Chapter 3 - Chapter one

Dear readers a reminder when the following symbols appear //...\\ Gang Li Hung is communicating via sign language with the use of his hands, please remember he is mute and therefore doesn't speak.

"Son, how long do you assume you can keep evading your wife?" Empress Wang Lei Fu asked sternly as she chases after her son, down the golden corridors of Chèn Xíng* palace to his bedchambers. For the past three years, Prince Gang Li Hung has been married to Princess Zhang Wu Shu and has yet to consummate their marriage.

Upon entering his bedchamber Gang Li Hung turned to face his mother, using is hands to communicate he responded firmly, //Mother we have had this discussion already, I do not wish to bed Zhang Wu Shu. I've known her since we were children, I do not possess those type of desires towards her. The only reason I had agreed to marry her was for the sake of the empire, please do not ask more of me//, Gang Li Hung pleaded.

A young man of only twenty-one prince Gang Li Hung was a rare sight indeed, his fiery golden like eyes, with snow-white hair and skin, made him an out-worldly beauty. Born an alpha with the birth ability to control the air he was given the people's name of "Bài Tiānshî" meaning 'white angel', but he's also known by a more unpleasant calling "Sairentowan" meaning 'silent one', for the prince has never spoken a single word since the day he was born, and was well known for his cold demeanour, only ever seen in the presence of his mother or personal guard.

Wang Lei Fu sensing Li Hung's intensions confronted her son, "Gang Li Hung, are you not being unjust to Zhang Wu Shu. From the day she was born, she has dedicated her life to becoming your wife and this empire's future empress. You must do right by her". Though empress Wang Lei Fu felt heavy in her heart having had her only son marry a person he didn't love, they were left with really no other alternative. The Zhang Wu family knew of their secret, and for the past 150 years they have benefited from that secret.

Gang Li Hung sighed inwardly, his mother was always good at winning his favour, but he refuses to yield on this matter. He has already betrayed that person by marrying Zhang Wu Shu, if he does any more, he doubts he could in all right conscience seek them out and in return ask for their heart. //mother please don't ask for which I cannot give, please//, he pleaded hoping she would have pity on him.

A sudden sadness overcame Wang Lei Fu, taking her hand to stroke the soft white hair hanging loosely at Li Hung's shoulders, she inhaled sharply, fighting back the tears which dared to come she gently spoke, "son am no longer asking as your mother but as the empress of these lands, do not anger the Zhang Wu family any further, lay with Zhang Wu Shu even if it is once, I'll have everything arr..."

//MOTHER NO!// Gang Li Hung signed firmly with his hands, a stern look appeared on his face as he opposed strongly to his mother words. Though no words escaped his mouth, his sudden change in demeanour was enough to convey his feelings.

Startled by Li Hung's reaction, Wang Lei Fu was none-the-least surprised, for she knew Li Hung had set his heart on changing his faith. However, this was something Wang Lei Fu no longer believe he could do. There was once a time she had hope and believed he would succeed where others had failed, but times have changed and with the throne on the verge of being ripped from them, she had little time to indulge in fruitless fantasies.

Having had enough, Wang Lei Fu stood firm and again continued in a more serious tone, "I have given you enough time, I have to think of not just you but the people of Zoulta. I will have Zhang Wu Shu sent to you tomorrow, be ready to accept her and this time don't try any of your little tricks". She cautioned Li Hung harshly.

Felling wronged Gang Li Hung tried to reason with his mother //… But Moth…//

"Enough!....the decision is final, you will bed Zhang Wu Shu tomorrow!", Wang Lei Fu said sternly before storming out of Gang Li Hung's bedchamber.

On the other side of the door, stood await and listening was Haruto Toshiaki the long-time friend and personal guard of prince Gang Li Hung. Once he was sure that the empress was out of view he knocked three times on Li Hung's bedchambers, it was a secret code used between the two, since very few knew of Li Hung's secret.

Having made himself known, Haruto Toshiaki waited for a response and after a long pause the sound of someone knocking twice could be heard coming from within Li Hung's bedchamber. Upon hearing this, Toshiaki entered, "Your majesty?" he called before immediately going to bow his head, to which Li Hung waved his hand in a dismissive manner, stopping him.

//why do you always do that when we're alone?// Li Hung asked, still slightly frustrated at his earlier encounter with his mother.

"My apologise your majesty" replied Toshiaki walking closer to come face to face with Li Hung who was seated at a nearby desk at the far end of his grand room. "I heard what your mother said, will you do as she has asked?" he questioned, somewhat worried, for he knew of Li Hung's true intensions.

Gazing at the tall and well-built man with peacing brown eyes infront of him, Li Hung pondered on his question, 'how do I get out of it this time?' he thought to himself.

"Yo….your majesty?" Toshiaki called out after a long time had passed, pulled from his thoughts, Li Hung smiled slyly, //we'll do what we always do Toshiaki// he replied.

Toshiaki frown slightly, "your majesty, do you really want to go against your mother?... She's one of the strongest female alphas I know an...and...let's be honest she's not the best when angered….why…. Don't we just do as she requests? If I recall, last time she nearly killed one of her beta chamber maids when she transformed into her wolf form and created a sandstorm with her abilities, upon hearing you had done another one of your tricks to avoid princess Zhang Wu Shu…. Your majesty she is your wife and a husband must lay with his wife must he not" Toshiaki fruitlessly tried to make his friend see sense.

Looking somewhat defeated and annoyed, Li Hung sighed, //in that case, why don't you take her Toshiaki?// he suggested frustratingly.

A shocked Toshiaki choked on his saliva, "cough…. Cough…. Your majesty don't make such crude statements, if others were to hear you they would think very little of princess Zhang Wu Shu. Your majesty I know your intensions but does that mean you have to ignore princess Zhang Wu Shu, many emperors and kings have many wives at once, am sure the one you hope to find will be none-less concerned with whom you have bedded before them, so why save yourself for that one?". Toshiaki questioned, he was always curious as to why Li Hung's refuses to lay with princess Zhang Wu Shu, as the future emperor he can have as many concubines as he pleases, in-fact it was a requirement, so why is this future emperor so set on hiding his manhood away till he finds that one.

//Toshiaki not everyone wants to just plough the field with just anyone, before I do that, I want my first time to be with the one I care for deeply, is that too much to ask, I want that person to know they're my first for everything. I simply can't give that away to Zhang Wu Shu not when I don't feel for her in such manner//, Li Hung adamantly defended himself.

Turning away to look outside at the distance of the bright and beautiful Chen Xing palace garden, Li Hung thought through clenching fits of his other reason for refusing Zhang Wu Shu, and it was 'I truly despise her and her family'.

Seeing that Gang Li Hung was adamant in his decision, Toshiaki accepted defeat, "In that case I will make the arrangements your majesty… I will also see to it that our other plans are still underway, is there anything else you would like your majesty" asked Toshiaki who didn't receive a response from an absentminded Li Hung, "very well I will take my leave your majesty" and with that Toshiaki left a dazed Li Hung gazing seamlessly out the window.