Changling woke up feeling light-headed. He sat up on the bed and did not see Youxian around him. He frowned and slowly got off the bed. He pulled on his robe and stepped into his slippers and left his chamber.
Walking through the halls of his palace, he heard laughter coming from somewhere. Following the laughter, he noticed that it was coming from the kitchen and the voices came from Youxian who he felt that he had not seen for a few days and Qian Luse.
Changling stopped by the door and saw that they were busy. Youxian was sitting on a stool leaning over and cleaning river snails in a bucket while Qian Luse was chopping up vegetables.
Youxian was the first to notice the shadow covering the light that came in and looked over. His eyes widened surprised and he teared up. He stood up and shook his hands out while he rushed to Changling. He bumped into Changling and wrapped his arms around his body and said, "I was so worried Wangja."
Changling frowned, he did not know what he was talking about but he just wanted to shake the feeling away that it had been days since he last felt Youxian. He cupped his face and lifted it so that he could look into his eyes.
When he looked into Youxian's eyes, he saw the tears and asked, "Why do I feel like it has been days since I saw you?"
"Because you've been asleep Changling," Youxian looked up at him confused.
Changling leaned down and kissed Youxian going straight to devouring his lips. Changling only stopped when Youxian whimpered and was slowly falling. He looked down at Youxian and was pleased with his reaction but still, it was not enough.
He looked over at Qian Luse who was frowning and asked, "What did you do to me?"
She quickly bowed her head afraid to see his anger while she explained, "Oraboni came to visit when you returned to let you know that the Emperor summoned him to the palace along with his wife but he heard the sounds coming from your chamber and was not happy. He ordered me to give you a tonic that would put you to sleep so that you could rest and you have been asleep for an entire week, that's why you feel distant."
Changling took a deep breath in and walked over to his sister leaving Youxian to fall to the floor. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face. She fell to the ground cupping her face.
Youxian's eyes widened, he quickly got up, rushed to Changling and pulled him away thinking that he would hit her again, "No Wangja, you can't hit her, she was only doing what your brother said."
*
Youxian let out a loud sigh as he came against Changling's stomach while he clung to him for life with his arms and legs.
Changling lowered him onto the bed and kneeled between his legs. He looked down between them to where they were connected and slowly pulled out. The semen he ejaculated into him came flowing out, soaking the sheets under him.
Changling fell to Youxian's side and looked up at the ceiling. Qinghe always did what wasn't asked of him.
Youxian turned on his side and ran his hands over Changling's stomach and apologized, "I'm sorry for messing on you Wangja."
Changling groaned and swung his right arm under his head and turned to look at Youxian and saw that his eyes were closed. He rubbed his hands over Youxian's bruised thigh and said, "If I didn't want you messing on me and the sheets, would we be intimate? And stop switching between Wangja and my name, choose one or don't speak to me at all."
Youxian scoffed and opened his eyes, "I still can't believe I've chosen to stay here with you."
"Why did you?" Changling asked him.
"Isn't it because you forced me?" Youxian asked him instead of answering.
Changling lifted his hand then slammed it down on his butt but Youxian was too tired to react and complained, "I'll put you to sleep myself if you start with that punishment bullshit again."
Changling glared at him and asked, "Haven't I tired you out? You are talking a lot for someone who should be asleep."
Youxian immediately shut his eyes and didn't answer him. Changling narrowed his eyes with a smirk and said, "Answer me."
Youxian opened his eyes and asked, "Wangja, if you did not know about me and saw me on the street, would you have chosen me to be your concubine?"
Changling raised a brow as he looked into his eyes. He didn't know why Youxian was asking him this question but decided to answer honestly, "I don't know. I had someone before coming here but it was not serious and we were messing around but my mother warned me that once I get to the palace, I couldn't jump around from man to man, I'd only cause trouble for them and it would attract unwanted attention to me."
"How is it that you are comfortable being the way you are?" Youxian asked.
Changling smirked, he popped a kiss on his lips and said, "Growing up, I was taught to not let my environment and background influence me but the teachings of my parents. They taught me that I could like and be with who I want and never to let that person down. And even if people do not look at me properly because I like another man doesn't mean that I will let them get away with their wrongs. So to answer your questions, it was convenient to have you walk into my life, it made things easier for me not having to go through marriage proposals and on the bright side, I am together with the person my birth father approves of, although not for each other but still, he approves of you."
*
Changling walked out of his palace with Youxian and Qian Luse behind him. They made their way to the shrine in the imperial palace and they met up with Qinghe and Mei Yuan who were waiting with some of their siblings.
Qinghe narrowed his eyes as he saw Changling walked over to them and nodded his head. Changling rolled his eyes and said, "No one asked you for help."
"Don't be disrespectful in front of a shrine, where are your manners?" Qinghe berated him.
Changling placed his hands together and bowed, "Forgive me, ancestors."
