Although he did not possess any innate talent for cultivation, Liu Chengjiu continued visiting Xie Jianyu every day. He only returned to Shuiran Palace close to dinner ti.
Jiang Muchen had been gone for several days, thus the only ones to greet him upon his return were usually the palace staff and his younger brother, Liu Chengyun.
Today, when he stepped into the palace, the head servant approached him urgently.
"Young Master Liu, ah, an important guest has co. Please get ready to et him now."
Liu Chengjiu was naturally surprised to hear this plea.
"I am only a guest in Shuiran Palace," he pointed out. "I am not audacious enough to greet His Highness’s guests."
"Correct," so the head servant supplied. "But the thing is that the guest has been waiting for you to return for a long ti."
"..."
Liu Chengjiu bowed his head slightly.
"In that case, I shall greet him with haste."
"Yes, yes, please do so."
The head servant quickly scurried away, barking orders at a maid to do so chores. He didn’t even tell Liu Chengjiu who this important guest was.
Who could it be?
Who would even think of seeking him out?
The new Wuyang Palace Master...?
And for what purpose?
Liu Chengjiu knelt outside the audience room and spoke softly, "Servant Liu Chengjiu is here to answer Your Highness’s summon."
"Enter," ca the authoritative voice from inside.
Liu Chengjiu did not recognize the person from the voice.
Only after the door slid open and he caught sight of said person was he able to identify him.
"Your... Your Majesty!"
The Imperial Consort, Jiang Rufeng. Jiang Muchen’s venerable father, the forr Shuiran Palace Master.
It was evident that Jiang Muchen inherited his good looks from his father. The latter remained a dashing alpha despite his growing age.
"Rise," he said.
When he saw Liu Chengjiu tremble slightly on the ground, he began to giggle.
"What are you so afraid about? I didn’t co here to execute you. I am just here for a friendly chat."
Friendly chat?
What friendly chat?
Their social standing was as disparate as the heavens and the underworld.
The "friendly chat" was a thinly veiled display of authority, with one party clearly in a position of dominance.
Liu Chengjiu’s thoughts must be written all over his face, because Jiang Rufeng then said, "Co sit opposite . Stop bowing your head so I can take a good look at you."
"...!!!’
Jiang Rufeng’s words were like a silken caress, but Liu Chengjiu felt a chill creep down his spine. He rose to his feet, his movents clumsy and hesitant, as if walking through a minefield.
Once he sat opposite Jiang Rufeng, he no longer bowed his head but he still trained his eyes to the ground, afraid of offending the Imperial Consort with his unworthy gaze.
A soft sigh escaped Jiang Rufeng as he assessed Liu Chengjiu’s appearance.
There wasn’t much to admire, really.
The luxurious silk, though intended to conceal, only served to highlight the stark contrast between its opulence and the coarse, darkened skin beneath. It failed to mask his lack of any enchanting qualities.
"We t once, do you rember?" He gently asked.
Liu Chengjiu nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I saw you next to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor during the hunt."
"Exactly. In that case, have you guessed the reason of my visit this ti?"
Liu Chengjiu clenched his jaw and dug his fingernails into his thighs.
"Yes," he said. "This servant believes that it concerns His Highness the Shuiran Palace Master."
"Yes and no," Jiang Rufeng quipped, prompting Liu Chengjiu to look up in astonishnt.
"First and foremost, I am here for you. I would like to make you an offer."
Why, he even sounded similar to his son.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"I would like to offer you and your brother an employnt at the Golden Dragon Palace, serving directly in my palace. This way, you don’t have to go back to Wuyang Palace in sha and subject yourself to unnecessary abuse."
"..."
Liu Chengjiu swallowed hard.
"And... What does Your Majesty require of ?"
Jiang Rufeng gave him a casual shrug in reply.
"Not much. Just tell Muchen that you have reconsidered your position, and chosen to leave Shuiran Palace in favor of another opportunity."
"..."
Jiang Rufeng smiled.
"You see, my son inherited his stubborn feature from my wife. Once they stand against each other, neither heaven nor hell can make them budge.
I need you to give them a reason to stop this aningless feud."
"..."
But Jiang Muchen, he...
The alpha’s words echoed in Liu Chengjiu’s head, reminding him of the deal they closed.
"The way I see it, you and your brother need a safe haven, and I need a wife to stop my mother from pestering further.
So this can be considered a good deal for both of us, don’t you think so?"
Now Jiang Rufeng also offered him and his brother a safe haven. One where he did not have to be trapped inside the suffocating confines of a marriage that existed only in na. One that allowed him and his brother to live their lives freely.
But in return, the Imperial Consort wanted Liu Chengjiu to desert Jiang Muchen.
What was Jiang Muchen going to think about it?
Was he going to be upset...?
Was he going to be angry...?
He wasn’t going to be happy, that’s for sure.
A wave of suffocating tightness gripped Liu Chengjiu’s chest, and his heart seed to be crushed in a vice.
No, he told himself. You have given your word to Palace Master Jiang. You must keep your words.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty, but..."
Jiang Rufeng held a hand up to stop Liu Chengjiu from speaking further.
"No rush," he said. "You can take your ti thinking through this offer. Whenever you are ready, co to Golden Dragon Palace to find . If you don’t co, I will know that you reject my offer."
"... Yes, Your Majesty."
Jiang Rufeng rose to his feet, and so did Liu Chengjiu. Just before he left the room, he turned his head and said solemnly, "Ah, and one more thing. It might sound cruel, but I do hope that you won’t delude yourself with superfluous thoughts. My son has been and is deeply in love with the Crown Prince. You will be nothing but his plaything, a replacent for what he failed to get."
User Comments
0 comments from readers