As usual, she was reclining while her trusted attendant, Jazaa, sat beside her, slicing an apple for her. She spoke to her slowly, her own eyes closed.
Jazaa was her complete secret spy within the Palace. She knew every servant who worked for her. Jazaa herself had spent three years since she began working for her without even being able to say who she truly was within the Palace. She would come to her with different faces before finally revealing her true face to her.
Despite Jazaa not being among the royal servants....indeed, she wasn't even from the palace; CAO had brought her to Inner one...Jazaa had been terrified when she discovered who the Inner One was. But even after all the years they had spent together, she had never been able to open her mouth and tell anyone who she was. She had tried it once and suffered, losing her ability to speak or hear for a whole year before her voice and hearing returned after a long period of warning.
If anyone could testify to the deceit and extreme paranoia of the Inner One, it was certainly Jazaa. And even then, she knew nothing more than what the Inner One herself chose to know.
"The investigation is progressing further regarding the servant Israr, my Lady. I am now seeing unfamiliar faces within the group of servants Israr works with. I have a feeling, and I suspect there own spy has been dispatched by the palace officials."
Her eyes opened slowly and fixed on Jazaa. She gave her a sharp look that made Jazaa bow her head again as if seeking forgiveness. In a tone laced with authority and harshness, she said, "He has been working for us for a long time, and every mission has been successful. But for me, new or old makes no difference. I will pass the judgment he deserves, for I have warned him that if there is a problem and he fails to eliminate the male royal consort, his punishment will be the same as anyone else's. I will never leave a loose end that could become a problem for me."
Jazaa swallowed thickly. Her heart was beating rapidly. If Israr were to face the terrible judgment of their mistress, the Inner One, then she too, if she made a mistake, could face any kind of punishment. What kind of terrifying life had she fallen into? What more could this woman possibly want in this world, after all the blessings she had been endowed with, which even she herself couldn't count?
The laud voice that pierced her ear made her jolt. A tremor ran through her body. "Forgive me, my Lady." She said, her whole body trembling. Then she quickly exited through the secret passage she used for entering and leaving, before her meeting with her mistress could conclude.....
This message from Jazaa caused her no small amount of agitation. All the little joy that had arisen in her today because of Zhan was lost. The servant Israr certainly had to leave this world today. She left no loose ends behind her, no matter who it was. Israr was her trusted servant; he knew so much about her that even if he were captured, though he didn't know her true identity, many of her activities would be exposed.
A kind of darkness flashed before her eyes with a maddening surge of anger, before she rose from the divan and headed into her bedroom, for today she had to do this deed herself.
★
No matter how Jazaa tried to swallow the terrible pronouncement of their Mistress concerning Israr, she couldn't. She couldn't find any peace. She was used to directly leading the Mistress order to a target; if a mistake was made and it was traced back to her hand, she would be feeding a person the milk of death. But this time, she felt she couldn't do it. It wasn't about anything else but knowing the kind of loyalty Israr had shown to the Inner One, just as he had, enduring all the dangers of the tasks assigned to him, carrying them out even if they were difficult, just to achieve the desired result this time....a result that wasn't even his fault, since he was only carrying out the orders she had given him, and now he was to be destroyed for it?
Could she herself find him and tell him the truth? (Watch yourself), a voice in her heart warned her quickly, reminding her who the Inner One was if she forgot...
★★... DOWAGER TAIHOU ★....
As usual, she was reclining in her large sitting room, which was lavishly filled with various luxurious items. Only three attendants were with her today, as she had said she wanted no noise, though they were incapable of making noise that would bother her anyway.
One look and you could tell she was troubled, even though she was not a woman known for cheerfulness from the start. Nothing was on her mind except her conversation with Jasrah earlier this morning.
She certainly needed her son to take another spouse, if only to find the peace that every man of his station should have. And she wanted him to rid himself of Zhan, for he had already tried to kill her son, he might succeed next time. She was deeply worried about the boy staying with Yibo, fearing a repeat of what had begun; his audacity and the absolute lack of fear or doubt surrounding Zhan confessed he was the one who had given him the means to drink the poison. She was at a loss to understand if Zhan was a human or a ghost.
