"Put all my servants in my quarters. Stock food in the outer and inner cabinets. The chance of us being poisoned increased greatly today." Ming's sigh was weary; that was why he didn't get involved in politics. Irritating Ziteng was too dangerous. His mother was safe because she was adored by the Empress and the Emperor, but he was not. He was a beloved son, but only his mother would truly help him.
"Your Majesty, the Prince wouldn't do that. Everyone knows the choice is only between the two of you…" Ahmad began, but Ming quickly cut him off.
"Perhaps not him, but Ziteng's supporters in court are many, and they would do anything to earn his favor. And they always start with the servants, so keep everyone close to us. Why did Father put me through this?" Ming's long sigh and quick steps abandoned the tent area, and he moved to his sedan chair. "Tell those cousins of yours to come and stay with us. They don't speak Chinese and cannot be corrupted by money. We can use them as guards until the brute chooses Ziteng."
"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but why would he choose Ziteng if you helped him with the box problem?" Ahmad asked sincerely.
"He wants me for my brain, not because he likes me. And Ziteng is a perfect Mongol Yin-xu prince. Do you think he'd choose an academic or someone who knows how to ride a horse?" Ming commented in an almost amused way. He didn't think he could compete with Ziteng; Ziteng was always more handsome from his father's cultural perspective, and Ming knew it.
In the tent, Fhao was recovering from the situation. He noticed Ming's immediate tension, the panic of someone sentenced, and a mix of scorn in Ziteng's smile. When they left, he remembered what Ming had said about the politics inside, about the poisonings. Was the young scholar afraid of being killed or did he simply dislike Fhao as a potential husband? When Fhao looked at the amused Emperor leisurely drinking his tea, he tried to understand how he dared to put his favorite son at risk; he was too relaxed for someone who had done such a thing. Fhao then sighed.
"Your Majesty… you already know my choice, don't you?" Fhao had become interested in the scholar; however briefly, Ming's energy facing the riddle had left a sweet mark in his memory. He would try to court him, but now he didn't know exactly what to do.
"Perceptive, young Fhao. Your father said it would take you longer to discover my trap. Ming is like his mother; at first, I also despised her genius until she smiled lovingly and showed her talent." The Emperor remembered sweetly, back when Liam was younger and he was more foolish. Initially, the Superior Empress didn't want someone with a history of scholars in the family, but it was difficult to refuse a Concubine with medical experience. "When your father told me about the riddle, about your wild ideas, I was sure it would entertain Ming. I knew it all along. But I recommend you don't delay your choice."
While the Emperor shared experiences with Fhao, Ming went to find his helpers. He took all his young Yin-xus and brought them with his entourage to his palace, also grabbing some food he knew would still be safe. But when he finally reached his palace, the scene was painful for him. The palace was on fire.
Ming couldn't move for a few moments, and he didn't let Ahmad even approach the palace.
"No, no. Everyone here at the gate, I don't want anyone to get burned." He controlled his grief, even though his delicate tent had been destroyed. It was difficult to keep his composure, but he was a prince; he had to. He looked at the procession and called a guard. "You, come here. And you, too. Both of you notify my father of the incident and ask for new accommodations. My boys and I will go to the visitors' tent."
Ming climbed back into the sedan chair, watching his beloved palace turn to ashes while some palace staff tried to extinguish the flames. He couldn't expose his mother to risk, so going to her palace was out of the question.
And when Fhao and His Majesty's meeting finally ended, a eunuch ran to inform them about Ming. Even the Emperor seemed surprised. This was more sudden than even he had expected. And while Ming settled into the visitors' tent, the same large tent as Fhao's, the Emperor and Fhao arrived to see him. Fhao didn't use a sedan chair; he ran.
"We just heard, Prince Ming. Are you alright, Your Majesty?" Fhao seemed genuinely worried, and Ming offered a small smile; it was hard not to accept Fhao's compassion.
"Yes, no one was hurt. I am sad about my scrolls, but knowing my servants are safe reassures me immensely." The youths were setting up the tent. They were young Arab teenagers who spoke a little Chinese and seemed very fond of His Majesty Ming. One of them brought some dates while the Prince spoke with Fhao. Ming ate them, smiling and thanking the young man briefly.
Then the Emperor arrived.
"Ming, my son." The Emperor touched Ming's shoulders, checked for wounds, but understood, sighing when he saw Ming's three helpers. "My boy, you went to fetch your Arab boys for fear of someone hurting them even before going home? You never change." He sighed, then looked at Zhao.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will take care of him, and he can sleep peacefully. I assure you, as the future Khan." Ming was surprised, even slightly embarrassed, staring at Fhao almost defiantly. "I don't know if I want that. I'm in this trouble because you liked Ziteng and don't want to declare yourself to my brother. Now his supporters want to make a move." Ming commented, a little grumpy, which made the Emperor laugh, as Ming had completely missed his intentions. His most brilliant son thought he was in a trap because his brother was going to get married.
