A/N didn't really editÂ å§ but its a long chapter <33
The mountain incident had not even settled down when another event had the court roaring with gossip. This time, it involved the ever lurking country of Gongzhuan. Although they had been defeated in battle, their ruthless and cold-hearted tendencies were not to be underestimated; their great general was even alive and well... Even the Great War had ended mostly in order to bring a halt to the people's suffering and even then, Gongzhuan had barely surrendered. That is to say, their poor geographical region lent to the days of peace for Qiangda citizens as it meant that Gongzhuan recovered a lot slower from the war than they did. Although that meant that Gongzhuan would still eventually recover, Qiangda was also advancing in the meantime. There was no need to worry...for the time being.
Thus, Gongzhuan's action of sending over a diplomat to perhaps, just a little, introduce the idea of cooperation, was not well met. The intentions were fine, but the attitude was definitely too arrogant! Not to mention, the one coming over wasn't some Gongzhuan great official, but the devilish general that had slain a good portion of their brothers. The fallen soldiers must be turning in their graves!
The angry whispers resonated around the spacious and grand room. The king sat seated on his dragon throne, lazily watching the discussions below. Although his posture was relaxed, his aura was not to be mistaken. Liu Qingyuan glanced up at him from his position at the bottom of the podium. It was a little interesting to see Jiang Zhilan this serious. But it made sense; after all a diplomat from another country, abet an enemy country, was not something to play around with.
Abruptly, the wide doors blew open. Haloed by the blinding sunlight, a graceful silhouette appeared. Unlike the officials who were stunned into silence and craning their necks like gossiping aunties, Liu Qingyuan kept his head down. He listened to the soft patter of their footsteps upon the central aisle. It only took these light sounds for him to know who was walking into the room at that very moment.
Mo Wu's aloof figure made his way down the center of the mass of officials. He could clearly sense the livid anger and rage from some of them, yet the slight tilt of his lips stayed steady upon his mouth. He wore yet another black outfit, enhancing the lines of his slim but powerful body. The sword he clutched in his hand was clearly a decorative one but Liu Qingyuan knew that he'd have no problem utilizing it if needed. That or, he'd coated the blade in poison. That signature black half mask covered his face, lending an air of cruelty and murder to his lofty features. Two servants followed after him, bearing trays with covered parcels.
Mo Wu stopped right in front of Liu Qingyuan and yet, didn't give him as much as a glance. His lips curled upwards in a polite smile and he inclined his head. "Gongzhuan's General Mo greets Your Majesty, King of Qiangda." He lazily waved a finger and the two servants scurried forward. "Forgive me for these humble gifts." The veils were lifted and two elegantly carved boxes were displayed. The boxes were then opened, displaying a large piece of exquisite jade in one and a large pearl in the other. From the lustre, it was a 'dragon' pearl from the west sea. Although it wasn't extraordinarily rare, they were hard to come by. 'Humble' as a description really wanted to make one spit a fountain of blood.
Jiang Zhilan smiled lightly. "No worries, they are all very excellent gifts. I have bothered you."
"It is my honour." Both men fought in a language unknown to others; bared teeth hidden behind false smiles. Alas, Mo Wu was truly an expert in this field and after a while, Jiang Zhilan couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. What was the meaning behind sending a legendary general as diplomat? Was it truly just an unconscious mistake or...did it mean war? The king shook his head mentally. It had only been a little while. Sending such a diplomat...the meaning couldn't be determined this early on.
Amidst this tense back-and-forth, the Eldest Prince, Jiang Baiyi observed the newcomer from his position one level lower from the king. His gaze was profound as he watched Mo Wu, just like everyone else. The look in his eyes wasn't arrogant and domineering, instead, a little curious. The failed assassination during the autumn hunt was like a thorn in Jiang Baiyi's side. Although a failure wasn't horrible, it still left another trace of his intentions on the physical world. Information passed through people's eyes, ears and brains and spewed out of their mouths uncontrollably and unexpectedly. After all, without the iron will of a god, people could be coerced one way or the other. If someone from Gongzhuan was the one to kill his brother, then the throne would be his, like it'd rightfully always had been. And, he could find an excuse to go to war with Gongzhuan and crush them like his brother had been too weak to do. Jiang Baiyi secretly sneered at that lofty figure on the throne, his eyes containing unfathomable hatred.
