Ji Lie woke up early in the morning and went for his morning training with Isiah, Hwan looking at an empty bed sighed and woke up for a bath. Hwan attended to his morning court session; he was buried in his thoughts throughout the meeting.
During lunch Ji Lie patiently waited for Hwan but he never showed up, even during the night he never showed up. Ji Lie looking at Isiah said, "Isiah, where is Hwan?" Isiah bowing his head replied, "Lord Hwan returned to the mansion in the morning."
Ji Lie took his robe and instructed Isiah to look after the palace in their absence. When Ji Lie arrived, he felt a strong presence of darkness and a strong scent of liquor. He followed the scent to the garden behind the mansion, he cleared his throat, "Hwan, can I have a word with you?"
Hwan threw a bottle and it shattered on the walls, "If you are here to lecture me to drive me to fuck a concubine then leave!" His eyes were black and his dark powers were slowly emerging.
Ji Lie sighed and replied, "I apologise for being insensitive Hwan, when you returned to our room yesterday I was so glad l could sleep. Please Hwan, let us go inside it is cold out here." Hwan wiping away his tears replied, "You are selfish you know that right?"
Ji Lie sat besides him and wrapped his coat around his shoulders, "Yes I know, I am sorry…" "Do you know our first night together we were drunk? When I sobered up I didn't regret anything rather I was happy to have spent a night with a person l love…I wished that night to had never ended. Just the two of us with no one to criticise our love."
Hwan dozed off leaning onto Ji Lie's shoulder, his scent was calm and relaxing. His hand and shoulder were warm even though it was freezing outside, Ji Lie carried his wife inside for them to sleep.
Ji Lie woke up earlier to prepare food and hangover soup for Hwan. A half-asleep Hwan woke up and mumbled, "Curse this damn hangover, I can't believe I drank too much to hallucinate shouting at Ji Lie."
Ji Lie heard the footsteps, he placed the last dish on the table and settled down. Ji Lie with a gentle loving voice said, "I was expecting you would rest some more, I prepared food for you." Hwan sat on the seat beside him and plated food for himself.
Throughout the meal they were all quiet, Hwan after washing down his food with a glass of water said, "Thank you for the meal." Hwan kept starring at his husband who didn't seem angry at him for his rude behaviour, "Hwan, I am truly sorry for being insensitive. Do not punish yourself for my own selfishness."
Gently holding both of his husband's hands, Hwan said, "I apologise for my rude behaviour my love, you are right we need to produce an heir. I just need time alone to prepare myself, we need time apart." There was a moment of silence as Ji Lie tried to process Hwan's words.
Ji Lie asked, "Hwan, it is really hard for me to be away from you, but I have to be supportive and that's what l am going to do. Until I am guaranteed an heir is underway, I will not lay a hand on you. I shall await for your return, I love you" Hwan passionately kissed his husband before they headed upstairs for a bath, to his surprise his husband didn't lay a finger on his body.
Ji Lie returned to the palace alone, Isiah was given special instructions by Hwan. All court processions were held smoothly by Ji Lie, the inner court was managed by Princess Ella, she was less cunning and more educated than the others on accounts management.
The inner court were in preparation to welcome Hwan from his ceremonial cleansing that will enable him to produce an heir.
Hwan ascended on a mountain, he saw the real form of the oracle standing with white robes before an altar. As he drew closer the air felt colder and colder, the person's skin was cold and pale. With a weird voice the oracle said, "Once the process commence it cannot be averted."
The oracle was a man who looked very old, a weird egg was in his hand. Extending his hands, he said, "This is the fruit of the barren it is the last of the three. Not all people are born as fortunate to produce life, nature truly works in mysterious ways. This egg was made to give those cursed with barren wombs."
Hwan looking at the egg replied, "I am completely barren, and I need to have this child. I can have a family with a person I love and produce an heir they have long lusted." Hwan was instructed to lie on the table as the oracle prepared for the ritual to implant the egg.
As the oracle enchanted a spell, with each word and needle was pierced on Hwan's stomach. The pain was immense but memories of his husband eased the pain. Countless times he passed out and woke to unbearable pain, for days he had been lying on the table with no food and water.
Hwan lost count of time, once the cleansing was done the implantation began. In line with the needles his stomach opened as the oracle finally planted the egg inside. Once the ritual was completed Hwan was completely ragged and exhausted, all that was left was to have sex with his husband.
Hwan arrived at the palace, his body was completely exhausted, and his throat was dry. With the help of Isiah he was taken to his room where he was attended by the maids, he refused to see a physician. Upon hearing about his arrival Ji Lie quickly went to their bedroom since it was getting dark, hoping to see his lover.
When Ji Lie arrived in the bedroom Hwan was drinking a cup of tea, the maids were quickly dismissed. Ji Lie was keeping a distance from Hwan, "I am quite surprised you visited our bedroom first. I was hoping you would visit one of the Princesses."
Hwan poured a cup of tea for his husband, offering him a cup he replied, "I am ready to produce an heir, however we never discussed who would be the best candidate suitable to carry our child." Ji Lie placed the tea on the table he responded, "Hwan, it is a matter of compatibility and comfortability. I shall not waste much of your time please enjoy your night my Lord."
Hwan with a smile on his face replied, "How about we toast to our child Ji Lie?" arising his cup with shivering hands Ji Lie said, "To the future heir." With one mouthful he chucked down the cold tea, placing the cup down he said, "The tea had a weird taste…maybe it is because it was cold."
Deep in his thoughts Hwan said, "You are such a terrible liar, I can see how hurt and troubled you are knowing I am about to have sex with another person." Before Hwan left the mountains, the oracle handed him aphrodisiac and said, "For the ritual to be completed you have to have sex with the Emperor before the sun rises tomorrow. I already know your condition, but this will help you." Hwan looking at his perfectly calm husband said, "I shall prepare to head to the eastern wing, should I help you get in bed." Ji Lie cleared his throat, he said, "Can I have a glass of water? Somehow I feel hot…can you send in Isiah?" Hwan drank a sip of water, through a kiss he transferred the water to his husband, "The perfect candidate to carry our child is me Ji Lie. How can Isiah handle your sexual desires honey?"