She herself had never encountered a young man of Zhan's age who inspired such fearlessness and unwavering certainty in those around him. Her own heart could not find peace in leaving Zhan with her only son. She herself was at a loss for what course of thought she should even take.
She truly needed to meet with Dowager Ruyan this time, for her own heart was beginning to sink with the anxiety she felt. She needed to seek her counsel regarding the matter Jasrah had brought up, especially since King Yibo himself had said nothing about the subject of taking another spouse, which they had discussed this morning. Moreover, Jasrah had shown displeasure at King silent, even though she hadn't openly said anything.....
★... DOWAGER RUYAN ★...
She was sitting in her private garden, sipping the warm concoction she had instructed her attendant Banou to prepare for her due to the unpleasant taste in her mouth from a cold she had been battling for two days, when one of her attendants came with a message requesting an audience with Dowager Taihou.
She paused for a long moment in surprise, for it had been nearly three months since Dowager Taihou had last sought a meeting, even before the conflict that still plagued the palace began. A cold, subtle smile touched her lips as she composed herself in her dignified state. With an air of royalty, she signaled for the attendant to grant permission.
In less than five minutes, Dowager Taihou and Daneen were approaching her. With one look, she assessed them. Indeed, she held a deep affection for Dowager Taihou; she loved her like one of her own children....not because she had borne her a grandchild, but because she treated her like a mother, and so she regarded her as a daughter too. For despite Dowager Cixi's status as her own lingerie, Dowager Taihou was a thousand times superior to her....
"Good afternoon, Momma."
Daneen said, moving to sit near her. Dowager Ruyan simply gave a slight nod, her eyes on Dowager Taihou, who seemed unable to sit or speak, standing rigidly. She gave a meaningful smile and turned her head without a word, looking back at Attendant Banou, who stood rigidly at her side, watching Dowager Taihou with a gaze that suggested she alone knew what kind of pleasant thing was coming.
"Leave us."
She said slowly, with authority. Quickly, Attendant Banou acknowledged and left, her mouth watering. For two days now, she had been looking for someone to eat his soul; she vowed to make up for the days Zhan had caused her to lose by ensuring she will target Dowager Taihou soul.
Seeing Banou disappear, Dowager Ruyan returned to her concoction without looking back at Daneen or Dowager Taihou. This action of hers meant she was truly angry.
Dowager Taihou felt her composure slip into confusion again. Even though she knew this Momma could get angry because she was a woman who did not tolerate nonsense, she hadn't expected it to be like this. Slowly, she went and sat on the soft carpet spread over the green grass in the garden, which was as smooth as a blessed football field. She crossed her legs, facing her perfectly, while Dowager Ruyan herself sat holding her cup. "I know I am truly at great fault, Momma, guilty of an offense worthy of punishment from a mother, but I beg your forgiveness; I won't do it again. I also want you to understand that I am speaking the truth. Any mother like me would have done worse than I did when she realized she had caught someone plotting to destroy her son.
I still feel the pain, a deep pain, over what happened. But I have come to you, Momma, for goodness sake, please try to make me understand what you want me to understand about this matter. Because perhaps my thinking on this matter is one-sided, where I can see nothing but the fault of that boy, simply because he touched what I love most in this world. Momma, I swear, I would give my life for Yibo. I am telling you the truth."
Worry welled in Dowager Ruyan's eyes. But in her heart, she was further pondering Dowager Taihou's final words.
Yes, she certainly loved her children too, but not with such possessive love. In her view, whenever a mother could love her son with such possessiveness, she could never love another's son, she could never treat an orphan as her own, she could never equate her children with other children who called her mother, as she now looked upon them all, despite their status as her son's wives.
But she simply remained silent, saying nothing, and continued drinking her concoction.
Daneen, who had said nothing since earlier, slightly raised her head to look at her mother. She knew her; she knew that when she was angry, she was difficult to appease, and despite everything Dowager Taihou had done these past few days, she knew her own heart was troubled. Her voice cooled, filled with pleading, she said, "Momma, please be patient. We are now obedient to all your commands. You will not find us disobedient."
Silence, as if she would say nothing, then she pushed the bowl aside and let out a held breath. Sighing, she took a tissue and wiped her mouth before looking at Dowager Taihou, who stood rigidly before her. For in the presence of her mother, her own authority necessarily had to be restrained...
