"Hm," LiAi drawled. They watched as Zhi ChangNing hurried after the servant who had just rushed into White Lotus Hall, alerting all of them that the concubine had arrived earlier than planned. "I wonder who this concubine is."
None of them knew. Zhi ChangNing was about to tell them the importance of the Zhang bloodline when they had been cut off before the husky could elaborate any further.
LiangLin's feet itched to run after the dog. But he stalled, because the only person who should be so itching to know who this concubine was, was Lan QingYu.
But the green snake was acting more like a rain pattered earthworm than a snake. He moved like the sun had died, leaving the world in some murky darkness. His every pore was screaming 'I give up' loud enough that people in Lushan could probably hear it.
LiangLin was the only person who apparently still held some minuscule hope that this ship would set sail towards the promised sunset.
More importantly, LiangLin wanted to see this person who ruined his promise of bagging YaYun for QingYu! Nobody ruined LiangLin's plans except he, himself! And maybe one of his family… But no one else!
"I must admit," LiYue said as the five siblings trailed down towards the house from the little bridge. "I want to see them too."
"See what?" QingYu had now stepped out of the house, defeat still clear in his eyes as he walked over to the group standing in the front yard.
"The concubine," LiChun chirped, her eyes shining with curiosity as she watched the emotions shift in QingYu's eyes.
The orbs widened before QingYu turned his gaze down to his feet to hide them.
"What about it?" QingYu whispered, his hands fiddling with the slit of his robe. Lan QingYu had been restlessly pulling and tugging at everything in sight. After murdering the flowers and plants of White Lotus Hall, there wasn't much for him to rip apart anymore, except for the house.
"They arrived just now, and we were thinking of going to take a look at that person," LiYue said, smiling encouragingly at QingYu. But the green snake shrugged, his lashes fluttering as he said,
"Why? It has nothing to do with us, anyway."
There was nothing that could beat the curiosity of a snake, except for their vanity. And LiangLin was sure deep down, QingYu was dying to know who he was surrendering YaYun to. He just didn't admit it.
"ChangChang said that concubine's a pretty one," LiangLin lied. ChangNing had no time to tell them anything. But LiangLin might as well use both snakes' weaknesses against QingYu at once. This ship was going to sail even if LiangLin had to paddle it towards the sunset, himself.
QingYu's brow twitched ever so slightly, but otherwise, he held his composure quite well. LiangLin was impressed.
The sisters were shooting amused glances LiangLin's way, fully aware that he was lying to get QingYu to go. They settled back to see if he could really get QingYu moving.
"Something about the concubine being the most beautiful in the entire empire of Jin. I highly doubt it. Snake gods take that title easily." LiangLin drawled. "But there's nothing wrong with wanting to take a look."
"You know, it would be easier if we just snuffed out that concubine, 51," LiAi said, interrupting whatever LiangLin was trying. "This coercing is taking too much time, and I'm getting bored."
LiangLin grumbled to himself in defeat. He hadn't even gotten started yet! His sisters were way too impatient!
"The two will already be busy between the sheets with the pace we are going," LiChun added, nodding her head. "Scratch that, mortals' life span is shorter than ours. They probably have grandkids by the time we get moving."
QingYu flushed a deep plum shade at their words, but he had no time to say a thing as LiBai chastised the sisters,
"We can't just kill a person. At least find out first how big of a competition they are to QingYu. If they really are too good to be true, then we can start planning on the location to dispose of the body."
QingYu's eyes widened, but no one gave him the time to voice any objections.
"Sometimes I wonder, are we mean?" LiYue asked, trying her best to hold in her yawn, but it came out anyway as she fanned herself idly.
"Nope," The three sisters said in unison.
"Yeah, I never really doubted it. But I think it is morally correct to at least question it, sometimes. You know?"
The three sisters shook their heads at LiYue's silly remark. What morals?
"Guys, there really isn't a competi-" QingYu started, but LiangLin jumped in before he finished his sentence.
"See? Even QingYu knows he would win if he so wanted to."