After more pleasantries were exchanged, the king got people to guide General Mo to a nice room where he could rest after his long journey. As Mo Wu turned to go, his and Liu Qingyuan's gazes collided. Liu Qingyuan pressed his lips into a straight line, hand tightening fractionally around his sword. Mo Wu's eye lashes trembled, taking in that action without even a glance. His smile merely deepened and he swept his eyes past as if Liu Qingyuan was a stranger. Amusing. Truly so.
On his dragon throne, Jiang Zhilan watched the general leave, a complicated expression in his eyes. The moment the big doors closed, every official turned to the podium, mouths opening to express a torrent of opinions. Before anyone could speak, Jiang Zhilan raised a hand. "Court is adjoined." There was no room for argument. Jiang Zhilan got up and retreated through the back passageway, Eunuch Shuang hurrying after him. After retracting a distant gaze, Liu Qingyuan followed them too.
Once in the back room, Jiang Zhilan supported himself on the table. Eunuch Shuang rushed forward worriedly but he waved him off. That short conversation had made him mentally exhausted. After all, a diplomat arriving so low-key; who knew how many days he'd wandered their nation before presenting himself before the king? Liu Qingyuan was a little distracted and stood stiffly off to the side. His master coming here...it couldn't be that he was still displeased right? But he obviously could have stayed low-key and discreet but he had instead presented himself as a diplomat; a position that incited great fanfare.
Jiang Zhilan straightened up, slowly looking towards that handsome guard. One who was obviously thinking about something important, judging by the deep furrow in his brow. He felt a little uncomfortable. That incident with the Qiangda flower so long ago; he still hadn't forgotten it. But no matter how much he tried to bury it in his heart, Jiang Zhilan knew he couldn't pretend forever.
He'd always wondered why Liu Qingyuan, a man sent to assassinate him, would dilly-dally for so many days and stay with him this whole time. He'd gradually discovered that although they each had their own burdens and responsibilities, they were still quite similar at heart. Forced to grow up too quickly. Maybe it was this curiosity about the world that had led Liu Qingyuan to muddle his actions, but Jiang Zhilan knew that a Gongzhuan diplomat showing up in his court wasn't any good news. Even if he didn't want to consider the possibility, it wasn't entirely impossible that Liu Qingyuan was from Gongzhuan. He discretely shook his head. He'd find a chance later to ask him before he assumed anything. In such a treacherous landscape such as this, it wouldn't do to cut off your own allies before you knew the truth. Even so, Jiang Zhilan couldn't suppress the matter any longer. He needed to consider it seriously.
Jiang Zhilan lowered his head before Liu Qingyuan's sharp senses could perceive his gaze, even in his dazed state. Liu Qingyuan accurately raised his head, but the king's gaze was out of reach by a step. His gaze was piercing for a moment.
"Your majesty, do you want to go back?"
"Mm."
The trio exited the back room of that palace and made their way across the palace to the king's study. This building was no less grand, if a little smaller. Jiang Zhilan directly seated himself at his desk and started to go through all the documents piled in this space. He kept getting interrupted as servants pulled him away to inquire about certain aspects of the banquet tonight. For somebody as high-profile as a Gongzhuan representative, a proper welcome was in order.
At the end of the day, the pile of documents on the desk didn't seem to have reduced even a bit. Jiang Zhilan collapsed in his chair exaggeratedly. It was a king's duty, yet he wasn't the least bit concerned about complaining about it in front of Liu Qingyuan; despite the grievances his heart held towards their unique situation.
