One of the officers guarding Zhan, and one from King Yibo's quarters, confirmed the presence of a conspiracy. The evidence clearly showed that members of King Yibo's guard were first killed using his own uniform to access Zhan's cell, and then the body of the officer among Zhan's guards, along with the testimonies of other officers, confirmed a deliberate cover-up at the time when that one guard said he was going to investigate the truth about the arrival of the officer who claimed to have come to bring items for the royal consort.
A complex chain of events was tightly woven around key individuals, but the officials confirmed they would not stop until they discovered who was behind it, and soon...
★★.... ★....
When it was said that Zhan had regained consciousness,all those involved in the matter were agitated, especially the Inner One and the servant who had carried out the deed. The Inner One's agitation was due to Zhan's survival, as she had means to dispose of the servant easily; even if he were to spare his life, the servant would never know who she truly was.
But Zhan's continued survival meant her TROUBLE was here to stay, today, tomorrow, and for the foreseeable future. If she were to make another move now, there was a problem, with only one solution: to return to the plan she had previously attempted but failed at.
Hot, stinging tears welled up in her eyes, their warmth the only thing she felt before they shattered. This only fueled her anger further, over the boy for whom she had once shed countless tears...something that had never happened to her, as she was always victorious in everything she set her mind to.
The advice her heart gave her, to summon Cao again, made her flinch. The humiliation of yesterday began to replay. It took a moment for her to compose herself and summon Cao, the sound of Cao unpleasant laughter began to scrape against the room.
The laughter stopped abruptly with no sign of resuming before she appeared before her. "Well! The Inner one who knows no shame. So, you weren't prepared for a fight, yet you started one! So, you..."
"I was wrong, you who silences those who weep. I made a mistake, forgive me, I won't do it again. I am always obedient to your commands. This was a misunderstanding."
Silence, as if Cao wouldn't let her off, then she snorted contemptuously and folded her arms. "Two reasons will make me forgive you, Inner One. First, you have never disobeyed our orders until now. Second, the value of this kingdom that you consume. Be ready about our final task, for your next assignment is about to begin. Stop attacking that boy directly and beware of the him; he might attack directly, for however you think you can handle him, his methods are stronger than yours."
"Right now, The Ghost has begun snipping his consort. And anything can happen, since he's on the verge of what could quell his own hunger now. The heir to the Beiping empire's throne is undoubtedly approaching..."
The Inner One's body trembled violently, a kind of tremor that made her lips quiver, preventing her from speaking the words in her mouth.
Cao handed her a photograph with an order. "We need her to become the mother of the Crown Prince. Hurry, ensure her position in this palace as the King's spouse within the shortest time possible. Otherwise, you will cry for yourself, Inner One! Cry for yourself!! Hahaha!! Hahahah!! Hhhh!!!!"
Cao disappeared, the dreadful sound of her laughter echoing in the room, as if the entire palace could hear it...
★★....
"This confirms our true suspicion regarding Zhan, Momma," Daneen said in a low voice, the events of the day having shaken her. The Dowager Ruyan let out a heavy sigh, as if it were nothing, and then looked at her daughter. "There is a matter concerning the boy; I feel in my bones that something is about to be revealed in this kingdom, and even his grown family might not be aware of it connected to him."
Surprised, Daneen said, "A significant matter, Momma? What kind could it be?"
For the first time,the Dowager Ruyan released a unsettling smile, and without saying a word, she reels her wheelchair and left the place living a confused Dannen.
With a glance, Daneen complied, thinking to herself that sometimes Momma truly confused and worried her with her cryptic words...
★★....
"If you're not the one as you said, then who is it? And truly, as we suspect, are there people endangering the boy's life?"
"You see the signs of it.I believe they are already preparing. But what bothers me is their motive? For I have looked at all who could do this; their goal would be similar to ours, but they lack the justification. If it's his father's side, what is their gain, since they have no children, let alone being in a conflict like ours? Unless... it's Prince Maiqing's family seeking revenge?"
