Chapter 10*

Zixuan looks at the dead body of the attacker with a serious face. "So , you are saying Yang Xi is threatening you to stay away from Xingchen ? And also he tried to murder Xingchen because you ignored the threat ?"

Zemin nods beside Zixuan. "Yang xi got away with two murders, Zixuan. One or two more is not a big deal for him."

"But why is he doing this ? I mean what's his profit in keeping Xingchen away from you ?"

"I don't know." Zemin sighs "but there is someone inside the palace who is giving him news. A spy. Otherwise how would he know that Xingchen agreed to marry me at the last moment."

Zixuan looks directly at Zemin's face now "Is it the only reason you didn't repeat the vow ?"

Zemin nods "I can't risk Xingchen's life."

"Then why did you let him take the vow ? You could've said no even before he walked down the aisle ?"

Zemin stays silent for sometimes "I... wanted him... He is my concubine now. He is... mine."

"That was a very cowardly move. You humiliated him and ..."

"What else could I do ? Reject him after he finally agreed to marry me ? Then what, watch him falling in love with someone else , marrying someone else ?" Zemin asks a little frustrated.

"Is he going to love you after what you did to him ? What made you think that he wouldn't fall in love with someone else ?"

Zemin shrugs "he is mine..already."

Zixuan takes in a deep breath. He can't argue with Zemin. Zemin's logic and his logic never comes to one end. "Take care of your injury. I will look for the spy. You look for Yang Xi and his motive."

Zemin nods "Thanks."

Zixuan turns to leave but then he remembers something "Xingchen asked me not to move his bedchamber to your courtyard."

"Huh ? Why ?"

***

"You already know the reason" Xingchen replies casually. He didn't expect Empress Yuzu would ask him something' like this "I agreed to marry Zemin, because I wanted to stop him. But I couldn't."

"And ? He is already your husband, Xingchen ? Don't you have any feelings for him ?"

Xingchen shakes his head firmly "I have no feelings for him. I don't even respect him as a person. Whatever I am doing, is because of my responsibility towards Zi kingdom."

Yuzu frowns "Is it ?"

Xingchen nods.

Yuzu blinks. "By doing this, you will push Zemin towards Yaad. You know that right ?"

"Don't worry, empress Yuzu.I will not let any of their schemes succeed."

Yuzu sighs "I am not talking about schemes, Xingchen. Not everything is about schemes...

Do you remember ? How I drugged to whole palace once, how I lied about being sick, how I fooled the shadow guards to know his highness's whereabouts ... I schemed so many times. Do you consider me as a bad person ? Do I not deserve your trust ?"

Xingchen widens his eyes "no ..empress, you did all those because you love his highness."

Yuzu nods "that's the thing, Xingchen. We Don't always judge a person by his actions, sometimes we need to know the reasons too. I schemed because I loved Zixuan, Zemin schemed because..

"He never loved anyone, empress. He doesn't know what love is." Xingchen cuts Yuzu.

"Yes ! That's the reason. He did all the..."

"Empress Yuzu !"

Yuzu stops in the middle hearing his name from the entrance. He turns around "Zemin ..."

Zemin walks in with a questioning gaze. "Is there any problem ?"

"Why would there be ?" Xingchen retorts rudely.

Yuzu sighs. No point of talking really. "No problem. I was just passing by. You two talk, I am taking my leave."

***

"You left ? Without convincing ?"

"I tried my best. Also Zemin came. I can't interfere anymore." Yuzu replies to Zixuan.

"That's what I told you. We shouldn't interfere in their married life. But you ..."

"You don't know. I can see the consequences. That's why I am worried." Yuzu pouts.

"Too much worried, according to me."

Yuzu shakes his head "not too much. It's been two years Zemin is living with us. Tell me honestly, in this two years .. have you ever seen father Tao interfering in Ze-min's life ? Never.

Zemin got sick. Father Tao came once, gave instructions to healer and left. Zemin got married, Father Tao sent a gift, said congrats and left. Zemin didn't repeat the vow, father Tao didn't even ask what's the problem ?

Is this the behaviour of a person who raised him for twenty years ?"

Zixuan smiles softly at concern Yuzu "I know , it's not."

"Father Tao never loved Zemin. Can't you see it ? He just took him because of the late emperor. I even have a feeling that he doesn't like Zemin because he came from Empress dowager." Yuzu sighs.

Zixuan nods again. He already knows what Yuzu is saying. In fact this is the reason why he easily forgave Zemin. There is something in Zemin that wants to beg for love but doesn't know how to beg."