Jiang Zhilan had left himself enough time to rest a little before the banquet actually started, but looking at the documents in front of him, he couldn't help but feel even more tired. He was crumpled undignifiedly in his rounded wooden chair, his eyes closed. Liu Qingyuan glanced over as the silence stretched longer. The king looked ready to fall right asleep, but it was really unbecoming in such a messy pose.
"Your majesty..." Jiang Zhilan didn't reply. "Your majesty."
"Hmm?" He mumbled lazily.
"If you need to rest, you should rest over there. The chair isn't good for your back." In one of the side rooms of the study, partitioned off by half a bookcase and a couple gauzy curtains, there was a soft couch entirely for resting purposes. The king didn't even open his eyes, denying the space even a single glance. "Tired..." He mumbled.
"..."
Jiang Zhilan opened his eyes at the touch on his forehead. He reached up, grasping that hand in his own. Liu Qingyuan went to retreat but Jiang Zhilan held fast. "What are you doing?" Liu Qingyuan was silent for a moment.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Jiang Zhilan let his hand go in embarrassment. Maybe he was exaggerating too much.
"..."
"Mm." Liu Qingyuan managed to retract his hand as the king straightened up and sheepishly scratched his head. He watched him, hesitating for a fraction of a second. Contrary to the king's expectations, what followed next was the soft clack of Liu Qingyuan's sword as he set it down on the edge of his desk. Instead of retreating back to his usual position, Liu Qingyuan moved behind him.
"What are you-" The king attempted to follow him with his gaze, but Liu Qingyuan firmly pushed his head back around. His next words were cut off when deft fingers fell upon his shoulders and kneaded the troubled muscles. The king sat quietly, his eyelids slowly drooping in pleasure. Those long, white fingers wrinkled the silk of his clothing like it was nothing, pressing lightly in the right places. Liu Qingyuan's hands moved upwards, thumbs sliding against the back of his neck while the rest of his fingers caged the king's throat.
"Feel good?"
"Hmm," Jiang Zhilan hummed satisfactorily, acting like a limp doll under his hands. The warmth from Liu Qingyuan's hands felt comfortable and Jiang Zhilan leaned to the side, his head resting on Liu Qingyuan's arm. Liu Qingyuan was a bit helpless. He couldn't smoothly move without jolting the king and besides, he looked like he was about to fall asleep.
"Your majesty," Liu Qingyuan withdrew his hands, reaching out instead to support Jiang Zhilan's drooping head. "The banquet..." Jiang Zhilan finally raised his head; abet, a bit regretfully. He stretched, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I didn't know you had such deft fingers. Do it for me in the future."
"...As your majesty wishes."
âââââ
The banquet had long since ended and the king had retired to his quarters. Liu Qingyuan silently changed directions, his feet carrying him towards his master's temporary quarters instead of his own. As he crouched on the clay tiles to scrutinize the rounds of the guards, Liu Qingyuan has a fleeting sense of familiarity. He still remembered when he'd quietly watched the king's quarters this way, hoping to find a clue about the mythical Qiangda flower. Now that he'd found it, there was no need to do it anymore. It was just that he'd encountered an unprecedented obstacle.
Liu Qingyuan flipped off the roof, landing near silent on the decorative beds of white rock. At the other end of the path, the watchman's lamp glowed warmly. He crept quickly across the open space, sinking into the shadows of the building. Liu Qingyuan glanced around, noting the window that was open a hair's-breadth. He reached up, pulling his body up with him and swinging fluidly into the open space.
Mo Wu sat at the centeral table, the lamp still lit despite the late hour. He blew calmly on his tea, not flinching in the slightest at Liu Qingyuan's abrupt and silent entrance. Instead, it was Liu Qingyuan who was slightly startled.
"Master..."
"You're finally here." Mo Wu set down his teacup after a few minutes. He raised those wolf-like eyes and glanced at him briefly. Liu Qingyuan hesitantly sat, his eyes glued on his master's face to divulge as much information as he could. "Go on," Mo Wu said leisurely. "Ask away."
