The morning sun streamed through the windows of the royal palace, casting long shadows across the grand corridors as General Tian Yi made his way toward the king's private chambers. His steps were measured, as always, yet today they felt heavier—weighted not by armor or duty, but by the uncertainty that had gnawed at him since the rumors began.
Tian Yi had never been one to let rumors affect him. His entire life had been built on discipline, on training his mind and body to remain steady in the face of chaos. As a boy, he had been drilled endlessly by his father, a renowned general in his own right, who taught him that emotion had no place on the battlefield. Tian Yi had taken that lesson to heart, rising through the ranks of the military with unmatched focus and skill, always keeping his emotions under tight control.
But Zhihao—Zhihao was different.
The king had a way of getting under his skin, of stirring emotions that Tian Yi had long buried beneath layers of duty and restraint. And now, with the court buzzing about their ambiguous relationship, Tian Yi could no longer ignore the growing tension between them.
He had resolved to confront Zhihao, to clear the air and demand an answer. The rumors could no longer be left to fester, not when they threatened not only his reputation but the integrity of the military itself. His men had begun to whisper—about the king's intentions, about Tian Yi's supposed favoritism—and the weight of their doubt was becoming unbearable.
Yet even as he approached the door to Zhihao's chambers, his resolve wavered. There was something about Zhihao's presence that unsettled him, something more than just the king's beauty or charm. It was a feeling—a strange energy that seemed to surround the king, drawing Tian Yi in even as it set his nerves on edge.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself as he knocked on the door.
"Enter," came Zhihao's soft, melodious voice from within.
Tian Yi pushed the door open and stepped inside, his heart beating faster than usual. Zhihao sat at his desk, elegant as always, dressed in flowing robes of deep emerald that contrasted sharply with the light spilling through the window. His dark hair was neatly tied back, and his eyes—those piercing, enigmatic eyes—lifted to meet Tian Yi's with a smile that sent a flicker of something dangerous through the general's chest.
"General Tian Yi," Zhihao greeted him, his voice warm but laced with something unspoken. "You requested an audience?"
Tian Yi swallowed, trying to steady himself. "Yes, Your Majesty. I wanted to discuss... certain matters."
Zhihao's smile widened ever so slightly. "Of course. Please, sit."
Tian Yi took a seat across from the king, his posture rigid and formal. He had rehearsed this conversation in his mind countless times, but now that he was here, under the king's gaze, the words seemed to slip away like water through his fingers.
Zhihao, however, seemed perfectly at ease. He leaned back in his chair, his movements slow and deliberate, the faint scent of jasmine lingering in the air around him. His robes shifted slightly as he adjusted his position, revealing a hint of the pale skin at his collarbone. Tian Yi's eyes flickered to the exposed skin before he could stop himself, a sudden rush of heat flooding his veins.
But Zhihao, as always, appeared oblivious to the effect he was having. Or perhaps he wasn't oblivious at all.
"I assume you wish to discuss the military preparations," Zhihao said, his tone casual. "The situation with the Xu Kingdom grows more urgent by the day. Your latest reports have been... illuminating."
Tian Yi blinked, momentarily thrown off by the shift in topic. He had come here to discuss their relationship, the rumors swirling through the court, but Zhihao had steered the conversation toward military affairs as if it were just another day of strategizing.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Tian Yi replied, forcing his voice to remain steady. "We have identified several spies within the ranks, as you instructed. They've been quietly removed, and their interrogation has yielded valuable intelligence on Minister Feng's connections."
Zhihao nodded thoughtfully, his fingers tracing the edge of his desk in slow, deliberate movements. "Excellent work, General. We must continue to root out any traitors, especially now. Feng is growing desperate, and desperate men are dangerous."
The mention of Feng should have sharpened Tian Yi's focus, but instead, his mind was drifting. Zhihao's robes had shifted again, the fabric parting just enough to reveal more of his neck, and Tian Yi couldn't stop his gaze from lingering. The king's skin looked impossibly soft, the faintest pulse visible at his throat.
"Tian Yi?"
The sound of his name, spoken in that soft, velvety voice, jolted Tian Yi back to the present. He met Zhihao's gaze, feeling a surge of embarrassment as he realized he had been caught staring.
Zhihao's smile was still there, but there was something else in his eyes now—something knowing.
"Is there something else on your mind, General?" Zhihao asked, his voice low, almost teasing.
Tian Yi's heart raced. He had faced down armies, led men into battle, and stood before kings without flinching, but now, sitting here in this room with Zhihao, he felt completely unmoored.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Zhihao's gaze held him captive, a strange heat building between them as the silence stretched on. The tension in the room was palpable, thick and heavy, like the air before a storm.
"I..." Tian Yi began, his voice faltering. He couldn't find the words, couldn't articulate the confusion and desire swirling inside him. The king was toying with him, playing a game that Tian Yi didn't know how to win.
Zhihao rose from his seat, moving with the same graceful, almost feline fluidity that always seemed to unnerve Tian Yi. He crossed the room slowly, deliberately, until he was standing directly in front of the general, close enough that Tian Yi could feel the warmth of his body.
