chapter 26

Xingchen closes the letter and looks up at Zemin. "What should we do now ?"

"Rescue his sister!" Zemin looks calm.

"I am talking about San Yi ! Xi Lan would kill him once he finds out that .."

"He wouldn't. Xi Lan is arogant, conceited but he is not reckless. He wouldn't go against Zi directly." Zemin cuts Xingchen's words. He already guessed a foul play when San Yi wasn't in his room. So, he is not shocked that much.

"But what if ..." Xingchen stops in the middle "Aren't you worried ?"

Zemin turns at Xingchen casually "You have read the letter yourself. San Yi isn't the pitiful he pretends to be. He wasn't scared of Afreen, he just didn't know how to rescue his sister.

And now, he isn't scared of Xi lan either. He replaced lion's food from lion's cage in the presence of the lion's guards. The least you should worry about is San Yi's safety. He is just like my past self. He has his schemes!"

"But your schemes didn't work !"

Zemin shrugs"That's why I tried to rectify him but people like Xi lan deserves a scammer like San Yi.

"San Yi loves you."

"He really doesn't." Zemin chuckles "He thinks that he loves me because I am the first person who was nice to him after a long time. Just like the way I thought I loved Yuzu."

Xingchen frowns. He doesn't like how casually Zemin is taking this whole situation. "Then we should let him go ? Just like that ?"

"He will find his way. What we can do for him is take care of his sister." Zemin yawns. He is already tired of all the searching throughout the day. Then he just slept for an incense

When Xingchen came with the letter saying San Yi left with Xi lan.

He guessed it way before. Should've trusted his guts. He lies on the bed tiredly. He can't help buwonder what will happen to San Yi right now !

Xingchen sits on the bed beside Zemin's head. He doesn't know how he feels about San Yi's letter. But Zemin doesn't look bothered with it, neither he is bothered by their fight today. But Zemin has this unbotherness in him since forever.

Xingchen hesitates "You .. I heard you are leaving the palace for somedays ?"

"Hm, father Tao wants to go back to our old house. He had some arguments with the empress dowager. He wants to go back and live there. I will drop him off !" Zemin replies with closed eyes.

"How long will you be out ?"

Zemin opens his eyes to look at Xingchen this time "I asked Zixuan to take back southern Zi and rule all over like he used to before. I will be back to my business."

Xingchen blinks "you ... You are leaving ?"

Zemin nods. "This life is not for me. Life is better as a businessman! No trouble, no fight, no training. peace and money rolls in enough."

Xingchen clenches his fist "you can do it while staying in the palace too. You don't need to leave the palace."

"I already have a running business outside the capital. Why bother to struggle here ?"

"What about me ?"

"What ?"

xingchen pulls Zemin's collar while glaring at him "Don't pretend you don't know ? be clear, are you abandoning me ?"

Zemin shrugs "you said it yourself. It doesn't matter ! Our wishes doesn't match. So it's better if we stay away from each other. This way we both can move on."

"So all these time you were here for San Yi. Is it ? This letter , all these big talks ..  "

Zemin looks at Xingchen's glaring face . Why he never realised Xingchen was fighting with him because he was jealous. He always thought their fights were because of their past and Xingchen hated him. But after reading San Yi's letter, he can see it clearly.

"You want me to stay ?" Zemin asks stopping Xingchen's rants.

Xingchen scoffs "why would I ? Go wherever you want. Get lost."

Zemin grins "then I will go back to my business. Maybe, I can help San Yi as a businessman. I will enter Lan kingdom to trade and ..."

Zemin stops as Xingchen stands up from the bed to leave. He holds Xingchen's hands.

Xingchen gives his hand a jerk "let me go. I shall sleep. I am still the chief minister of Zi kingdom. I have to serve his highness no matter what ! I don't escape my responsibilities like you."

"When did I escape my responsibilities? I am still dealing with southern Zi and I am giving it back to a capable hand. I even helped my consort to rescue his sister, I will make arrangements to raise his sister. I am helping my father to go back home. So , I have no responsibilities to attend."

"What about me ?"

Zemin pulls Xingchen by his wrist until Xingchen falls in his arms. "You want me to take your responsibility ?"

Xingchen looks away from Zemin "I can take my ..

"Yes or no , Xingchen? You say yes, I will stay here .. start my business here .. marry you properly and take your responsibility.

If you say no, I will leave , back to my old business. Maybe, we won't meet again in this life." Zemin Whispers.

Xingchen stays silent with a pout "Don't stay if you don't want to. San Yi isn't here....umm"

Xingchen fists on Zemin's robe with a light moan.

Zemin smiles in between kisses. "A chief minister shouldn't be this much jealous!" He whispers in Xingchen's ear with a little bite.

Xingchen hits on Zemin's chest "asshole ! Heartless ! Evil !

Zemin chuckles "you are happy about San Yi living the palace and I am evil ?"

"Who is happy ? I am not."

"Owh ! Should I announce a war to bring him back ?"

"Don't kid me !"

"Hmmmm ?" Zemin laughes "you wouldn't be in my room at this hour, if you weren't happy!! You would have waited till morning!!"

"I was worried !" Xingchen shakes his head.

"Then let's rescue him !"

"Not a war !" Xingchen replies seriously.

"Let's plan a new scheme ?"

"No !"

"Let's Blackmail ?"

"No !"

"Let's kidnap one of his Consorts and ask San Yi in return ?"

"No !"

Let's get married?"

"No !"

Zemin smiles with a poker face as Xingchen's eyes widen in shock. "hmm ?"

"W ...when. ?"

"Hmm ?"

"Don't tease me !" Xingchen pouts.

"Say it !" Zemin whispers cupping Xingchen's face.

Xingchen's eyes turn teary "Yo..you don't love SanYi ?"

Zemin smiles softly "no!"

"Zubina ?"

"No !"

"Yang Xi ?"

"No!"

"Then empress Yuzu ?"

"No !"

A tear drop runs down Xingchen's cheek "Why you have such a long list ? Asshole ! "

"Oh just say it !" Yuzu walks in the room with Zixuan tailing behind.

"Seriously! Where are you getting married ? My legs hurt !" Zixuan asks irritated.

Xingchen hurriedly jumps out of Ze-min's bed.

Zemin growls annoyed "What the fuck are you two doing here ?"

"One guard informed us Xingchen ran into your room like a madman. We thought it was an emergency!" Zixuan yawns while pushing Zemin aside to sit on the bed.

"You two were evesdropping till now ?" Zemin pushes Zixuan off his pillow.

"I have no interest in seeing my chief minister's love life. Seriously eww ! But he wanted to see." Zixuan points at Yuzu.

Yuzu rolls his eyes "He is getting old. No fun ! I wish I had choosen you , Zemin !"

Xingchen's blue eyes glare at Zemin.

Zemin raises his hands in surrender"Sorry empress , I am taken.   I have a very jealous dog who is guarding me !"

Yuzu laughes "Xingchen, he is calling you guard dog again! That also jealous guard dog !!"

"Who is jealous? He can marry whoever he wants. I don't care !"

Zemin pouts before looking at Zixuan "let's declare a war and rescue San Yi !"

"NOO !" Xingchen shouts at Zixuan.

Zixuan blinks wide awake. He looks at Yuzu "Did my chief minister shout at me just now ?"

Yuzu shakes his head "Not your chief minister ! Your brother's future husband!!

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