chapter 28

"Is there anything wrong ?" Zemin asks in a hoarse voice early in the morning.

"Aahhhhh .. ouch !"

Xingchen glares as he pushes Zemin off the bed. "Don't you have any shame ? You are asking me what's wrong ? You went to a brothel last night !"

Zemin lies casually on the floor "I know that I went to a brothel. So what ? You said it yourself that Zi needs another heir !"

"Don't kid me , Zemin ! We can't have an heir form brothel !"

"Why not ? So many beautiful women are there ! I can easily take one or two concubines from there."

"No ! Have you gone mad ?"

"Why ? What's the problem ? It's not like we never had a woman from a brothel in our palace ! Jia-li was from there."

"Haven't you seen the mess she created in the palace ? She made empress Yuzu's life hell !"

"That's because she was jealous of Yuzu. My concubine wouldn't harm Yuzu !"

"What about me ?" Xingchen glares.

"Oh come on ! You are strong ! You are the chief minister of Zi. Nobody can bully you !"

Xingchen takes in a sharp breath "still no ! We are having women from decent family as your concubine!"

Zemin tilts his head. He thought Xingchen would understand after last night's drama. But it looks like ... Xingchen still wants to share his one and only husband.

"Zemin !"

"Hmm ?" Zemin raises his eyebrow.

"I said that I have already prepared a draft ! Would you look at it ?" Xingchen repeats his words.

"Draft of girls ?"

"Yes ! Some of them are princesses too. Beautiful, from the royal family and perfect to be your concubines !"

Zemin looks at scroll in Xingchen's hand "not perfect enough to be my legal wife ?"

"You said that you can only have one legal wife ? How can they be your legal wife ?"

Zemin shruggs. He is getting frustrated with Xingchen. They finally got the chance to be together after two life time and still Xingchen is determined to waste this chance "whatever ! Select whoever you like."

***

"He wasn't jealous? Not even a little bit ?" Yuzu asks in disbelief. "Wow !"

"I am getting tired." Zemin sighs with a irritated face. "I should have left! It was better option."

"Zemin, you know what you have a escapist personality. You schemes all your life to be the emperor. When you became one, you don't like the trouble, you want to leave it.

You loved Xingchen and almost died for him but when you finally got him, you don't like his tantrums, you want to leave him. Love doesn't work that way. You have to fight for your love."

"Wow empress Yuzu, thank you for the enlightenment. Problem solved I should go and marry whoever Xingchen wants as my concubine."

"Don't be rude to my husband. It's your husband who is creating the drama. Not mine." Zixuan sits beside Yuzu and hugs him from the back.

Zemin rolls his eyes "go , get a room."

"This is my bedchamber. You get out !" Zixuan hides his tired face on Yuzu's neck.

Yuzu hits Zixuan lightly "Zemin, I know you are upset but don't be so impatient. I will find a way. Don't worry !"

Zemin shruggs "I am not impatient. Who cares if I have to marry a whole new bunch of people. It's not like I haven't been in a relationship before. It's not big deal for me."

***

Yuzu turns to face Zixuan as soon as Zemin leaves the room "what Xingchen is doing , Zixuan ? He is pushing Zemin away for no reason !"

Zixuan nods "I know. But I can't do anything about it , Yuzu. It's his personal matter. I can"t interfere."

"What personal? He is doing it so that we can get another heir for Zi kingdom."

"Still, it's their husband and husband matter. Zemin is being frustrated , angry but he isn't putting his foot down either. Why can't he confess that he wouldn't marry anyone else ?"

"He is trying to please Xingchen, can't you see it. He wants Xingchen to be happy and satisfied." Yuzu argues.

"Then let him make Xingchen happy and satisfied." Zixuan grins "and you focus on me.  I ..want .. to ..be .. happy .. and .. satisfied ..too."

Yuzu blushes as he lies underneath Zixuan "pervert, I am worried about them. The candidates will be arriving tonight for selection."

"Hmm !"

"What hmm ? What will happen ? Zemin is already frustrated.."

Zixuan smirks "Don't worry ! Zemin wouldn't be this much frustrated after seeing the candidates. I have a surprise for Zemin."

"Surprise?"

***

"Surprise!" Xingchen was welcoming the candidates one by one when a girl suddenly came forward to close Zemin's eyes.

Xingchen stands up to pull out his sword. "Stand back !"

The girl takes a step back in fear.

Zemin turns around irritated "who.....

