"How has Yi-Yi been with that.... That scholar you pulled out from nowhere?"
Lady Shu was kneeling at the presence of the Emperor on his throne, as everyone also had. "Empress Wei is already showing signs of improvement. In just the first week, he had vomited less and gained his appetite a little. It is still not a total improvement, but things are looking hopeful, my Lord."
"And how did this scholar do it? What did he do that everyone else have not?" Emperor Zau frowned, rubbing his chin.
But this news did lighten up his mood a little. Not hearing Wei Wangyi's screams of pain and suffering each night had lessened the nightmares, and also made him hope that things will be restored as it should be.
Wei Wangyi will be restored to his former glory. He has to be.
After all, he was getting older, and so were other people who may have ambitions to usurp the throne. He needs to consummate their marriage sooner or later, and claim him before anyone dares to take him away.
"I asked, but the scholar merely said it was too complicated. He said it had something to do with an herbal concoction he makes, something with mushrooms, along with sugar cane."
"You have never seen him apply this herbal medicine?" The Emperor asked.
Lady Shu grimaced. She's an astrologer after all, not a doctor. Does he really expect her to understand medicine?
"I did..... But the process is too complicated for me to understand. I suggest the Emperor see for himself if you would like to find how he does it."
The Emperor raised his hand. "No need. What matters is that Yi-Yi is well. Call forth this scholar, I must speak with him."
As she left, a voice from the hallway suddenly said with a booming voice.
"That new scholar is quite special from the rest."
"How do you say so?" The Emperor turned to the sound of the voice.
From the shadows, a man stepped forward with not a single sound from his footstep. The only possible sound he could make was the rustling of his clothes, wrapped in very light armor not meant for the battle...
But for assassination.
"Ever since I saw him, I knew. He is not like anyone else."
-------------------------------
"The Emperor has summoned you, Scholar Ren."
The servants knew that this scholar was called Qing Guang, but they have always heard the Empress call him Scholar Ren, and so, they had copied him and called him that as well. The medicine scholar made no objections.
When they opened the door, he was placing some leaves over the Empress' bare shoulders, and feeding him some kind of soup.
He seemed very focused on doing this task, though his hand faltered a little whenever he actually touched the Empress' skin, a small flash of pink spreading on his face.
He faltered, mouth turning into an 'O'. "Me?"
"Yes. He requires your presence in the throne room."
"Go now, Scholar Ren. My husband's temper is known throughout Great Zau, you must not test his patience." Empress Wei pulled his sleeve back up and fixed his robes. "I'll finish the soup you made for me."
Ren Jidian bowed. "If you say so, Your Majesty...."
He followed after the servant to meet the emperor, his throat feeling a bit dry.
He had heard very heinous things about this man from Empress Wei. The horrific things he did would make you believe that demons exists, and this man could not have been a human, simply a demon wearing the body of one.
He never thought he would meet someone worse that Cao Hundan, or his own fiance, Huai Zhenji, but this tyrant made him realize how low and disgusting Alphas can be!
He utterly despises him! This man is an abuser to the highest degree, and Wei Wangyi did NOT deserve at all to be tormented by someone as vile as this.
So in his heart, he had a mixture of deep resentment and nervousness upon meeting the Emperor, and they mixed until it was obvious in the very way he walked and the expression he wore as he arrived in the court room.
When he looked up, his face was terribly cold. The murderous aura hanging on the air made the officials who were forced to keep kneeling and bowing down in the presence of the Emperor to look up.
These old men were mostly Yang and Zhong, and yet they were weakened by being forced to kneel and sit for long periods of time, and given so much paperwork that they would have no time to cultivate their bodies. Even they are fearful of the Emperor...
So when they say this Yin show not a single sign of fear in the face of this tyrant, they could not help but gawk at him in awe.
"You have summoned me, Your Majesty. Is there something the matter?"
Emperor Zau felt a grip on his heart at the tone of this disrespectful scholar. It was very cold, just like Wei Wangyi's former coldness, yet at the same time, also different.....
There was also hotness in them, a burning sensation. If a poet would describe this Yin scholar's tone, it was like a volcano capped in snow and covered in frost, but if you let its calm fool you, you would forget that deep down, it was full of magma that may break into the surface as an explosion!
No one could tell if it was truly just their imagination, or there really was an intimidating undertone in the way he speaks. The venom was too far hidden at the back of the snake's teeth.
"I simply want to check on my Yi-Yi's condition. When will he be well enough to not need medication."