"When Zemin escaped , he never sent a notice to Zi palace. He never ..."

"Yuzu .." Zixuan cuts Yuzu's rants. "I know you are worried that Afreen will take advantage of Zemin's vulnerability. But trust me, I wouldn't let her succeed. When she comes out of prison using Yaad , I will handle her myself ."

"How ?"

"I have my ways. Just let her come out of the prison."

***

"Who said I want to come out of the prison?" Afreen yawns with a bored expression.

"Huh ?" Yaad looks at Afreen confused.

"It's not the time , my dear cousin. Right now, I will enjoy my lazy days in prison."

"I don't understand."

"I Don't reveal my death card unless I see the king of spades . You go back and enjoy your married life. No need to come here from tomorrow. I will inform you when it will be time for my death card."

***

Yaad comes out of the prison in a happy mood. He doesn't need to see the face of his ugly cousin from now on.

"What a good day today !" Yaad was about to sing a song when his eyes falls on his husband coming out of minister Xingchen's room with a ugly face. "Umm.., is there any problem , your highness ?"

Zemin looks up surprised. "Huh .. what are you doing here ?"

"I was visiting prison."

Zemin nods with a deep sigh "oh !"

"Is there any problem? Did you fight with minister Xingchen again ?"

Zemin frowns "what do you mean by again ?"

Yaad shrugs "You re fighting with him since our marriage. Otherwise, you wouldn't marry me. You said it yourself."

Zemin remembers his conversation with Yaad that day in the garden "oh yeah ! He doesn't want to shift with me as my concubine."

Yaad tilts his head "Then let him be. You can't force him."

Zemin takes in a deep breath "You ... What about your belongings?"

"Already in the main palace. I was just going back for lunch. Have you eaten yet ?"

Zemin shakes his head.

"Then let's go out. I am in the mood to have something delicious. Afreen asked me not to visit her. I am happy inside out."

"Not to visit ?"

"Yeah ! Kind of .. she is lazy to meet me everyday."

Zemin tilts his head "About your visit to Afreen , I have some questions. Were you ...

"Let's talk while eating." Yaad cuts Zemin's words while pulling his hand to drag him.

Yaad walks beside Zemin with a smile. Zemin follows Yaad eventually. He is hungry anyways.

After three steps Yaad slowly looks over his shoulder. If looks could kill, he would be dead by Xingchen till now.

But he is alive which means he can go against Xingchen but not Afreen. Afreen asked him to enjoy his married life. Which means, he can't risk his marriage with Zemin. Yaad looks at the front.

It's not his fault that Xingchen pushed Zemin away. If Xingchen plays his stupid game , then he has to face the stupid results."

***

Side story 2

"I will help you, if you help me."

"Help me with what ?" Zemin tilts his head.

"With whatever your mission is. I don't think you changed overnight , just like that. Doesn't your redemption sound like a story ? A cock and bull story !" Yaad questions.

Zemin laughs out loud "well ... Diamond cuts diamond .. huh .. ok .. deal. You help me , I will help you."

"Deal !" Yaad grins.

"But I don't need help in what you think. I am already an emperor. So there is no need to put extra effort in scheming. I need help in sometime else."

"What ?"

I like Xingchen and he somehow isn't ready to marry me. We are fighting."

Yaad frowns "Xingchen as in chief minister Xingchen ?"

"Yes ! I want him to be my empress or you can say my one and only. But I can't marry him at this moment. So, I want you as my fake consort." Zemin looks directly at Yaad.

Yaad takes some time to understand the situation "We will pretend like a married couple in public but we will not have any physical or emotional relation? Is it ?"

"Yes and also, when Xingchen agrees to be my consort, I will dismiss you as my consort. Do you agree ?"

Yaad takes in a deep breath "So, once you stop fighting with Xingchen, I have to leave ?"

"When Xingchen agrees , You can take one of my property and I will take care of your expenses for the rest of your life. But you have to quit being my consort.

Till then, you can be my consort and use the power that underlies within the power of the consort."

Yaad's eyes lit up hearing the condition "I agree. But don't forget about our deal. Even if you leave me, you have to bear my expenses. I have no one to bear my expenses and I am good for nothing. So ... You are taking a responsibility for the rest of your life."

Zemin raises his one eyebrow "I guessed it already that you are a free-loader."

"That's my insult. You can't insult your one and only consort like that."

"Fake consort." Zemin reminds him.

Yaad nods knowingly "yeah, yeah ! Fake consort."

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