Qinghe scoffed and turned his head, he wasn't in the mood to deal with his brother. Qiang Wu snuck up to Youxian and asked, "Why are you limping?"
Youxian looked down at his feet embarrassed and lied, "I tripped on our way here."
Changling looked down at them and commented, "Both of you are short."
Qinghe looked at Qiang Wu and mumbled, "Why must you ask something so embarrassing, of course he won't tell the truth."
Youxian glared up over at Qinghe who was giving it away then looked at Changling and asked, "Who will you be praying to?"
Changling raised a brow as he answered, "No one I know is dead so we are praying for mama Rucheng to keep blessing us."
"Who is that?" Qiang Wu asked curiously.
Changling looked ahead at the temple doors that opened as he answered, "My other mother."
Emperor Wu Yong stepped out followed by the Empress and the concubines as Qiang Wu complained for only the siblings to hear, "I hate the cold food."
They snickered under their breath and the emperor spoke as he was happy to see all his children, "I am happy to see that all of you could make it. This year we are celebrating Hansik with new family members. After all the prayers and offerings, we'll have breakfast."
The children eyed the adult and when they looked up, they saw that a certain pair of eyes were trained on the new arrivals.
Qiang Wu turned to Changling and said, "We do this by order of birth. You are now the eldest son hence you need to enter the temple first to offer your prayers."
Changling eyed his younger brother and said, "Your brother-in-law is the oldest no?"
Qian Lan sighed with a shake of her head and said, "Oraboni, we are in front of a temple please remember that."
Changling turned to her and asked, "Your sister was blessed yesterday morning with a gift from the ancestors, your gift is still coming."
Qian Lan bit her lip and lowered her head, Youxian shook his head and saw that everyone was looking at the bruise on Qian Luse's cheek whereas the brothers couldn't care less.
"We'll go together like we always do," Qinghe said and took Mei Yuan's hand, Changling took Youxian's hand and the sisters followed them upstairs and walked into the temple. One of the sisters turned to Qiang Wu and asked, "Did I hear him right? Did he hit his sister? What did she do?"
*
The servants served the food with Qian Lan and Qian Luse serving their brothers. Mei Yuan's mother looked at the sisters then asked directing the question at Qinghe, "Why do you treat your sisters as servants?"
Qinghe didn't know the question was for him nor did Changling who answered, "It's how our mother taught them."
She scoffed and said, "I was talking to your brother."
Changling turned to look at her and licked his fingers, smirking he asked, "Which one?"
She narrowed her eyes on him and looked at Qinghe who was drinking tea and couldn't be bothered with the conversations around him.
Changling looked at Qinghe and shook his head, "Oh him? It's no use getting an answer out of him, he is probably wondering why the river is endless."
The emperor cleared his throat and said, "I've heard that Mei Yuan's tea making has progressed and also her cooking skills in such a short amount of time. Will the two of you be willing to host us in two days?"
Qinghe's gazed over at the emperor and asked, "Who is us?"
"Seeing that you are marrying our daughter, his majesty means him and I," her mother answered with attitude. Qinghe could hear that she did not want to go and was forced.
Qinghe remained silent, he knew best that he was going to say something bad.
Changling leaned over as if he was going to whisper in his ear and said loud enough, "I swear, just give me the word and I'll kill them all, no one is going to know."
Youxian's eyes widened hearing his words. He grabbed Changling's shoulder and pulled him back. He stuffed cold vegetables into his mouth as he said, "Here eat, you haven't eaten since last night, I know you are very hungry."
Changling chewed as much as he could and said between bites, "I won't kill you, I promise."
"Is that the problem?" Youxian asked with a glare.
Changling looked into his eyes and thought about it. He shook his head and mumbled, "I'll be quiet."
Mei Yuan could feel the tension his words caused and said, "We would be happy father but Qinghe and oraboni have prior engagements that they have to see to. With oraboni being under the weather, their lives have been put on hold. With him healthy again, they need to leave the palace to get things done."
Wu Yong narrowed his eyes and asked, "What business? Why haven't you asked permission to leave?"
Changling looked at him and asked, "Why do I need your permission to leave?"
"Because you are staying within my palace! I forbid you to leave who knows what will happen, you were already injured before. We cannot have that happening again!" Wu Yong said.
"I think you are taking this father thing too literal," Changling commented, "You can't even accept your son-in-law and yet you want to father me?"
"He is not my son you are!" Wu Yong answered with a glare.
"Oh wow," Changling said and ignored him. He turned to Qinghe and asked, "Brother how do you feel? You are good at keeping a poker face, how are you feeling knowing that your father-in-law who wanted to kill you still thinks of you like a cockroach who needs to be killed?"
Mei Yuan stood up and everyone saw that she had tears in her eyes, she looked at her father and said, "Father, Qinghe will be my husband soon and treating him like he is nothing to you is wrong! If this will continue then I am happy with leaving!"
Before he could answer her, she ran off while wiping her tears.