(He dares call Empress Wei that nickname... I really want to slice his head off right now.) Ren Jidian thought in his head.
"I have only started medication, Your Majesty. His condition is not even completely stable yet. It is too early to tell." He said.
He then added, further courting death because of the fury in his heart. "Or is His Majesty just that impatient to get the Empress inside his bed chambers and make babies?"
"Speak with reverence when you talk to me, boy." Emperor Zau immediately stood up from his throne at the speed of light, unsheathing his sword and aiming it at Ren Jidian's thin neck.
"I'm in a good mood because of Yi-Yi's improvement, but if you speak to me like that again, I will slice your tongue off."
There was suddenly the sound of a man chuckling and clapping his hand. "Good show! Good show! My, this is the gutsiest display of bravado I have ever seen in my life.... and it came from a Yin!"
A man suddenly appeared beside Emperor Zau, so quick and agile like a cheetah, and placed a hand on the hot-headed emperor's shoulder.
"Give the new scholar some benefit of the doubt, Ah-Ting." The man said.
"Do not call me that, Uncle Song." Emperor Zau frowned.
He calls this man Uncle, but he actually looked too young to be one. He actually looks as old or younger than Emperor Zau, in fact.
Ren Jidian was confused by this, and he heard Lord Baphie speak in his head.
[This is Song Xiu. Adoptive son of former Emperor Zau Lou's third eldest cousin from the Empress Dowager's sister.]
Ren Jidian: ... .... ....
[ It is all a complicated affair and so he counts as Emperor Zau's Uncle despite being his age and not related by blood.]
Ren Jidian didn't really care about this, and just said it without sincerity. (Thanks for the info, Father.)
As the two talked mentally inside the scholar's head, Song Xiu continued to act as the knight-in-shining-armor on Ren Jidian's behalf.
"After all, isn't he doing his best to heal your beloved Empress? Without him, who knows what state Empress Wei would be right now? Probably would have withered away like a peach blossom in winter."
These words got into the Emperor, and he gritted his teeth. "You really know what to say to get me to do your bidding, Uncle. I regret ever talking to you."
Song Xiu just chuckled. "Haha, you needed a confidant, and I just offered my service. Is what I say not true?"
Emperor Zau was now angry at not one but two men, and the officials immediately feared that the throne room would be stained with blood again....
But he only lowered his sword, and went back to his seat with a huff. "Both of you leave my sight."
Song Xiu laughed again, just finding all of this so funny, and bowed politely to the Emperor. "Of course Ah-Ting. Maybe you should ask the scholar for something to calm your nerves later, hmm? We don't want your blood to deviate and flow backwards* in this upcoming war."
"One more quip from you, Uncle, and let's forget about ever being related." Emperor Zau answered back, only glaring scarily at the two.
But neither men were scared. Ren Jidian simply found both Alphas insufferable, and bowed as well without a word to go back to Empress' Wei's manor.
As he did, he felt the shadow-like Song Xiu following after him quietly, still wearing that eerie smile. He immediately felt a pit in his stomach similar to when he distrusts someone, and turned around.
"Is there something you need from me?" Ren Jidian asked with not a single politeness.
"Yes." Song Xiu said and just raised his eyebrows. "Your name, I'm afraid I have not known it yet."
"What do you need my name for?" Ren Jidian scoffed, and walked faster.
But Song Xiu managed to catch up to him---
And even held his wrist!
"I'm Song Xiu, the Emperor's second-in-command, and strategic advisor." He introduced himself.
Ren Jidian immediately swung his hand forward and punched him in the stomach!
"Leave me alone, you filthy Yang." He said coldly at Song Xiu who had collapsed holding his stomach, and even spat on the floor beside him.
Song Xiu just continued laughing even through the pain, as he watched Ren Jidian walk away with a brisk on his step that was unlike any Yin he met at all.
This one was really feisty, very much to his taste.
He was seen by a few female Yin servants who asked if he was alright, and he only continued to laugh and asked. "What is that scholar's name?"
"Qing Guang, sir." They answered.
"Song Xiu, Qing Guang. Is it Guang that means 'light'?" He asked.
"We..... We're not sure, sir. We're not literate, you see."
"Doesn't matter. I have chosen that it means 'light'." He grinned. "And I am 'darkness'. Don't we fit together perfectly? This must be fate."
The girls could not answer anything as the shady Yang man continued to giggle to himself as he walked, still clutching his stomach.
Some Yang men are just truly detestable!