chapter 9

"Why did you push me ?"

Xingchen holds his temple in rising headache. For god's sake, he couldn't sleep at all last night and now early in the morning...Yaad not only came to his door step but also is trying to stir up trouble.

"I didn't push you Yaad. I am being late for morning court. I need to hurry." Xingchen tries to reason out.

"It's not my fault that is highness stayed with me last, yet I came to apologise to you." Yaad replies with a gloom face but Xingchen can hear the smugness in the tone.

"I never asked for an apology. Can you please make way now ? I am sorry for the accidental push. I have jobs to do , Yaad..please.."

"First of all, it's consort Yaad and secondly, you think I have nothing to do that's why you are showing off ! How could you be so imprude, Xingchen ?"

"I don't think that you have nothing to do, Yaad. You actually have nothing to do." Xingchen snaps this time. "And right now, I am chief minister of entire Zi. So, if you want me to call you a consort then address me with my title too."

"You..."

Xingchen pushes Yaad aside before he could argue any further. He is not just a stupid concubine who would do nothing except fighting for one man. He has bigger fish to fry.

Yaad looks at Xingchen's retreating back in confusion. He did as Afreen said but Xingchen didn't shout or stir up troubles. Which means, Xingchen doesn't love Zemin. God news !

Xingchen stays silent during the entire morning court. Emperor Zixuan takes the lead without his assistance. Zemin hasn't started his court session yet. So, it's a relief for Xingchen. He doesn't have to face Zemin here.

"Land revenue and taxes. Ok Xingchen ?"

Xingchen comes out of his thoughts hearing the last two words. He frowns "taxes ?"

"Yes and land revenues ..you explain these two matters to Zemin. I am leaving the paperwork on him from today." Emperor Zixuan explains again.

Xingchen nods after the information sinks in. "Ok , your highness."

"That's settled. What about his officials ? I asked you all to select some ministers for emperor Zemin ?"

One of the general steps forward "We have sent ten qualified individuals to emperor Zemin."

"Has he selected any ?" Zixuan asks this question directly to Xingchen.

Xingchen blinks. He doesn't know. He hasn't seen Zemin after last night. "I will look into it."

Xingchen can see the doubt in his highness's face. He takes in a deep breath "I will look into this matter as soon as the court adjorns."

***

"Are you planning to meditate in front of my door ?" Zemin comes out of his room as Xingchen was not entering for so long.

Xingchen looks away awkwardly "I was here to ask if you have selected the generals or not ?"

Zemin stands aside giving Xingchen a way to enter "Come in. I wouldn't eat you."

Xingchen looks at Zemin for a second before entering the room.

"I selected five. I don't need the other five."

Xingchen frowns "you need at least ten to distribute all the works.".

"I will manage with five. And I am not taking the entire southern Zi under my control. I just promised to help in larger areas. Is that all ?"

Xingchen looks up "huh ?"

"Is that all you wanted to know ?" Zemin asks back.

"I was asked to explain land revenue and taxes to you. I didn't know emperor Zemin was busy otherwise I wouldn't come." Xingchen turns around to leave.

Zemin looks at Xingchen's back. "Ok fine ....Explain to me.."

***

"Are you listening?" Xingchen asks irritated. He is explaining the same thing to Zemin for hours.

"Yes !" Zemin yawns as he rests his head more comfortably on Xingchen's shoulder.

"The tell me , how much fund we give to farmers for one unit land ?"

Zemin pouts "As much as they want. We are the kings. We have so much money."

"Shut up !" Xingchen jerks his shoulder. "We give 50% of the expenditure for the rice and for wheat we give 30% and ...  ZEMMMINNN..."

Zemin hugs Xingchen by the waist "let me sleep. I couldn't sleep last night. I am tired."

Xingchen slaps on the hands hugging his waist. "Is this all fun to you ?"

Zemin opens his tired eyes "hmm ?"

Xingchen huffs helplessly. He is tired too. Yet .... "Sleep on the bed. Have the maids ..cleaned your bed ..after ..last night ?"

"No .. We will move out tonight. Why bother ?" Zemin stands up like a ghost still holding Xingchen's palm. Xingchen stands up too.

He looks at the bed sheet with doubts.

"It's not dirty. I was not in the mood of sex last night." Zemin mumbled before falling on the bed like a dead body. Xingchen also falls on the bed beside Zemin because of the pull on his wrist.

"Let me go. I have works to do." Xingchen almost whispers.

"Aren't you my chief minister too ? You are also my husband.. being with me is your work now." Zemin pouts before closing his eyes again.

Xingchen looks at Zemin's sleepy face for sometimes then he sighs. Looks like, he can't do anything now. He closes his eyes too.

Xingchen doesn't have the habit of sleeping at noon. But he didn't get any sleep for last twenty four hours. Now, lying on the soft mattress of Zemin's room with a north facing window , he fell into a deep slumber.

His hair spreads on the bed sheet tangles with wind and hits Zemin's face softly. Zemin smiles with  open eyes. His face doesn't show a tiny bit of sleepiness. He looks at Xingchen's sleeping face slowly.

'take rest ... I already know the taxes from my previous life. No need to worry.' Zemin whispers with a little chuckle. He slowly moves the hair from Xingchen's face with his index finder.

Zemin's finger slowly traces Xingchen's forehead ,  then the brows, then eyes , then the nose then .... a drop of blood fell Xingchen's lips.

Zemin looks up with a serious face. There is nobody outside the window.  His hand is holding an arrow just a few inches away from Xingchen's neck. Zemin's face turns cold.

He stands up from the bed "Guards, call Yu cheng , right now !"

Zemin orders ever before the guards could enter his room. He personally selected Yu cheng from ten generals his brother sent to him.

Yu cheng is a secret investigator.  Once he was a student of minister Bai - Zi kingdom's best secret informer.

Zemin wipes the blood from his hand with a serious expression. There is no point of chasing the attacker. If his calculation is correct. The attacker is dead till now. He will look for the body later. Now ....

"Your highness !" Yu cheng bows in front of Zemin with a neutral expression.

"Did you look for what I asked you to ?"

"Yes , your highness. Your assumption is quite right. Prince Yaad visits his cousin everyday at noon for almost three hours right now. But two years ago, when his cousin was newly arrested, he used to visit at night too. And the time period was close to midnight. So, it was possible for prince Yaad to release Yang Xi."

Zemin squints his eyes. Of course ! That time, he was so involved with Xingchen, he didn't notice this simple thing.

If Xingchen was in a meeting that night , then the only person who visited the prison that night was Yaad.  Yaad is somehow connected with Yang Xi.

Yu cheng opens his mouth again as he didn't get any reply "should I search for more details ?"

Zemin nods "follow Prince Yaad's every movement and confiscate his letters."

Yu cheng nods looking at the arrow "And should I look into this ?"

"No need for now. I know who did this." Zemin takes in a deep breath.

"that arrow is poisoned, your highness."

"I know. This arrow was released to kill." Zemin dismisses Yu cheng before opening his drawer. He pulls out the crumpled paper which he got on his wedding day just before the vows.

He reads the content again and again.  So, these lines were not just a hoax ..

"Don't try to make that guard dog your pet, or he wouldn't see the next day ! Stay away !"

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