The question that had been at the tip of his tongue since he first saw Mo Wu today finally tumbled out. "What are you doing here?" Although the question sounded demanding, it was delivered rather quietly and hesitantly. Mo Wu smiled at his words, eyes still focused on his tea.
"What? Am I not allowed to be here?"
"..." They both knew that wasn't what Liu Qingyuan meant but it wasn't like he could follow up with those exact words. Not considering the rudeness of it (in Liu Qingyuan's mind), the atmosphere was already like this; it'd be like adding oil to the fire.
"Right," Mo Wu said suddenly. Although he was Liu Qingyuan's master, his immortal appearance was still young. "I owe you an explanation." The sarcasm was present in his drawling tone. "I came because I wanted to make sure you were all right. The timeline was a bit off." He looked up smilingly but Liu Qingyuan felt shivers down his spine. "What about you?"
Liu Qingyuan inadvertently lowered his head from that frigid gaze. It was true that he had found the Qiangda flower; contrary to Mo Wu's expectations of him. But he hadn't taken any other action. That was what was delaying everything.
"Hmm?" Mo Wu tapped the rim of the teacup rhythmically. "Didn't you promise this master the last time we met? I even saved your life." Right. Mo Wu had gone to that courtesan house in the middle of the night and stuffed that small pill in his mouth. It'd cured the poison from the accursed hunting trip fiasco and Liu Qingyuan was yet again indebted to him.
Liu Qingyuan didn't try to make any excuses and just directly said. "I've failed you." Finally, that wolf-like grin revealed itself, ominous and foreboding.
"You've admitted it." In the dim light, a touch of madness appeared to glimmer in Mo Wu's eyes. Mo Wu stood and directly slapped Liu Qingyuan across the face. Liu Qingyuan's head jerked to the side but he made no sound, grimacing as the copper taste of blood filled his mouth. "I warned you.' Mo Wu's tone was venomous. "And you still didn't listen." Liu Qingyuan clenched his hands in the fabric of his knees, jaw tight with pain. He could feel heat rise to his cheek where his master had hit him.
A hand touched his chin and Liu Qingyuan jolted out of his daze. Mo Wu lifted his face, expression neutral, seemingly examining the already bruising skin. Liu Qingyuan glanced up at him, eyelashes flickering. "I'm doing it for you. I'm protecting you." Mo Wu looked him straight in the eye. Liu Qingyuan glanced away a second later and felt the hand at his chin drop away. 'Forget it," Mo Wu sneered. "It's better to correct you and have someone else take on the job."Â Liu Qingyuan jumped at those words.
"Someone...else?" He felt a trace of panic and helplessness. If someone else got the job, he'd really have no control in the situation. At that time, the life and death of Jiang Zhilan would be in the hands of someone else.
There was a small movement in the corner of the room and Liu Qingyuan stood, hand on the hilt of his sword. Mo Wu, who hadn't even moved, waved him down and gestured to the person who'd just appeared. "Your shimei." His eyes held a fervent passion that Liu Qingyuan hadn't seen directed at anyone but himself; that is, when he was the perfect disciple. Now...that wasn't the case.
The female was dressed familiarly head-to-toe in light, black clothing. She hooked a finger into the complicated array of cloth at her face and pulled, revealing features that shook Liu Qingyuan's heaven and earth. He was stunned. The girl before him â his shimei â was none other than Yan Li, the second consort of Qiangda.
"You-"
"Shifu, shixiong." She bowed respectfully, her gaze devoid of any emotion; like always. Liu Qingyuan's brow was furrowed, trying to calculate the timeline. If Yan Li was his shimei, she must have been cultivated by his master. But she had already been present in the palace for one or two years before his master sent him on this mission. Did that mean she'd just been a spy? Or had his master planned this from the beginning?
