The Lecherous Prince and His Playmate [BL]

The empress walked into the palace and found her husband in his study. They had gone on a vacation together; she hoped they could rekindle their love, especially since Chushan returned. She wanted to show the ex-consort that she wasn’t needed here and she had her three sisters come with them because, obviously, they weren’t the problem.

But since Chushan’s return, she was not interested in her husband, the emperor whom she abandoned but the retired general of Sila. 

If she knew her husband would sleep with the consort she hated and impregnate her, she would’ve ended Chushan before she caused the mess that she did.

Wu Yong was sitting in a chair with a cup in his hand, staring off. She could tell that he was deep in thought most probably because of the return of Youxian, not that she had a problem with Youxian but because Changling was fixated on Youxian, things were not going her way and she didn’t predict that her niece would lose her sanity after marriage.

She stopped in front of her husband and recalled how he had wanted to get Chushan to divorce Yifan and marry her again, especially since she had given birth to his son, who looked more like him than he himself.

But the elders were against it and even threatened to boycott Changling’s heirdom if he were to do so.

Wu Yong focussed his attention on his wife and forced a smile. Things were getting out of hand for him and although he wanted to leave everything behind, he couldn’t, especially with a child like Changling who was unpredictable.

Things were going well as it may have seemed on the outside, but no, not at all, who would have thought that Changling was still dead set on finding Youxian, who he had almost forgotten about.

Everything Changling did to Youxian to was out of his hand, so farfetched that he couldn’t deal with it and only swept it under the palace which led to his best friend of forty years leaving his side.

And now Changling brought back Youxian with a child. If anything, he hoped that Youxian got a woman pregnant, and she died or ran away but no, that little girl looked like both males and with the abnormality that happened through the kingdom and the neighbouring kingdoms, of male couples having children, it only made sense that the known Crown Prince and his rumoured behaviour resulted in this evidence.

“You look troubled,” she said.

He nodded his head. “Are you willing to listen without criticising my son?”

She nodded her head, although she had so much to complain about.

He placed the cup down and patted the seat beside him. After she sat down, he asked her, “What do you think will happen now that Youxian has returned? The child is evidently the crown prince’s blood, my bloodline too, and she looks older than our Ah-Cao.”

The empress sighed but chose her words wisely, saying, “I can only think that the crown prince will ask the council to allow him to marry Youxian.”

“And what are your thoughts on Youxian?” He asked.

“Your majesty, I’ve known Youxian for years. That boy doesn’t covet anything. I think the crown prince should’ve just let him be because not only did he face great humiliation, but now, this? To come back with a child knowing full well that he had great military achievements, even at his young age. Youxian should be married right now and working to best himself instead. He has suffered and who knows, he might suffer more,” she said.

He nodded his head, agreeing with her. “I do not know what to do with my son anymore. I’ve consulted Yifan, and he too is at a loss.”

“Your majesty, if I may?” She asked.

He nodded his head, giving her permission to speak. “I think we should ask Youxian if he wants to be here. If he doesn’t, then we should urge the crown prince to let him go?”

Wu Yong smiled, “Then what about the girl?”

Hearing his question realised that there was no way out of this.

“Empress Kim, I know you are here to complain about the crown prince and his way of doing things, but this is out of your control, now is it? You can only resort to killing the girl and Youxian if you want to solve this problem,” Wu Yong said seriously.

The empress quickly stood up and bowed before him, “Your majesty, I would never.”

He held his hand up for her to stop speaking. Sighing as he looked at her, he said, “Things were peaceful before I knew about the crown prince. But he is rightfully by blood the next ruler of this kingdom, and he has every right to be happy.”

He stopped speaking and thought back to the story Yifan told him about Changling. Youxian wasn’t Changling’s first love, relationship or companionship. There was another boy who Changling was madly in love with that taught him how to love in the way he loved today.

“I wonder if Youxian is able to escape this time,” he said absentmindedly.

The empress stared at him, confused, “Excuse me?”

He looked at her and shook his head. “Nothing.”

Haeun came to mind, and he asked, “It’s been some time since Youxian arrived and the crown princess expressed her displeasure. Has she said anything to you? I know she confides in you more than needed.”

The empress felt cornered. “Yes, your majesty. The crown princess is not happy at all, she refuses to acknowledge the girl. She might do something drastic and I am worried that’s why I came to you for advice. Ah-Cao almost died last year because of her antics and he is her blood. I would hate to find out what might happen from here on.”

Wu Yong listened to her words carefully, thinking, ‘She might end up dead this time.’

“The crown prince married Kwon Ae Cha so that if something were to happen to the crown princess, the kingdom wouldn’t be without an empress.”

“I don’t understand, your majesty,” she said, confused.

He nodded his head knowingly. She didn’t need to understand, as long as he did–as long as he did.

*

Changling walked into the chamber and saw Youxian holding Xing Guang in his arms. She was fast asleep while he was crying as he held her.

Changling felt his heart beat oddly. He wasn’t used to seeing Youxian like this or you could say that it had been years or was it because he promised himself that he’d make things right between them when he found Youxian, but as things were going right now; he knew he wasn’t looking good in Youxian’s eyes.

Youxian turned to look at him as he came closer. He sighed, then shook his head, asking, “Why do you have to separate me from my child? I’ve already returned with you. Why did you arrange for her to stay in a separate palace?”

“Only because it’s for her own good,” he answered.

“Changling, she isn’t used to the life in the palace. We’ve already come with you. Why are you doing this? Must my child suffer just because you are her father?” He asked.

Changling shook his head contemplatively. “No.”

“Then why?” He asked.

“If she is here with you, how will I speak to you? You know how I am. Do you really want me to show her how I can be?” He asked.

“It’s better to show her how you are now that to be lied to and suffer the day you throw your anger her way. She is but a child and you do not know how this will affect her. And I am telling you this right now: that if you do not want me to do something drastic, you will change this arrangement now! I will not live in this palace with you if I cannot have my child with me and be there when she needs me.” He said with burning rage.

He held up his hands as he looked at Xing Guang. Now he wasn’t sure if she was still sleeping because, although they started their conversation in whispers, Youxian’s voice was getting louder. “Okay, alright, just calm down. There are chambers she can stay in, but she can’t be near us. I don’t want to ruin her innocence.”

Youxian wanted to say something, but he remained silent. He got one thing he wanted, the other he’d ask at a later time.

He placed Xing Guang down on the bed and covered her.

Changling knelt down in front of him and took his hands in his. Looking up at Youxian, who focussed everywhere but on him and asked, “Why are you crying?”

Youxian scoffed, “Do you really not know?”

Changling raised a brow, saying, “Things will be different, I swear.”

He pulled his hands back, saying, “You don’t need to swear anything. I don’t care as long as you promise to treat my child with respect.”

Sighing, Changling said, “I asked you back at the inn if you gave her a formal name. Why didn’t you answer me?”

Looking at him, Youxian smirked, “Is having secrets a crime?”

He shook his head. “She’s my child too that you kept from me. I want to know about her too, Ah-Xian.”

Youxian’s heart skipped a beat. Why? He didn’t know–maybe it’s because he hurt Changling and now that he was facing him, he couldn’t understand his feelings.