..."If I said I wasn't hurt by your mistake, I would be lying to you. But since you have realized it yourself, that is what matters, everything else is past. Regarding what happened, I won't stop you from feeling pain, for you did what any mother would do, even I would have. However, I would not have done it in the same way you did, for reasons of my own, which do not necessarily have to be your reasons. But I will advise you from my position as a mother.
You are a leader, and also a mother. A leader is known for patience, composure, courage, and the ability to endure all bitterness. A leader belongs to everyone and never views only their own flesh and blood as a son, but includes even those they did not bear. Yes, we heard that Zhan made a serious mistake, a very grave one that should not be easily forgiven or leniency shown. But in our position as those who understand the circumstances they are in, we should conduct a thorough investigation, and then swallow all the pain we feel, even if it burns inside us. For it is only through this endurance that we can discover the absolute truth.
Any sensible person, if they calmly consider Zhan's young age, will conclude that the act committed was not his own; he was merely used to achieve a goal. Zhan is a boy who cannot conceal things, and there is naivety in his affairs. If the mastermind behind that plot is exploiting all these aspects of his nature, and we fail to utilize our understanding of him to easily uncover who is behind it, then we are at a disadvantage.
Taihou, I don't know when you became so impaired, but I understand now that you are being influenced by some troublemakers who are using your anxiety to agitate you. I am not telling you to cut them off, but I advise you to calmly understand their motives behind the provocations. The time has come for you to wake up; otherwise, you will feel regret on a path where regret will be of no use to you whatsoever, from what I know."
The words of Dowager Ruyan struck deep within her. They pierced intensely, calming her mind and what she wished to express with wisdom. Filled with respect, she bowed her head slightly, her voice soft, she said, "Thank you, Momma, thank you for waking me from this deep slumber I was in. Please be patient with all that has happened, and you will find me changed for the better."
"May it be so."
Dowager Ruyan said.
In unison, Daneen and Dowager Taihou responded with affirmation. With that, the room fell silent for a moment, before Dowager Taihou spoke again. "Momma, there is a second matter. Despite your initial awakening, something else still weighs on my heart."
"Speak, what is it? For now, we are all seeking a path to resolution."
Dowager Taihou bowed her head slightly before continuing to speak softly. "Well, Jasrah approached me the today regarding the matter of..." She explained everything to her from A to Z without omitting anything. She even included King Yibo's visit and his silence on the discussion.
She concluded by saying, "Even before she brought this proposal, I indeed had the desire for it, but I did not intend to pressure him. But now, I wish to hear your opinion on it as well."
A faint, knowing smile touched Dowager Ruyan's lips as she looked at Dowager Taihou. Then she turned her head as if it were nothing. After nearly a minute, she turned back to look at her. "That is a good thought, but I want you to remember what happened the last time. We lost another of his spouses, and another, due to fright, withdrew in a state of distress, and we had to return her to her parents.
This boy Zhan, whom they tried to eliminate, has consistently failed them, and his repeated failures are a sign and confirmation of our suspicion, for the boy is surrounded by divine protection, and his time has not yet come. That is why they have been pursuing various methods to eliminate him, but without success. If we are clever on this path, it means this is not a matter we should take lightly. The one who is fit to be the Empress Ki and a thorn in our enemies' side will be Zhan. If they say they will proceed, then the 99 days they speak of for the thief's plot are about to be fulfilled."
In unison, Daneen and Dowager Taihou looked at her. She herself nodded to them, filled with certainty...
...They exchanged looks within the attendants hiding among the garden's flowerbeds, identical to the ones Daneen and Dowager Taihouhad. Then they slipped away into the shadows where they couldn't be seen, leaving the area.
Daneen was the one who had subtly moved aside, for she had been granted sharp hearing. Certain she had heard movement, she gestured with a slight urgency towards where she sensed the motion. With a shared tremor, they retreated behind some very dark flowers and hid.
Seeing no sign of what she suspected had been heard, her heart continued to assure her that someone was lurking in the garden.
"Is everything alright?"
Dowager Ruyan asked when Daneen returned. Showing a little concern, she said, "Momma, I thought I heard movement. But I can't see anything."