In this den of wolves, no one showed their true emotions on their face. "How about it?" Mo Wu's posture was casual but he was carefully observing his disciple's (LQY) face. "She'll take over for you and you can come back to Gongzhuan with me. Ah-Yuan, you've done the hard work."
At the affectionate address that he hadn't heard since he was a child, Liu Qingyuan's heart trembled. His master really was a good person, having taken the pains to raise him, a beggar boy, for so many years. But in light of his new worldview and the new things he had experienced in his journey to this point, he still managed to squeeze out the words, "Won't it be strange if I just disappear?" He was the king's personal bodyguard after all.
"We can fake your death."
"But..." Mo Wu raised an eyebrow.
"Still disagreeing?" Liu Qingyuan felt anxious inside. He was stuck in a dead end. From the way things were going, he'd be carted back to Gongzhuan with his master and the king...his fate unknown. He didn't know what this new feeling was, but he instinctively felt that he couldn't leave this place no matter what. If he did, everything would be over.
Mo Wu, who had already had doubts in his heart, was merely playing his disciple. At the critical moment, he offered a lifeline. "What is it? You still want to prove yourself?" Like a drowning man at sea, Liu Qingyuan grasped the main point and stood, bowing low.
"This disciple hopes master will grant me this chance."
"Mm." Liu Qingyuan looked up, a little surprised in his heart. After all this back and forth, it was so simple? His gaze became a touch more guarded. Unknown to him, it really was this easy. Mo Wu was a man as cunning as a snake. No favour came without a price. He narrowed his eyes, lip curling imperceptibly at the touch of surprise on his disciple's face. The little white rabbit he'd raised was becoming ungrateful.
After a few more lines of conversation, Liu Qingyuan left. The moment it became just the two of them, Mo Wu's eyes went frigid. Liu Qingyuan was the apple of his eye after all, but that wasn't the point. He turned to Yan Li's docile figure, her head down, gaze blank and awaiting her master's orders.
"Do it." Yan Li only questioned this simple order for a second. Her master wanted her to take over her shixiong's mission, even if her master had just supposedly given him another chance. Frankly, if not this, then what?
"Yes," Those few words were exchanged and suddenly, the lively room was cold again, a single lone figure clad in black left to sip tea in the dim light of the lamp. Strangely, his figure didn't seem lonely or sad, instead an edge of danger rang through the air, as sharp and still as the cold night wind.
âââââ
"Say it again louder!" Jiang Baiyi threw down the porcelain cup in his hands, wine scattering across the floor with the shards. The servant on his knees trembled, feeling as if the king of hell was breathing down his shoulder.
"This-this afternoon, I lost my-"
"Do you think this prince cares about that?!"
The servant hurriedly kowtowed. "This servant begs forgiveness!"
"Just hurry up and speak!"
After forcing himself to swallow his fear, the servant tremblingly opened his mouth and continued to explain. "I was looking for it at night and I saw someone go into...into General Mo's room..."
Jiang Baiyi sneered. Where was it uncommon for a beauty to accompany a man? "Just take him out and kill him!"
"Ah! Have mercy! Have mercy! This servant-" He panicked. "It was a man!" Jiang Baiyi was a little stunned but he still looked on with disgust.
"You dare waste this prince's time?!" The servant kowtowed frantically.
"This servant dares not! It's just...they only seemed to be talking and then the man left and I saw his face!"
"Oh?" Jiang Baiyi waved his hands and the guards let go, the servant man falling in a pitiful heap onto the ground. "Say it quickly, who was it?" The poor servant racked his brain frantically. The palace was so big and there were so many people.
"He...he appeared to be...the b-bodyguard by his majesty's side..."
After a pause, Jiang Baiyi's lips curled up slowly. Interest sparked in his dead gaze. "You mean to say, it was Liu Qingyuan?"
The servant paused, not knowing if that was the name of the guard by the king's side. "Sho-should be..."
Jiang Baiyi's smile deepened.