"And if they want revenge, shouldn't they take it on the one who actually wronged them? If they are the ones endangering King Yibo's life, then why harming his consort?. And indeed, this game started right from his entry into this Palace. There is another player beneath the surface we need to identify, and the mastermind behind this plan has a powerful motive."
Prince Deng, feeling satisfied, watched Prince Langya, whose face held a smile. Even though they hadn't personally caused the events that had occurred, it pleased them to the point that they felt a deep sense of joy and amusement in their hearts.
~***~
After the doctor finished examining Zhan and left, King Yibo remained standing on his feet, his sharp eyes, which had taken on a tinge of gloomy displeasure, fixed on Zhan.
His gaze was as if he were looking at a new creation in his life. Looking at him made his heart beat rapidly. Looking at Zhan, he thought, 'Did you choose to enter my life like this, against my will? This is not how I wanted things to be.'
His narrowed eyes returned to Zhan, biting his lip with his teeth until he felt the irritation of it in his own mind. Slowly, he began to clench both his hands into fists behind his back. Right now, his expression showed extreme anger. His heart began to harden against the events happening in the Palace; he began to feel he could no longer wait for what he was planning to achieve any longer.
The words of his father's will came back to him, one after another. Now, his eyes darkened, and he sat down in a chair. His heart was racing very fast. He felt a bitterness that pierced his heart. Tears welled up in his eyes because he, too, was a person like anyone else; his heart was like anyone else's, capable of feeling pain and joy. He deeply needed the physical affection of another. A mother or a companion.
But he knew that was the most difficult thing for him, after the many things life had burdened him with. He possessed immense wealth that many sought and admired; his father had left him vast riches whose limits even he did not know. He had been given authority, the highest power above any other leader in the Beiping nation. He had been blessed with handsomeness, the kind that even among handsome people, he knew he would stand out. He had been endowed with secular and traditional knowledge, leaving nothing to be desired.
But he was lacking in the area of companionship. He was a person with needs, the need for the bond of marriage. He had long understood this, but his circumstances had distanced him from achieving the fulfillment of these blessings that life had bestowed upon him.
Slowly, he lowered his sharp gaze from Zhan, his heart aching. (Father, why did you say I should be like this?) He thought to himself, filled with a frustrating resentment..
Till evening, King Yibo stayed with Zhan. Despite his busy schedule and the room heater that had been turned on in the room because of Zhan's condition, he continued to stay there. He didn't even attend the imperial court session, and though one might have thought he would say something about what happened, he did not appear. He even ate his meals in the room today.
This began to alarm the people of the palace; whenever King Yibo secluded himself and refused to come out, it was either due to anger or deep concern. So today, almost everyone there was interpreting his absence.
They all played their tunes and danced their dance, but King Yibo said nothing, and there was no sign he would speak until late afternoon.
Slowly, Zhan began to stir, just as King Yibo was sitting reading his book. Zhan let out a soft, loud sneeze that could pierce the heart of any listener. Whenever King Yibo found himself in such a state of troubled melancholy, he preferred to read until he found calm.
Zhan began to sneeze, four times in a row. This alert King Yibo, letting him known Zhan is awake. But his stubborn and aloof nature prevented him from moving; he continued his reading until he decided to stop for his own sake. Even when he put the book down, he didn't turn around immediately, despite the sneezes Zhan continued to let out, weakly and intermittently.
With a sunken expression, he reached out without any sign of haste or annoyance. Slowly, he lowered his beautiful, pale eyes to Zhan, just as Zhan reached for a tissue from the bedside drawer to cover his nose because another sneeze was coming.
He sneezed about three more times before he set the tissue aside where he had gathered the others, all in a short moment. Zhan's breathing began to ease with some difficulty, his puffy eyes fluttering open and closed...
...And so Yibo's eyes fell upon him, looking at him from under his lashes, until Zhan felt his own heart begin to beat rapidly. It wasn't the first time he had seen King Yibo in casual clothes when he was in his private chamber, but today felt special to Zhan.
