When their boat docked at the harbour at dawn, large horse carriages already awaited for them. The snakes' eyes bulged as they gaped at the mere size of the vehicles. A single thought seemed to echo through their skulls.
How rich was this guy?
"Ladies," Xie JingYi, the rooster-shifter smiled, brightening up his round features as he pointed at the larger carriage of the two. He looked like a buddha statue brought to life, jolly and well-fed.
The sisters walked over in a daze and mounted the dark wooden contraption.
She LiangLin tried to follow their suit but halted as he noticed Lan QingYu following the other men over the smaller carriage.
He reached out and pulled the green snake back.
"What do you think you are doing?" LiangLin hissed. "Why are you following them?"
QingYu blinked his orb eyes in confusion. "Why not? I want to sit with YaYun."
"Now is not the time for flirting," LiangLin snapped and wasting no time, dragged the other snake to the larger carriage and pushed him in. He couldn't risk QingYu blurting something irreversible out to the man, not yet. He felt a pair of eyes on him and turning a shy glance back he could see YaYun studying them with a smile. Jerking his head forward, LiangLin climbed the two steps up and disappeared behind the crimson curtain.
Zhang YaYun had been friendly to all of them, and it seemed LiangLin's sisters had grown comfortable with the man. Yet, LiangLin couldn't shake the unease within his guts. Call it intuition, but he felt that everything appeared too good to be true. Somehow, even if he got his snake back, there surely had to be a catch somewhere.
Why did this man want to help him? Travelling this far and wide, then bringing LiangLin back just to be united with his snake?
QingYu shuffled beside him, squirming in place as if he had an itch that he couldn't scratch. LiangLin paid him no attention. He was deep in thought, mulling over the possibilities for them being in this situation.
QingYu groaned. Still, no attention was granted his way.
The She sisters were nodding off opposite to them. They were each leaning over the other. LiYue snored softly. Occasionally she would smack her lips, before letting her jaw loll open, her head resting over LiBai's chest. LiAi was sprawled over LiChun like a dead bird.
QingYu cleared his throat and groaned, this time a little louder. LiangLin's brow twitched, but he didn't ask what was with the snake.
The green snake seemed to be at his limit as he finally huffed and wailed, "Brother LiangLin, how are we supposed to marry me off, if you don't let me stay close to him?"
LiAi jerked as she shuffled in her sleep and frowned, but didn't stir.
"Keep your voice down! They are sleeping."
QingYu was biting his upper lip when LiangLin finally turned his attention to the snake. The carriage rattled as the wheel hit a rock.
"I already promised you. I won't back out on it." LiangLin said. His words didn't soothe QingYu as the snake shifted in his seat, wringing his fingers. LiangLin sighed.
"Look, QingYu, what is so great about him?"
Besides his looks, money, friendly manner, dashing smile, and -
"He smells great," QingYu said, softly.
Smelled? LiangLin frowned. "What do you mean?"
"He smells really, and I mean really good. I want to drown in that scent." QingYu's eyes fluttered as he took in a deep breath.
"Wait, you can smell him from here?" LiangLin strained his neck, leaning towards the flapping curtains that covered their line of view, sniffing the air.
The other carriage was further ahead, far enough that even for zodiac animals, it was impossible to smell it from this far with a wind that rushed forwards, driving all fragrance away.
The scent of moist earth and fresh grass filled his senses, but nothing else that would make him drool or his heart skip a beat.
"Yeah, it's wonderful."
LiangLin turned his gaze towards the sleeping figures. None of his sisters had said anything of YaYun smelling good, only that he smelled strange. What was with these scents?
"What does he smell like?" LiangLin asked. Back in Hei'ang, that time, that scent...
"I don't know how to explain it. Like a mixture of flowers. His life-force must be delicious."
LiangLin pulled himself together. It could just be a coincidence. Scents were difficult to describe, and each person experiences fragrances differently, but LiangLin couldn't smell anything, not now that he was but a man. Besides, it couldn't be the same scent. Last time, that scent had turned him feverish - QingYu was perfectly fine.
