowing you had just gone to sleep. It's regarding Prince Deng and his family..." He then explained everything in detail.
For the first time, a slight smile touched King Yibo's lips without him saying anything for a long moment, until Prince Aoying began to wonder if he would speak at all.
He turned off the machine he was using, grabbed the towel hanging on his head, and wiped his face and neck. He was sweating profusely, like someone who had just bathed. He sat down on a bench, and quickly, Prince Aoying poured some water into a cup and offered it to him. He didn't refuse, but after taking four gulps, he set it aside; he wasn't concerned with drinking water after his workout, preferring his customary tea.
Abruptly, as if compelled to ask, he said, "What did the doctors say about her condition?"
He knew it was Prince Deng's wife he was referring to. "Your Majesty, they confirmed she suffered a specific injury to her lower spine. This is the result of their examination," he said, handing over the papers in his hand. King Yibo responded without looking at them, setting them aside. This confirmed to Prince Aoying that he needed time, as he had already understood upon entering that the King was grappling with some personal and administrative troubles today. So, he bowed and prepared to take his leave.
"Rest well, Your Majesty."
King Yibo merely blinked his eyes without nodding. He fell silent, sitting like a man in deep thought, his gaze fixed on the file...
- - -
Zhan woke up late and hadn't had time to meditate at this hour, and his body ached all over, feeling the need for some movement to find relief. He remembered the gym he had discovered during his explorations the other day. The memory of its equipment inspired him again, and he stretched, smiling.
He left his room... he didn't worry about not seeing King Yibo there, knowing the bedroom was off-limits except to those invited. Zhan returned to the room from yesterday, opened the items from his online shopping spree which were still in the delivered bag. He took out the black and red Adidas training clothes that had caught his eye that day and began to examine them.
Soon, Zhan was wearing them, fitting like a second skin. He didn't care that the shirt clung to him, revealing his physique, and the pants hugged his body perfectly. The clothes revealed his natural shape beautifully. Even though Zhan assumed no one would see him, he tied a long jacket around his waist. In his heart, he hoped King Yibo would be in that open space upstairs, working out his own body, because Zhan found it difficult to go out otherwise.
Seeing the servant at the gym door, who quickly bowed in greeting, didn't make Zhan hesitate, as his eyes were closed with a desire to get to the beautiful machines. In his soft voice, he responded while entering, standing tall.
As if startled from sleep, King Yibo opened his eyes, which had been closed. But he didn't move, directing his gaze to the entrance where he had heard Zhan's voice from the corner of his eye. Surprise took him, as he hadn't thought Zhan knew about the gym. Seeing that Zhan hadn't noticed him, he relaxed his gaze again, observing quietly.
He almost held his breath, blinking slowly, when Zhan finished taking off the jacket he had draped over the training clothes and placed it on a machine. From the top of his hair, tied with a ribbon in the middle, flowing down to the shoes on his feet, King Yibo watched with a sidelong glance. His eyes closed again as he muttered to himself, for today was the first time he had seen Zhan in his true form like this. The clothes clung to him perfectly, revealing his figure even more than yesterday when he had seen him with the towel.
Oh, but Zhan didn't know he was there, and was now struggling to figure out how to turn on the machine he wanted to use. The machine made a noise as he fiddled with it in frustration.
King Yibo smiled slightly to himself and shook his head. After nearly twenty seconds, he slowly put down the towel in his hand. Zhan was still bent over, continuing to try, when he felt a warm presence behind him. Startled, he straightened up from his leaning position. King Yibo's body was leaning close, standing right behind him, very near. Their eyes meeting again, confused Zhan, and he quickly pulled his body back, turning to face him.
Zhan's face instantly showed his surprise, his eyes wide, clearly disoriented. In a tongue-tied stammer, he uttered, "Good morning."
King Yibo raised his head, filled with a feigned nonchalance, and took a slight step closer without returning Zhan's greeting. Zhan's eyes quickly darted away, and he turned back around, giving him his back. Looking at his back, the King glanced again, then moved his lips. A low murmur, close to Zhan's ear, said, "Let me." He reached out, turning on the machine for him and pulling his body back all at once.