"Wait-"
"That's the spirit, Qing'er!" LiChun squealed in excitement as she took hold of his shoulders and pushed him towards the gate doors. "I've been dying of curiosity! Quick, quick, before they leave the Imperial Hall!"
"Wait! I don't-"
"Aw, don't worry QingYu, you look perfect, no need to go and change for the occasion," LiBai cooed, and QingYu blushed, pleased with her compliment. Then his eyes snapped wide open again as he realized he was being dragged out of White Lotus Hall.
"No, but I-"
"Yes, yes, I have the weapon Wei KaiJun gave me," LiAi assured him.
"What?! I-"
"Don't worry, QingYu, we will let you have the first shot on that concubine. We are there to just cheer you on and maybe finish the job for you," LiYue said, clapping her hands excitedly.
"…!"
.
.
"How come they already arrived?" Zhang YaYun complained as he hurried through the palace after Zhi ChangNing. "They were supposed to be here tomorrow!"
"It was by tomorrow, YaYun," Zhi ChangNing pointed out, not very pleased of the sudden situation either. "There was no set date given. Apparently, the ship they travelled in was sailing in the same direction as the wind, so they docked early this morning."
Zhang YaYun cursed under his breath. Things never went as he had planned!
"Look," Zhi ChangNing started as they turned the corner and travelled along the corridor that led to the back of the throne. "I ordered them to be kept waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Only when you arrive on the throne, may they come up. Until then, get yourself together, YaYun."
"I don't know what you are talking about!" YaYun snapped, his nostrils flaring at the thought that the day he dreaded was already here, early and uninvited!
Zhi ChangNing stopped in her tracks and shoved a surprised YaYun against the wall of the empty corridor.
"Look, YaYun, I know you don't want this. But think of it this way," Zhi ChangNing said, her cold, emotionless eyes pinning YaYun in place. "That fox spirit probably never wanted to come here in the first place. They have feelings, too, ok? They are thrust into this world that they know nothing about. The least you can be is being a little nice towards them. You never know, maybe you two could even bond over this."
YaYun highly doubted it, but he nodded anyway since ChangNing could be damn intimidating when she wanted to.
"It's going to be fine, YaYun, I believe in you," ChangNing said as she clapped YaYun over his shoulders encouragingly and pushed him forward.
YaYun shrugged half-heartedly, as he was shoved through the opening and he was now standing behind his throne. He could hear the soft chatter of his officials, who had gathered to welcome the Emperor's new spouse.
Somehow, the voices, the scents of different shifters and his thoughts weighted at his mind all at once, and he had the urge to flee the scene. He really didn't want to do this. His nerves were on edge, his hands sweating as ChangNing checked his dress was properly fasted and nodded with approval. She shoved him forward, and YaYun reluctantly took a step, then another until he came to the officials' view.
"Your highness has arrived!"
Zhang YaYun smiled tightly at his subordinates as he sat down on his golden throne, hoping he could be anywhere else at the moment.
"You may show them in!" Zhi ChangNing ordered, and the officials moved into two clear-cut lines while the guards by the door hurried down the steps.
YaYun raised his hand to rub at his eyes. He tried to make use of ChangNing's request and think of this from the concubine's perspective. He wouldn't want to step into a new home and immediately feel uninvited. YaYun just had to calm down and be kind… Easier said than done! His mind was battling between staying calm and running away from his responsibilities.
How could he calm down in such a situation?
XueYa's words pounded against his skull, and he grimaced. XueYa was right, there was no guarantee that he could even have dragon god off-springs. He was just like uncle WeiJie, no indications of having the dragon within them. They couldn't shift, nothing, they were as good as mortals. Even if fox spirits had special abilities that could aid him in this, there was no point in any of it if YaYun wasn't a real dragon, to begin with!
A soft scent of sweet roses and honey wafted over his way, and YaYun's mind halted in its track, clearing away all the cluttering thoughts at once. YaYun snapped his eyes open, but he couldn't see any others except his officials before him. But there was no mistake, he recognized the sweet scent that was invading his senses.
QingYu was here?