Or so he thought.
Dragon didn't die. The palace physician just diagnosed him with over exhaustion. The blood he spit out was good blood. Had it stayed in his immune system, then he'd really be in danger from blood clot. His physical injuries were serious, but surprisingly the emperor's healing rate was blessed by the gods for under good care, he'd be better than fine in two months time.
This put the Eastern hosts at ease for they've taken a profound liking to the young man.
By the second day, Dragon was up and about taking tours around the Eastern wine houses and joining the festivities at night. This time however, he got to experience real hospitality, not feigned or obligated, but simply genuine desire to impress.
"Toast to you Dragon Brother!" Jun lifted his golden cup and Dragon did the same with a big grin.
"And to you Jun Brother!"
Dragonfly, who sat dutifully beside the emperor leaned closer to nag him. "Dragon, this is your third cup. You must take care of your body because you'll need a strong one when we hit the road."
"Miss Dragonfly, you and Dragon Brother may stay as long as you like!" Jun raised his glass and emptied it.
The little maid blushed, elated that the infamous general prince actually knew her name!
Dragon picked up this little notion and quickly responded. "I don't wish to impose too long. However, likewise, my Eastern friends are welcome with open arms to my kingdom anytime."
The Eastern king let out an approving grunt. "Dragon! You lost the battle, but you won with the soul of the East. You have proved your worth so state your purpose for gracing us with your presence!"
Dragon smiled and got up with the help of a worried Dragonfly.
"Originally I came to request your consideration for an alliance between our lands, but on second thought, I might want to start a trade with you for your wine instead!" he responded back, possibly drunk and possibly not.
The Eastern king's expression suddenly turned gravely serious and all eyes fell upon the two rulers.
Dragonfly wanted to face palm herself for Dragon's tactless request, but seeing the underlying confidence in his stance, she couldn't help but have hope yet again.
Though the emperor of Jin should be the universal definition of a pretty boy, he wasn't "delicate" as the rumors made him to be. He didn't know his own limits and probably would do better with reigns over him, but he had the spirit of a dragon.
And dragons are dragons because they break chains and soar. And as reasonable men, one doesn't fight a dragon if he could fight alongside one.
Thus, at no one's objections, the Eastern king granted both the neighboring king's requests on one condition.
"You must receive a final gift," the older sovereign bellowed. "One that you must forever remember and ensure others do as well."
Dragon nodded. Whatever it could possibly be, these people were reasonable people.
"We grant upon you the nickname: Teng Long of Jin—Soaring Dragon of Golden Dynasty!"
Man that was powerful.
Dragon placed a hand over his chest in his warrior salute. "I, Teng Long of Jin, gladly accept!" he roared back.
His men liked it for they served under a powerful king. His women liked it because they served under a powerful king. But most importantly, Dragon liked it. Because it was actually his name.
In a matter of days, word travelled throughout the lands of the Eastern king's benevolence to the Jin. Three priceless gifts were granted upon the recently instated emperor by a strong ally.
This was news—news that Dragon hoped to share with his sister and Hazel, the Odd Sisters and Pan Yue. But by the time he returned home, every ear had already heard the story of the Soaring Dragon one too many times.
"Long-ge! How are your wounds?" little Sun asked, offering to change the bandages.
Dragon shook his head fervently. After Dragonfly's binding him in the white wrappings like a corset, he simply couldn't stand a second try.
"Teng Long," Hazel called quite naturally, for she enjoyed addressing the man as himself rather than her old childhood friend. "You are lucky the East king received your personality well. From what I heard, you were hanging on to your life by a thread on the battle against Third Prince Jun."
See, Dragonfly spread a second perspective of how miserably Dragon lost before he earned his nickname. Unlike the popular story, this one didn't seem to get old.
Pan Yue whipped out his fan and brushed it. "You may be wrong Lady Hazel. The Eastern people have been extremely gracious, but they also saw value in alliance with Jin. Letting the emperor go without fulfilling his requests may bite back at them in the future."
Dragon nodded in approval of his words, though he didn't know how true it stood, they sounded better than Hazel's criticisms.
"See, Great Jin will soon be unified and set for further expansion!" Pan Yue exclaimed.
[What?]
Dragon turned to his poetic scholar.
[He's doing his manipulative strategy thing again…]
"After he recuperates," Hazel reminded. "Look at him."
All the girls in the harem and Pan Yue, who technically shouldn't be there but was beautiful enough to pass as a maiden by the guards, shook their heads in disapproval.
"And you tell us Dragonfly's story is exaggerated," they said in unison and laughed at the pitiful emperor who didn't have the means to stop them.
Dragon only sighed.
[If I had my real body, I'd be soaring all over your heads.]
Still, they were partially right. This body didn't have a trained threshold for pain. Until he remastered that ability, he better stay humble.
....
This time, though the spies reported back the same habits—emperor visiting his harem after meals, visiting harem after showering, visiting harem after looking over documents—the prime minister didn't have the same response.
Though Dragon seemed harmless and useless on the surface, his feat in the East proved otherwise. He was actually masking his real potential. Secretly learning martial arts while lying that he excelled in the literature arts! What a fox!
He's worse, much worse than his perverted brother-emperor stand-in. He was perverse and a threat.
Dragon was an unforeseen threat to the power and political scale in court.
But lady luck wasn't completely on his side. The emperor was only beginning to rise.
They just have to stop him from soaring. Shouldn't be hard with their trump card.