Dowager Ruyan was about to speak, but then swallowed her words. Instead, she looked at Dowager Taihou, and gestured for her to sit down. Without another word, she sat back down. But her own heart was racing, confirming that the movement Daneen had heard must have been something...
ROYAL CONSORT ZHAN
Even as Zhan headed back towards his room, he changed his mind. Instead of turning back, he found himself taking the path where he encountered Prince Langya and King Yibo sparing words fight. He simply felt drawn to return to that place.
Just before he reached it, he paused at the door he had come to know since that last time, wondering what it was. Before Zhan could even touch the door to open it, he heard it open without a sound. It was a large gym filled with an impressive array of exercise machines. "Uhm," he said, slightly shaking his head and clicking his tongue, his hands on his hips. The sight even stirred his own interest in working out, so he turned to leave, smiling and saying, "I'll come back to you all later."
The attendants from that time were there again today. They quickly bowed to greet him, while a device announced his name. Zhan gave them only a faint smile as he passed by.... In his mind, he marveled at King Yibo; perhaps it was because of his interest that this device was installed, so that if anyone crossed the threshold from outside, it would announce who it was, or it was a security measure....
"Oh,goodness." Zhan said softly, blinking as the outside air suddenly gusted against his face. Then he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky, which was struggling with gathering clouds, a sign of an impending storm. It seemed rain could pour down at any moment. Zhan loved stormy weather intensely, for if it did anything, he would leap and splash about in the water.
As he continued walking, his smile widened on his face until his white teeth showed. His beautiful eyes continued to follow the path with a detailed, enthusiastic gaze.
He stopped where King Yibo and Prince Langya had stopped that day. "Woow!!" he said, his eyes widening in awe at how he could see the entire kingdom from the there. Moreover, the world outside the palace was visible through the moving cars and individual people.
Zhan had never imagined this place looked like this, if he know, he will always come here to take a rest. As the rain began slowly, Zhan, filled with delight, hugged his arms, releasing a subtle smile that once again revealed the beauty he had been blessed with. As if in play, the rain began to intensify, but he showed no sign of leaving; on the contrary, his joy seemed to increase. He fought to keep the smile on his face, until he finally began to stretch out his arms, spinning around with his eyes closed like someone in ecstasy.
Suddenly, Zhan felt a jolt as he leaned back against something during his twirling, and then the subtle scent of King Yibo's cologne hit his nostrils in a wave.
Quickly, Zhan opened his eyes and turned around. Seeing him standing there made him startle as if frightened. He swallowed the rest of the smile on his face and lowered his eyes because of the way King Yibo was pinning him with his own gaze.
"You have no regard for yourself, do you?"
He said from behind clenched teeth, his voice so cold it was as if they were strangers, not people who knew each other.
Zhan's lips moved slightly as if he were about to speak, but he couldn't. He lifted his feet, intending to leave the area. After two steps, he stopped dead, his eyes darkening as he felt King Yibo grab his wrist. Looking from the corner of his eye at the King pale hand helding his, at the long, clean, flawless fingers without a speck of dirt, only the shine they had, Zhan felt his body give a kind of shudder. With a bit of audacity, he said, "I'm going inside."
Instead of releasing him, King Yibo slowly pulled him back to stand in front of him. His gaze swept over him from head to toe, an inquisitive look. Zhan felt himself wanting to shrink away completely, for he didn't like being looked at, let alone the King's gaze that made his body tremble.
Slowly, King Yibo closed his own eyes, trying to suppress the smile rising within him. He moved closer, causing Zhan to stumble back against his body. Unable to do anything else, Zhan could only close his own eyes and place his hands on the metal railing, leaning against the King's body, breathing in his subtle scent, which in his life, he alone knew King Yibo used.
King Yibo himself also placed his hands on the railing, caging Zhan in, and rested his head on Zhan's shoulder. For a moment, with his eyes closed, he felt the fine rain falling on them little by little. It became Zhan, trapped between him and the railing....
NB
Gosh...🤦 I really don't know how to write a perfect English or grammar to make it easy for you to read and understand it, becouse I'm not using any translator or grammatical app for this ff, I wrote with my own poor English becouse those grammatical or translators applications only changed or cut many words for you. So annoying, and they don't translate sex scenes that's why I don't write them too.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