chapter 8

"I don't understand." Afreen paces inside her prison cell in deep worry.

"What ?" Yaad asks with a smug expression.

"If Xingchen was ready to marry Zemin, then why did he choose you ?"

"That's because Xingchen played with his heart. He was angry and wanted to take revenge. It's pretty clear." .

Afreen frowns harder. "Zemin is different from Zixuan. Zemin doesn't work on emotions, Yaad. This can't be the only reason...."

"Then maybe, he hasn't changed at all. He still wants to destroy his brother. whatever, the good news is I am officially the first consort of the Southern Zi kingdom and that stupid Xingchen is a concubine." Yaad laughs out loud.

Afreen looks at her brother in disgust. Why did she end up with this fool by her side ? Even Jia-li was better than Yaad.

Yaad stops laughing and looks at Afreen with a serious face "now, I need your help. I need to use Zemin's anger as my power. I need some ways to increase Zemin's hatred towards Xingchen."

Afreen still keeps on her disgust expression "If you really wanted to do that, you wouldn't be here on your mating night."

"I just came to give you the food news. I will be leaving soon and don't worry Zemin won't go to Xingchen's chamber and even if he goes Xingchen won't let him enter. I saw him leaving the altar before our vows."

Afreen shoots her eyes up "You said Xingchen doesn't like Zemin ? You said he was pretending?"

"Yes ! He doesn't."

"Then why did he leave the altar, you idiot ?" Afreen almost shouts.

"Because he became a concubine. It's humiliating.".

"If being the concubine was the reason, then he would have left way before..when Zemin refused to take  vows." Afreen paces again. "No no .. all my plans will fail, if Xingchen gets close to Zemin."

"Xingchen hates Zemin and after today I bet he wouldn't even see Zemin's face." Yaad confirms "They are like fire and oil. If they come close to each other ....

"The palace will burn and so will you and I." Afreen almost shouts. "Now, go and stop them from being together. Put on some tricks like Jia-li. Go !!!"

***

"Go away !" Xingchen shouts again, standing close to the door. He wouldn't be in the same room with Zemin.

Zemin ignores Xingchen's shout as usual and lies on the bed comfortably.  "Only you can play games, Xingchen and I can't ? Am I your toy ?"

"Leave !"

"You are concubine. This is our mating night. I have every right to be here and you can't defy me. Come here." Zemin pats the bedsheet beside him.

Xingchen looks away in disgust.

Zemin chuckles "Did you eat your vows, Xingchen ? Accepting me as your husband .. for better and worse ..to love and to be loved and what not ..!"

Xingchen looks back at Zemin "of course it's all funny for you. You don't know what love is .. nobody loves you.. how would you know the meaning of to love and to be loved ?"

Zemin rolls his eyes "yeah yeah .. you have so many people who loves you. So, What's the reason of marrying me ?"

"To stop you from scheming again." Xingchen spats. Right now, he wants to hurt Zemin so bad but he can't. So the only way to hurt Zemin is his words. "What did you think ? I had changed of mind ? I really wanted to marry you ?

No, you are a fool. I never wanted to marry you. I already knew that if I don't interfere, you would make plans to cheat your brother again. So , I just sacrificed myself to save emperor Zixuan from your schemes. Actually you did me a favor today by not repeating the vow. I don't have to be your lawful husband."

Zemin smiles before standing up from the bed "That's what I thought."

Xingchen frowns....

"I was thinking really hard why you suddenly agreed to marry me and the only reason I came up with was that you sacrificed yourself thinking or overthinking about my brother's safety." Zemin stands in front of Xingchen.

Xingchen looks directly into Zemin's dark eyes. Huh ?

"That's why I didn't repeat the vow. I don't want you to be trapped in a loveless marriage. You will find someone whom you can trust and love one day." Zemin grins as if nothing happened. "If you want I can dismiss the concubine from your name right now... But it would effect  emperor Zemin's reputation.. they will say I am bad in bed."

Xingchen blinks. Doubts cover his whole face. He is confused.

"Give me some time. You will be free from my harem sooner or later and don't overthink my brother's safety. Now, even if I want, I can't replace my brother. After staying here for almost two years .. even the maids can differentiate between me and Zixuan. We are different in our own way."

Xingchen's throat feels dry. Zemin is right. Zixuan and Zemin even though they are twins, they look different. Zemin's nose are more prominent, lips are darker and skin is more tanned than Zixuan.

Zixuan looks more like an emperor but Zemin looks like a knight. They can't be switched now but that doesn't mean Zemin can't attack and murder his brother. Zemin can. Absolutely can.

"Good night ! Rest well."

Xingchen comes out of his thoughts hearing Zemin's voice. He looks at his side with a frown. He didn't realise that Zemin has walked past him.

"You ... " Xingchen hesitates. He thought Zemin wouldn't leave his room today.

"What ? Still don't trust me ? I can take vow to leave you when you find your lover or to never harm my brother."  Zemin replies standing in front of the door.

Xingchen fists on his maroon robe. He hasn't changed his wedding robe yet. He was way too upset to do anything else. "Did you ... Are you .. married to Yaad ?"

It was Zemin's try to frown "You were there. Weren't you ?"

"I .. have no time to waste. I had work to do. "

Zemin tilts his head. Everyone was there. Even Zixuan and Yuzu was there. "Oh !... Yeah, he is my consort now."

Rage crawls under Xingchen's skin. All his efforts in vain. "Then what are you doing here ? Isn't it your mating night with him ? Go to his room. He must be waiting for you !"

"He isn't in his room. I went ther... "

"Owh .. so your consort isn't in his room that's why you came here to talk bullshit ? Who do you take me for ?"

"Xingchen .."

"Leave !" Xingchen shouts finally. "I am not your time-pass option, Emperor Zemin. Never come here just because you have nowhere to go."

Xingchen pushes Zemin out of him room before closing the boor on his face.

***

Zemin stands in front of Xingchen's bed-chamber for sometimes.

"I never wanted to marry you. I just sacrificed myself to save emperor Zixuan from your schemes."

Xingchen's words are still ringing in his ears. He takes in a deep breath.

"Your highness .."

Zemin turns around "hmm ? Yaad .."

"You are here ?" Yaad subtly looks at Xingchen's closed door.

Zemin shakes his head "ah .. nothing. I was just going to sleep. It's already late. You should sleep too. It's been a long day."

Yaad nods "that's why I came here.. today is our mating night. So , if we don't sleep together, there will be talks..."

"Sleep together ? Yaad , we ..."

"I know. But your bed is big enough for three people. If I take one corner, would it be a problem?"

Zemin frowns. His head is hurting from stress. "Ok fine."

Yaad smiles. He takes Zemin's hand in his to lead the way "let's go."

Zemin walks tiredly as Yaad drags him in Zemin's bedchamber.

Xingchen opens the door slowly as Zemin and Yaad leaves his doorstep. His eyes are bloodshot. He walks out of his room just to throw his maroon veil on the ground. He raises his feet to step on the veil...

But his feet stops few inches away the veil. Xingchen drops on his knees breaking down in tears.

Why he has to be this loyal to Emperor Zixuan ? Why did he sacrifice himself to the person he hate ? Why is he nothing but a guard dog in this palace ?

"Whyyyyyyyy ?" Xingchen shouts as all the pieces of his heart scatter like the maroon veil on the ground.

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