"WHAT?" Fhao was surprised. How could this scholar be so dense? That was quite irritating, but he looked at the laughing Emperor and then at Ming, incredulous. "Ziteng is indeed handsome, but you are… well, I don't know… " Zhao was angry and embarrassed, trying to explain himself. "You are an adorable kind of snow rabbit that needs protection, a pile of books, and strange sweets whose names I can't pronounce. Yes, at first I thought you were weak, too delicate, a porcelain doll made to be broken. But what man sacrifices his happy home because he saved his servants?"
Ming blushed but was still a little irritated by the insults mixed into the declaration. His heart was pounding as he looked at Fhao, but he wouldn't admit it. His father then put his hands on his back, looking at the couple in conflict.
"Your choice was made in a few hours, young Fhao. The tent is spacious, so I hope you respect his space," His Majesty joked, provoking the young men.
"Imperial Father!" Ming exclaimed on impulse, trying to deal with the shame. "He doesn't like me… he's just being… a brute fool, as he already is."
"Brute fool? Well, well, audacious for a scared little rabbit hiding behind ancient scrolls." Fhao provoked, approaching Ming and looking down at him. "Oh, are you going to tell me you don't like a strong man now, little rabbit?"
Ming turned redder; the smell of Zhao was indeed great from a Yin-xu's point of view, and he still had that strong body, even under his robes. He could easily imagine being lifted by him. And Fhao provocatively stepped back and bowed to the Emperor.
When the Emperor was gone, Fhao opened the door of the huge tent, full of furs and cushions, and Qara indicated a place for the young Prince of Jade to rest. Ming relaxed a little, throwing himself onto the soft furs and cushions. But Fhao seemed tense.
"Qara, stay with the Prince. I'm going to take a look at his palace. Help his servants and try to get some meat for him. My fiancée can't be malnourished, can she?" Qara helped Fhao put on a brief armor, and he went to analyze the crime scene. Meanwhile, Ahmad, who was giving dry dates to his master, seemed more relieved. Qara was only dismissed for Ming to bathe and change. His elegant robes were exchanged for comfortable silk pants and a long tunic. His hair was tied up in a tunic and he wore a shawl made of furs; he looked truly relaxed.
Ming didn't know it, but Fhao hadn't taken any of his men with him; they were all guarding the jade rabbit. Who was now drinking tea while watching his helpers go to share a tent with Fhao's servants. Ahmad went along just to speak for them and find the right tent.
The poor Prince of Jade almost choked when the fabric entrance was opened and a wet and irritated Fhao entered. He looked like a grumpy cat, and Ming had to suppress a laugh. Fhao arrived, stripping off his armor, and then looked at Ming.
"Sloppy work; they didn't even know how to cover their tracks. They were Han. A Mongol would at least have removed the footprints from the ground." From inside his daily robe, he pulled out something that made Ming blush and jump. It was just a piece of paper with the drawing of the footprint left behind. "What did the little rabbit think I was going to do?" Fhao laughed, going to Qara who helped him strip off his torso covering, leaving him only in pants, and he sat on the other side of the tent.
"I didn't think anything, I was just surprised," Ming grumbled, trying not to look at Fhao, even though it was a difficult task to ignore the shirtless man in front of him.
Fhao was handsome, tanned, with thin, long braids falling over his chest and back. He looked at Ming lying comfortably in thin, white robes; he was wearing loose pants too.
"Am I seducing you already? Are you sure you don't want to marry this brute here?" He provoked, and then he looked at Ming while thinking. "You didn't come to the visitors' tent because you like me, did you? You came because none of Ziteng's supporters will dare to enter here, right?"
"Exactly, brute!" Ming smiled proudly. It was the safest place in the palace, and even if Ziteng didn't like it, he wouldn't risk another person's life; after all, Fhao would know how to defend himself anyway, and his men were all incredibly strong. "But about marriage… well, I never thought about it. Look at me, I'm exactly the type you Mongols hate, aren't I?"
"We hate arrogant scholars, not young princes who just love being surrounded by piles of scrolls and care for their servants as if they were family. You have virtue; that's a good thing." Fhao nodded to Qara. "Bring meat for my fiancée; the way he is thin, he won't even last the first night."
Qara nodded and left, but Ming was completely embarrassed, shrinking a little with a look of almost adorable irritation. Then Fhao went to him, sitting by his side, and Ming flinched away a bit, not out of fear, but surprised by the audacity. When Fhao sat next to him, Ming could feel his strong Yang scent and energy, placing a pillow between the two in his hands.
"What are you doing? I'll scream if you…" Fhao laughed, just settling in comfortably and watching the rabbit relax.
"I just want to smell old scrolls; it's relaxing. It has a sweet scent deep down. And I also want to make sure no one tries anything while you sleep. What's better than the scent of a Yang-shi to protect you?" He joked provocatively, touching Ming's hair braid, who tried not to look at him. Even after the meat arrived, and he ate it delicately yet hungrily. The cold night was strangely filled with Yin and Yang, lying close, thinking about their own problems and their possible marriage. But Ming would never confess how relaxing that night was for him...