Zhihao tilted his head slightly, his dark hair falling over one shoulder as he regarded Tian Yi with a curious, almost predatory look.
"General," Zhihao said softly, "you seem distracted. Is there something you wish to ask me?"
Tian Yi's breath caught in his throat. His mind screamed at him to retreat, to regain control of the situation, but his body refused to move. The king's presence was overwhelming, intoxicating, and the subtle scent of jasmine only added to the heady mix of confusion and desire swirling in Tian Yi's chest.
"I..." Tian Yi tried again, his voice hoarse. "I wanted to ask... about the rumors."
Zhihao's expression didn't change, but his eyes gleamed with something dangerous, something hungry. "Rumors?"
Tian Yi clenched his fists, trying to keep his composure. "About us. About our... relationship."
There. He had said it. The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning, and for a moment, Tian Yi wondered if Zhihao would laugh, would dismiss it all as a misunderstanding.
But Zhihao didn't laugh. Instead, he smiled—slowly, seductively—and took another step closer.
"And what is it you wish to know, Tian Yi?" Zhihao's voice was barely above a whisper, but it sent a shiver down Tian Yi's spine.
Tian Yi felt the last of his restraint slipping. The proximity of the king, the heat of his body, the intoxicating scent of jasmine—it was all too much. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but only one truly mattered now: what was their relationship?
"I want to know... what this is between us," Tian Yi finally said, his voice raw with emotion. "What do you want from me?"
Zhihao tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question. For a long moment, he didn't answer. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, he reached up and placed a hand on Tian Yi's chest, his fingers splaying across the fabric of the general's uniform.
"It is whatever you want it to be," Zhihao whispered, his eyes never leaving Tian Yi's.
The words hit Tian Yi like a blow. Whatever I want it to be? What did that even mean? Was Zhihao offering him a choice, or was this just another one of the king's manipulations, a way to keep him tethered?
But before he could think any further, Zhihao leaned in, his lips brushing against Tian Yi's ear as he whispered, "But know this, General... I have no intention of being anyone's possession."
The words sent a jolt through Tian Yi's entire body, and before he could stop himself, he moved. His hands reached for Zhihao, pulling him closer, and in one swift motion, their lips met.
The kiss was electric, a spark that ignited something deep within Tian Yi that he hadn't known was there. It was fierce, passionate, and utterly consuming. His hands moved instinctively, one tangling in Zhihao's hair, the other gripping the fabric of his robes as if afraid the king might slip away.
Zhihao responded in kind, his lips soft yet insistent against Tian Yi's, his body pressing into the general's with a heat that sent waves of desire crashing through him. The kiss deepened, and Tian Yi felt his control slipping away, lost in the taste and feel of the king.
His hand moved from Zhihao's hair to his neck, fingers brushing over the smooth skin there, and then lower, to the delicate curve of his collarbone. Zhihao's robes had loosened during the kiss, the fabric slipping further to reveal more of his pale skin, and Tian Yi couldn't stop himself from kissing the newly exposed flesh.
Zhihao's breath hitched, and the sound only fueled Tian Yi's desire. He kissed his way down Zhihao's neck, his lips leaving a trail of heat in their wake. The scent of jasmine was stronger here, intoxicating, and Tian Yi felt his pulse quicken as he pressed his lips to the hollow of Zhihao's throat, tasting the warmth of his skin.
His kisses became more urgent, more desperate, and before he knew it, he had left a mark—a small, dark hickey just below Zhihao's collarbone. The sight of it sent a surge of satisfaction through Tian Yi, a primal instinct to claim the king as his own, if only for this moment.
But then, as his kisses grew more fervent, Zhihao's soft voice cut through the haze of desire.
"Tian Yi," Zhihao whispered, his hand resting gently on the general's chest. "You need to know... I'm not a man who belongs to anyone."
The words brought Tian Yi back to reality, like a bucket of cold water splashing over him. He pulled back slightly, his breathing ragged as he stared at Zhihao.
"I... I don't want to share you," Tian Yi said, his voice hoarse. "I don't want anyone else to have you."
Zhihao's eyes softened, but there was a knowing sadness there. "I am a king, Tian Yi. I cannot promise exclusivity, not in this world. There will be others, whether for political alliances or personal desires. I cannot be bound to one person."
Tian Yi felt his chest tighten with a mixture of jealousy and despair. He had fallen for Zhihao—completely, irrevocably. But he couldn't stand the thought of sharing the king, of knowing that others might one day hold Zhihao's affection.
"I need time," Tian Yi said, his voice strained. "Time to think."
Zhihao nodded, his gaze understanding but distant. "Take the time you need, General. I will not pressure you."
With one last lingering look, Tian Yi turned and left the room, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He had never felt so torn—between his duty and his desires, between his love for the king and the realization that Zhihao might never belong to him alone.
As he walked away from the king's chambers, the scent of jasmine still clinging to his skin, Tian Yi knew one thing for certain: his heart had been claimed, whether he liked it or not. And now, he had to decide what he was willing to sacrifice for that love.