CHAPTER EIGHT
As Princess Zhang Wu Shu made her back from Li Hung's cambers, she reflected on their earlier conversations.
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Flashback
Zhang Wu Shu hands trembled from Li Hung's stare, she had always disliked his continued indifference towards her. However, today she was determined to make him finally see her, if tonight goes well they could be closer, and this would be the start of a beautiful love story.
"Did you go to the training grounds again this morning? I was awoken quite early and saw that the morning fog had dissipated, and only you have the power to do such a thing…. If we were to conceive a son or daughter, do you think he would be as talented as you?" she asked sweetly hoping to gain a reaction, but her disappointment Li Hung remained unfazed and continued to glare at her in an unamused manner.
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End of flash back
Princess Shu signed deeply, "not even the thought of having his own children moved him" she thought to herself. She continued in a daze, with her palace escorts and servants following closely behind.
As she approached closer to 'Shāngu lî de bâihé' her personal residence within the Chen Xing palace, she smelt a familiar scent, with hurried steps she burst through the doors into the guest hall of 'Shāngu lî de bâihé' excitement over coming her.
"Brother!" she excitedly called, trying her best to retrain her composure, "what brings you here? Have you business with the emperor?" she questioned, as XiaoSheng wasn't one to enter Chen Xing palace without reason.
The tall, slender figure who stood gracefully within the hall, with his five omegas stood silently aside, turned to acknowledge her arrival.
"You're here, I had arrived early assuming you would have just been rising" he stepped closer to her taking her hand into his and signed inside, "did you go and see that mute of yours?" he asked knowingly.
"Brother, must you always belittle him so?" she pouted, then gently squeezed his hands before pulling away to make her way to sit at a large hand-crafted wooded table.
XiaoSheng scoffed lightly, "all of you, leave us!" he ordered sternly to the slaves and maids who were present, as he followed behind Wu Shu. Quickly as he had spoken, they emptied the room.
"Seeing that you are willing to remain at the side of that man, I came to offer some help as I have heard the empress has ordered he finally carries out is duties" as he spoke, XiaoSheng pulled out a small crystal vial filled with a dark green liquid from his sleeves.
"What is this?", Wu Shu looked suspiciously at the vial, with pursed lips.
Placing the vial in the centre of the table, XiaoSheng explained "this will get you what you have always wanted, to have that mute once and for all"
"Brother …... I can't do that… that's deceiving him", she gently pushed the vial back.
"Are you going to wait until you become the laughingstock of the empire when he beds a concubine before you?" he questioned sharply, he could read Zhang Wu Shu well, though she loved Li Hung she had her pride as an alpha and in a place where one's appearance counts for everything, she couldn't afford to cast aside, and become known as the princess who was unable to satisfy her husband. If she does nothing now, her future title as empress could be nothing more than a fantasy.
After hesitating for some time, Wu Shu picked up the vial and clasped her fingers tightly around it. "What it is?" she asked.
"An aphrodisiac, it will not harm your mute…. I know very well the outcome if I do, you just need to slip three drops in his drink, when the portion begins to take effect release your alpha pheromones, he will be forced into a rut" he explained calmly.
"Where did you get it?" Wu Shu asked suspiciously, her hands inexplicably shaking, it wasn't something that could be legally found or even required in the Zoultanian kingdom. Using one's pheromones would be all that's needed to attract the other to mate, however Gang Li Hung's had never been weak to pheromones and her pervious attempt infuriated him.
"Don't concern yourself with such matter's little sister, all you need worry about is bringing forth the next heir to the Zoultanian empire" he answered firmly as he arose from his seat, "this is for the best Wu Shu, I have given you more than enough time, though I would have preferred a more suitable partner for you, the act is done, and we can only endure what we can no longer change. From this point forward, I will see to it that the Zhang Wu family are truly recognized for their contributions towards the empire. Be warned, little sister, if you are to go against me, I will have no choice but to destroy you also". He spoke coldly, his back the only thing now visible to Wu Shu.
As the figure of XiaoSheng departed from the Shāngu lî de bâihé' hall Wu Shu looked upon him fearful of his words, unable to respond she clenched her fits feeling the cold vial rub against her palm. "He's right, I have a duty to fulfil at all costs" she reminded herself.
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Gang Li Hung thought it bad luck when he encountered Wu Shu in the early hours of the morning, now as he and Haruto Toshiaki made their way to visit his father, he once again came face to face with another Zhang Wu family member.
"Your Majesty, what a coincidence to have encountered you here" smirked XiaoSheng, he had smelt Li Hung's pheromones from some distance away and couldn't restrain the impulse to amuse himself at his expense.
Expectant of the incoming mockery, Li Hung remained silent his eyes stared distantly at his opponent, knowing XiaoSheng had deliberately confronted him in the presence of others, for this very fact.
"I hear, my sister, and yourself are to at last complete the final steps in your marriage. I see you're incompetent in more than one area, how are you to become emperor if you're incapable of satisfying a single woman" he mocked knowing Li Hung would be unable to refute.
"Do you not contest my words, our dear crown prince of Zoulta?" he rose, his voice drawing the attention of workers who passed by.
"Oh, that's right" he leant closer to Li Hung's ear and whispered, "I remembered that mouth of yours don't speak" he chuckled, raising his head and coming face to face with an indifferent Li Hung. This was not the reaction he had expected, he recalled in previous years how he could effortlessly enrage the young prince. However, today the face which stands before him is cold and unresponsive to his provocation, it was an uncomfortable feeling. "It appears our young prince of Zoulta has grown, previously I would have already felt the air density change"
"Your majesty, the prince was just on his way to visit the emperor, if would you please excuse us?" Toshiaki interrupted, intending to pull Li Hung away as quickly as possible. However, it appeared that Li Hung was in somewhat of a daze, "Your majesty?" Toshiaki called, receiving a blank glare, "your majesty… are you okay?" he repeated, finally pulling Li Hung back to reality. With a slight nob of the head, Li Hung walked away from XiaoSheng, never acknowledging the others' presence.
It was a reaction that truly infuriated XiaoSheng, "how dear he dismisses me" he gritted his teeth forming a hard liquid in his hand firing it one of his omegas knocking them unconscious. However, what he found more curious was Li Hung's behaviour, XiaoSheng frowned his brows he felt something was amiss.