Zhan wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole, just so he could find some peace. He regretted entering this gym a thousand times over in his heart. The sensation of the machine trying to throw him to the ground made him instinctively start to struggle, but then he took a deep breath and saw King Yibo had turned his back to him through the mirrors surrounding the entire gym.
He was wearing a shirt now, yet Zhan couldn't relax. Little by little, his gaze drifted to the King, who was in front of the basketball table....basketball being one of his favorite games after polo and soccer.
While Zhan was preoccupied, King Yibo was fully focused on his game, but he was facing him, denying him the freedom to move his body as he wished. After nearly twenty minutes on the machine, Yibo got off and picked up the basketball, heading towards Zhan.
The King circled in front of him. Zhan's eyes were closed; it seemed more comfortable for him to keep them shut. Gritting his teeth, King Yibo pressed his lips together, his eyes trailing down to where they landed on Zhan's body. He turned off the machine, making Zhan open his eyes quickly, and though he smelled his scent approaching again, he didn't think it was him. He almost burst into tears, quickly bowing his head and pursing his lips forward.
King Yibo's lips twitched slightly, then he withdrew, trying to leave room for him to speak. "Next..." he said slowly.
A strange mix of courage and doubt surged through Zhan, and he felt he couldn't refuse. He picked up his long jacket, wrapping it around his body, and approached King Yibo, who was in front of another machine. He said nothing about the jacket, simply showing him how to position his hands away from his body.
Now Zhan was stealing glances at him. He felt the jacket was about to slip, but he braced himself, gathering it quickly in his hand and continuing faster, as he was starting to enjoy it. The way King Yibo ignored him, not looking at where he was, made Zhan feel even more comfortable...
"Oh, my goodness!"
Zhan's thin voice pierced his ears unexpectedly, and the basketball he was holding began to lose his attention....he wasn't looking at Zhan anymore. But a strange unease slowly washed over his body, he turned around, despite his heart pounding rapidly, to see Zhan on the floor in a heap, which shattered his resolve. Yet, his calm demeanor hadn't changed a bit in his quiet composure.
Zhan, seeing King Yibo walking as if he hadn't seen him fall, suddenly burst into tears that he himself knew were fake. Even though he had fallen, not so hard to be deeply hirt; he just felt a sharp pain in his foot and waist.
King Yibo's sharp eyes fell on Zhan's hand, which was clutching his own waist, and the other on his long, fair-skinned ankle.
"What is Happening?"
King Yibo spoke abruptly, his face showing no sign of joy, let alone concern. Deep down, he seemed to feel the pain in his own body, as if he understood what Zhan was feeling. Zhan burst into fake sobs again, showing him his ankle and saying, "See, my foot is twisted! I told you to call Mamy and Momma! Oh, Mah! Wei Po, my foot is broken, Huan Gege!"
(Stubborn man), King Yibo thought to himself, his eyes looking down at Zhan with a strange weariness. He actually made a move as if to leave, but then he slowly knelt in front of Zhan. Instead of looking at the foot Zhan was struggling to hold, he lifted Zhan. Unprepared, Zhan quickly wrapped his arms around his neck, feeling as if he was about to fall, his eyes wide.
Understanding what was happening, he averted his eyes. Then, from deep in his throat, as if forced, he uttered,
"I don't like noise..."
Frustration seemed to choke Zhan. He bit his lip and turned his head away; his lips were moving as if he was speaking words that wouldn't come out. Seeing where King Yibo was headed with him, he secretly sighed in relief, settling Zhan on the bed. Zhan tried to get up, but King Yibo stood up and pushed him back down, giving him that indecipherable sidelong glance that Zhan still couldn't interpret. Suddenly, Zhan felt him push his hand that was clutching his small waist, and replaced by his own...
🥱 Well, I'm tired of Zhan's antics. Shouldn't I switch to Team King Yibo? 😒😬🚴.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