The girl smiles awkwardly "don't you remember me ?"

Zemin blinks "Tani ?"

The girl's eyes lit up "long time no see.. Zimi !"

Zemin laughs in disbelief "Tani ... Oh my god , how are you ... "

Tani was about to jump excitedlt towards Zemin but she stumbles on Xingchen's sword.

Zemin hurriedly pulls Tani away "are you ok ?"

Tani nods and looks at Xingchen.

Zemin turns at Xingchen too "Xingchen , meet Tani , Tanishy Mur , she is second princess of Mur kingdom. "

Xingchen frowns at Zemin. his eyes falls on Zemin's arms around the girl. He looks at Zemin's eyes with a questioning gaze.

Zemin gets the clue "father Tao is her god father. After Tani's father died, Mur kingdom was in chaos. So, she came to live with us when her brother fixed the situation. She stays with us almost ten years."

"We are childhood friends , aso best friends." Tani smiles "I am sorry minister Xingchen for creating this misunderstanding. I was just too excited since I got the invitation."

Xingchen frowns "I don't remember sending Mur kingdom any invitation?"

Tani blinks "huh ? B..but we received one. Am ...I not .. invited ?"

"What nonsense! You are always invited!" Zemin hurriedly chimes in.

Tani has a lot of insecurities since childhood. She was a princess of a fallen kingdom. People used to bully her. They used to treat her worse than Zemin. Being uninvited and unwelcomed is her worst fear.

Tani smiles thinly eyeing Xingchen 's facial expressions. Zemin panics "hey , let's meet my brother and Yuzu . And my son Zhan too. He looks exactly like me."

Tani's eyes lit up "I heard about your son. You didn't even write me a letter !"

Zemin chuckles "you have no idea ,how much trouble I faced , dear ! I almost died , can you imagine !"

"I can! Your fighting skills are shitty !" Tani giggles.

Xingchen frowns.

"Really ? Let's have a match then , tomorrow ! I will beat you this time !"

Tani folds her arms in front of her chest "overconfident is the key to defeat. I have trained all these years too."

"Trained in what ? Cooking ? I heard your cooking made entire Mur palace sick for three days ?"

"Those were rumours ! Nobody was sick for three days." Tani pouts.

Zemin laughs out loud.

"We still have to welcome others." Xingchen cuts the laugh with his sudden loud tone.

Zemin looks at the crowd of candidates "why there is so many ?"

"I send invitations to all the eligible candidates." Xingchen replies while eying the girl who surely lacks royal etiquettes.

"Ask them to leave. We already welcomed more than ten candidates. I will choose from them."  Zemin whispers.

"I haven't seen anyone good enough."

"Forgive my interference, but minister Xingchen you shouldn't judge anyone by their first look." Tani explains.

Xingchen's cold eyes fall on Tani "I hope princess Tanishy wouldn't teach me how to do my job ?"

"She isn't. But she is right. We have welcomed enough. Let's call it a day."

"Why ? Are you in hurry to go somewhere? Is something more important than ...."

"The selection process is completed. I thank you all for visiting and participating in this selection. Zi will remember you and your kingdoms in good wishes. Please be out guest for the night and enjoy the delicious meals we prepared especially for you."

Zixuan announces standing in front of Xingchen. He smiles at the crowd before turning to his back. "What were you two doing ? Fighting in the stage ?"

Xingchen lowers his head "I am sorry, your highness !"

Zemin apologies too.

Zixuan nods. "Now, go back to your duties. Our guests shouldn't be treated poorly."

Zemin nods. "I will be back after showing Tani her room."

Xingchen shoots a  look at Zemin. "I can handle on my own. I don't need your favor."

Zemin blinks. He looks at Xingchen's red face "what's wrong now ? Everybody is here because you wanted them here !"

Xingchen clenches s his jaw "no ! Not everyone is here because I wanted them. Someone is here because you wanted ..."

Xingchen stops in the middle. He looks at Zixuan "I will be back to my work, your highness !" He bows before walking out of the stage.

Zemin turns to look at Xingchen's back. He was about to run behind him but Yuzu suddenly jumps in front of him. "Take care of Zhan for me. I need to welcome so e guests as an empress !"

Zemin hugs Zhan in his arms "me ?"

"Or who ?he is your son too."

"But ..."

"What but ?" Yuzu smiles at Tani "miss Tani can help you too. Wouldn't you miss ?"

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