The black clothes suited him extremely well, highlighting his radiance and youthfulness like a young man who had never been touched by responsibility. The sheer stubbornness and aura of authority that flowed in his blood added a kind of intimidating, eye-filling confidence and danger.
Slowly, Zhan lowered his head, feeling as if King Yibo was moving towards him. His face, as usual, showed no sign of knowing how to smile, let alone laugh. He silently placed the mug, still warm with the distinct, mingled scent of tea, on the side drawer without saying a word.
Zhan glanced at the tea and then looked back at him, surprised that he had set it down and left the area without a word, heading into the bathroom. Zhan blinked, unable to say anything. He needed nothing more than the tea right now, so he picked it up and began to sip it intermittently, sneezing with difficulty and glancing towards the bathroom door.
After about five minutes, King Yibo emerged, wiping his face again. Quickly, Zhan averted his eyes as if he hadn't seen him. After finishing the tea from the mug King Yibo had poured for him, he pushed back the duvet he was under, feeling hot and breaking out in a sweat all over his body.
Zhan attempted to get out of bed just as King Yibo was approaching, which made Zhan pause his movement and look at him cautiously. King Yibo's eyes stared at Zhan as if he were thinking something, then after almost a minute, his face twitched slightly and he moved his lips to say, "Get in the bath..." He swallowed the rest of the words, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Zhan looked up at him again. Seeing his eyes on him, he just pressed his lips together and turned his face away, like a scolded child.
(Spoiled man),King Yibo declared in his own heart, also frowning. Zhan had never seen this side of Yibo before, which he was now actually showing. He had never classified this king among simple, easy-going people anyway.
Without another word, Zhan felt himself shrink back, pulling the covers up. But before he could make any move, King Yibo scooped him up as if he were a baby. Zhan was startled. King Yibo was a tall, well-built man, after all; just the sight of his muscular arms could instill terrifying fear.
One wouldn't realize it unless he was wearing minimal clothing. Zhan's eyes widened as he landed his head on Yibo's chest, and he quickly turned away to prevent looking at King's face. Zhan just felt his own feverish heat increasing...for intense Yibo's gaze.
"Stop looking at me."
The words came out of Zhan's pouting mouth as he covered his face as if he were about to cry, because King Yibo's eyes were truly frightening him. King Yibo wanted to give him a smile, but in his current state, there was no trace of it, and since the king hadn't averted his eyes, Zhan just had to go along with it.
With his vision darkened, Zhan managed to struggle slightly, his whole body trembling so much that his heart was leaping in his chest. He opened his eyes at the same time to find himself in very warm water. He let out a held breath and exclaimed, "Wow..."
King Yibo paid him no mind, leaving him in the water that was struggling with the disastrous, overwhelming scent, a warmth that pierced to the bone and was stifling. With a bewildered face, Zhan looked at himself, at how he had been placed in the water fully clothed. He felt like he could just let out a cry and be done with it.
What kind of absurdity was this? If he had told him to go take a bath, that would have been sufficient, but now he had soaked all his clothes, and he didn't even have the energy to fight back because he finally understood that the issue was with his own body.
King Yibo didn't even know the state of things, for he had already left. As Zhan took off his wet clothes and discarded them to the side, he submerged his head back in the water, blinking at the scent and penetrating warmth of the water, while his mind was filled with a kind of bewildering confusion.....
Zhan stayed in the bathroom for a while before coming out, never expecting to find King Yibo still in the room. So he emerged, standing on his own, thinking he would leave and give him space since he knew he had already bathed.
But as Zhan moved to the center of the room, trying to wipe the water dripping from his freshly washed hair onto his face, he stopped dead. He quickly turned his back as if he wanted to scream. Thank God he was wearing a bathrobe, not a towel. Today, he felt the ultimate peak of embarrassment.
There was no sign that King Yibo would move from his stubborn position in the plush chair, despite hearing Zhan coming out. It was only when he lifted his head slightly and glanced at Zhan for a moment before looking away. (He hasn't softened at all), Yibo confirmed in his heart, secretly clenching his jaw inside. The tablet that was in his hand was placed on the coffee table in front of him; he covered his face with his hands in frustration, then stood up and walked past Zhan as if he hadn't seen him.