Qinghe watched her leave then looked at the emperor and stood up. He bowed slightly then walked out behind Mei Yuan. It took him some time before he found her in the palace garden, sitting on a bench crying.
Qinghe sat down beside her and asked, "Why are you crying?"
"Oh," Mei Yuan said catching a fright. She looked at him and said, "It's just so frustrating. Oraboni was speaking the truth, my father hates you and it's all my fault, you used to be the highly respected scholar Rong Qinghe and all because of me, you are being ridiculed by everyone."
"Then how shall we deal with everything that is upsetting you?" Qinghe asked her as he pulled her in for a hug.
"Can we leave? We can start over where no one will stop us from loving one another," she said and pulled his free hand to her stomach and placed it on there. She looked into his eyes and said, "I want to be able to grow a family with you."
Qinghe looked at her confused and asked, "Don't tell me you have it?"
Mei Yuan sighed and nodded her head, "Sister-in-law and I found out yesterday morning while you were out. Qinghe I am scared, if father finds out about this, he'll…"
"He'll what?" Qinghe asked.
She wiped her eyes away and asked, "Can't we get married sooner?"
Qinghe nodded his head, "Yes, we can get married right now."
"We can?" She asked excitedly.
Qinghe nodded his head, "Yes, but let's tell your oraboni first."
*Back in the hall*
"You disrespect this kingdom's emperor," the empress said to Changling.
Changling looked over at her and answered, "And the empress title should be my mothers."
She slammed the cup down and glared at him, "Your mother deserves nothing!"
Changling smiled at her and the small teacup that had tea in it flew across the hall with a flick of his fingers and landed right in her left eye shattering and cutting her.
At her side, Qian Lan stood with a knife at her neck and looked Changling who was sitting down while everyone was standing and looking at the empress who was holding her eye and whimpering.
Wu Yong's eyes were wide as he looked at the empress who was bleeding and looked at Qian Lan who looked like she had killed before. He looked back at Changling and saw that Youxian had his head bowed and so did Qian Luse.
His brow twitched and he asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Well you can chose that for yourself, we can live in harmony or will we be at war constantly. She is nothing but the person who gave you your offspring so she has no authority in my eyes, now, if she and anyone of your concubines disrespect our mother again, my sister there won't bat an eye while slicing their throat. Remember one thing dear empress, I am not the prisoner here and instead it is you all and I understand that you want to take your place as my father but that won't happen if your force it."
Changling stood up and so did Youxian, looking back at his sister and said, "Let her go."
Qian Lan with drew her knife and put it away. The walked off and as they past Qiang Wu Changling looked at him and could see that he did not like what happened to his mother. Changling smirked and said, "You are welcome at my palace anytime and if you really are angry about me hurting your disrespectful mother, remember one thing, she did everything to become the empress, then empress mother. When you on the throne and your father dead, she'll be the one ruiling this kingdom not you. You are still weak and know nothing about the world outside, if you want, I can teach you because the palace isn't the place an emperor is supposed to be. You need to fight a war before becoming the ruler."
Changling stopped right beside him and whispered, "If you want, you can marry Rucheng. Go tell your mother that, if she says no, then that will be your proof."
Qiang Wu walked up to his mother who was being treated and she immediately asked, "Are you going to leave him to hurt me and get away?"
Looking at his mother he asked, "If father doesn't do anything, what makes you think I can go against him?"
"Qiang Wu, you will be the emperor soon enough, you need to know how to deal with this! Leave it, if you and your father won't do anything, I will teach that boy a lesson myself," she said frustrated.
"How? By having grandfather take care of him?" Qiang Wu asked.
She glared at her son and said, "Look at what he did to me, why do you not care?"
He took in a deep breath and said, "You had no right in speaking the words you did."
"So what? The title of Crown Prince should be his? Are you telling me all my hard work was for nothing?" She asked him.
Qiang Wu took in a deep breath and said, "Mother, I've been thinking. I do not want to marry multiple women like father did and the person I want to marry is NOT Official Son's daughter."
"WHAT? Qiang Wu! You will marry who I chose for you and no one else!" The empress growled at him.
Qiang Wu started laughing and mumbled, "So brother was right about you."
The empress looked at him surprised before she could ask who he was talking about, he left the room.
Wu Yong walked into his study and slammed his hands against the table, "Why can't I stop him? He is out of my control!"
Dong Woo walked up to him and said, "Your majesty, it'll take time. I suggest that you leave him be for now. Changling has a certain way he behaves, I've seen it for myself. He has the qualities to become the next emperor but he does not want to and from what Qiang Wu said, he could help him be the best. I admit, what he did to the empress was not right but which son wouldn't defend his mother and those twins are something else. They work swiftly and secretly and he does not need to give them a command."
Wu Yong turned to Dong Woo and as he opened his mother, Qiang Wu stormed in and declared, "Father I am not marrying Hui Yin, I want to marry Rong Rucheng!"