"Brother LiangLin, is something wrong?" QingYu had noticed LiangLin's scowl and looked worried. His perfect brows were pulled into a frown.
"Everything is good," LiangLin said, forcing his face to relax. All would be clear once he got his snake back. He would know once and for all if this scent was the same one from the last time. "Rest QingYu. I promise, Zhang YaYun is all yours. Snake god's honour."
---
It took them three days of travel to reach the Imperial City. By the time their carriages pulled through the gates, hurtling right into the middle of the busy main street, LiangLin's ass had become numb. He jumped out of the carriage before it had pulled into a complete halt. If he had to wait any longer, he would have to amputate his lower half.
He stretched and yawned, letting the sunlight stream over him, warming his skin. It was still early morning, people were shuffling about, setting up shop. Early birds were already bargaining on the freshest items put on display, while stray cats and dogs lurked between their feet, waiting for their moment to strike.
Tall houses loomed behind the shops. These must be where the rich folk lived, LiangLin thought as he strolled forward, looking at all the tables that were overflowing with items.
"Oi, where are you going?" Wei KaiJun, the ape-shifter called after him. LiangLin raised his gaze, but before he could answer, Yu Zhong already stood by his side, stern and with all the presence of a giant ox. People seemed to move out of his way unconsciously.
"Young master She, it would be faster to travel by cart."
So formal, LiangLin thought to himself with a smile.
"I want to go sight-seeing. Rarely do us siblings get to travel out of our territory," LiangLin said. He pushed past the towering mass of muscle, with his sisters and Lan QingYu following him like newly hatched ducklings.
Yu Zhong looked like he wanted to argue, but Zhang YaYun had dismounted his carriage by now and had raised his hand, approving of the snakes roaming the city. The husky was running after the snakes, glueing itself to LiYue's side like a gigantic leech. She paid it no attention, still annoyed that she hadn't realised the dog was a shapeshifter before.
The horse carriages were sent off by YaYun. They would reach his home by feet eventually, after all, it was not far away.
To LiangLin's surprise, the people living in the Imperial City didn't seem particularly rich or well off. Simple cotton clothes brushed by him. There wasn't even a single jade dangling by anyone's waist, and the atmosphere was the tamest. It was almost eerie how calm everything appeared to be compared to their hometown by the lake, nestled between the mountains.
He didn't find himself in the mood to pickpocket. The folk looked like they would suffer great losses if he suddenly did, so he spared them - for today. Instead, he turned his attention to the large houses they passed by, marvelling at the gigantic lion statues guarding the gates.
"So, which one of these is yours?" LiangLin said, turning his playful gaze to YaYun. The man had an amused smile on his lips, but only shook his head in response. He fanned himself with a large black fan. Mountains were painted over it with white and gold, reflecting the sunlight with every fluid flick of his wrist.
"We will reach it soon, young master She." Yu Zhong said with a little bow. He was too polite to the point it was bordering on creepy. LiangLin took a step further away from the man, keeping a distance between them. The shapeshifters walked on both of their sides, guarding them instead of their young master.
"You can't miss it." Xie JingYi chuckled as they stopped before tall, red walls. The busy main street and the bustling people were long left behind them. Vast space and groves of cherry blossom trees grew right and left. The wall was so high, they couldn't see what lied behind it. Guards stood before the crew, looking at them with piercing eyes.
LiangLin felt uncomfortable under their gaze, so he turned to walk along the side of the walls, away from the gates, when Wei KaiJun took hold of him and yanked him back.
"Oi, where are you going? We are here."
LiangLin froze as he gazed upon the walls and the bright red gates with golden details once more. He could hear his sisters' gasp in surprise. Looking at QingYu, the green snake had turned paler than a dead person.
LiangLin turned back to the structure before him and dared to read the sign over the gates.
You've got to be kidding!
"Open the gates!" Yu Zhong commanded the guards as he pulled a heavy plate out from his robes, holding it up for the guards to see. It was a solid plane of gold, carved with intricate lines. A long red tassel was suspended from one end of the slab. A heavy jade pearl swayed in the air, woven into the tassel.
"His highness, Emperor Zhang, has returned."