Zhan felt like screaming in his frustration, but he couldn't move until the tall figure of King Yibo returned. Before Zhan could even react now, he felt the king's gentle hands on his long hair, quickly loosing it down since it was dripping wet, efficiently sending droplets flying as he expertly dried it with a good towel.
After untying it, King Yibo placed a small towel on Zhan's head and began to dry the water from his hair. At this point, it wasn't just surprise that stunned Zhan, but also the sudden, overwhelming shock at King Yibo's actions. This was Zhan, the son of Zinnu and Song, standing there being served by the King....the King, no less, not just any servant of the Beiping Empire. The absolute King, who answers to no single leader of his nation, the sole leader of the entire Beiping nation.
The King whom the world doubts and fears to confront, even his own nation points fingers at him. The privileged only child his parents gave birth to, a unique gem in the world. The one the world regards as a colossal star of immense magnitude. "My goodness, am I dreaming?"
(Awake with your two eyes), his heart answered him, confirming the reality he was grappling with.
Zhan hadn't even sought to lie down when King Yibo grabbed the string of his bathrobe and loosened it. Startled, Zhan grabbed his wrist, his eyes wide. "What are you doing...?" The words came out strained from his lips.
A sort of laugh seemed to want to escape King Yibo, but he suppressed it firmly. Tightening his grip, he pinned Zhan with his sharp, penetrating gaze, his own hand pushing to finish loosening the bathrobe. Zhan just jumped in fright and fell against the King. "I'm not some frivolous person, there's nothing on my body...." Zhan couldn't continue, clutching Yibo defensively.
King Yibo's body trembled, seeking control because of how Zhan had gripped him; in his life, he had never embraced anyone so bare like this. Everything he had endured and suppressed for years was now seeking release. As he tried to pull Zhan away, Zhan, in his mind, thought he wanted to remove his bathrobe completely, despite his state. (Oh! Heavens, this person will be the end of me), King Yibo thought, his eyes darkening with intense, real struggle. In the heat of the moment, he quickly yanked Zhan off him, trying to hold back the tremors his own body had started.
In a swift movement that didn't hinder his stubborn resolve in the slightest, he turned, and walked away to sit on his royal chair. He was thinking (There, it's started, this spoiled brat will be the death of me).
Oh! Zhan didn't understand what was happening, for he found King Yibo pushing him away from his body, Zhan then quickly walking away, only to stop by the large, meticulously made bed as if he hadn't just leave it unmade. He had no time to process how it was made or who made it; Zhan just grabbed the healthy duvet and wrapped it around his trembling body. His whole being felt as if it had been electrified.
Silence fell in the room, profound within them. There was no movement, and King Yibo had not turned on the AC because of Zhan, even though he needed it; but he had turned off the room heater that had been on for because of Zhan.
It was only then that King Yibo composed himself a little before speaking, without looking at Zhan, heading for the exit. Hesitantly, Zhan looked after him, seeing him pause, Zhan quickly turn away. He didn't turn back, but he felt Zhan gaze on him; his voice, slightly choked, came from behind his pressed lips as he moved them a little and said, "Change that robe."
Zhan felt as if his body was being melted by ice. He blinked his dazed, struggling eyes, then let out a heavy, held breath just as the door closed behind King Yibo after he exited. Zhan was completely frozen, unable to think of anything he needed, like someone who had been startled awake. His eyes fell on some clean clothes with an eye catching pattern. He finished lifting the robe, then blinked again, seeing underwear underneath it, "Seriously, did King Yibo leave this here too? My goodness!
This Beiping Empire King, really."
Zhan finished speaking as if he was about to burst into tears. For he felt completely submerged in a deep, piercing embarrassment, as if he were standing naked before King Yibo...
NB
I know the English and grammar today are so..so😅 it will definitely confuse some... But bear with it, I'm super busy today and I did write in haste not concentrating fully or you guys won't have a chapter to read today.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