It was one of the most organized and well-guarded quarters in the entire palace, with more staff and security's than anywhere else. That's why, even before he reached the door, all the attendants crossing paths with him were already trying to greet him with flattery and elaborate praises. But each time they spoke those lofty words, Prince Yibo felt a strange echo in his mind...like their praises were really warnings. As if royalty might one day destroy everything he had built for himself, piece by piece.
So he simply raised his hand, signaling them to stop. He kept walking until he reached His Majesty's chamber.
The King's attire suggested he had just returned from court, dressed in light, breathable clothing. But parts of his face and arms still glistened with moisture, revealing he had recently bathed. Sitting before him was Concubine Qinnu, peeling a banana and offering him a glass she had just filled with chilled grape juice.
Subtly, she cast a glance at Yibo before looking away, continuing with her task. She hated when His Majesty called Yibo in moments like this....times she felt should belong to her alone.
Prince Yibo lowered himself to the floor on soft cushion, bowing his head in respect as he greeted His Majesty, who responded warmly, his face lit with a gentle smile. Then Yibo turned to Concubine Qinnu and said politely,
"Good afternoon, Your Highness."
She replied curtly, her voice cool and measured,"Good afternoon."
King Mo Yi took everything in with a quiet smile. He found the boldness of women's jealousy endlessly fascinating. As far as he knew, Yibo had never done anything to disrespect them. He treated each woman with the dignity she deserved... though he himself was famously reserved, rarely smiling or speaking more than necessary.
"Qinnu, my dear," the King said with a light tone, "won't you lend me some of your time?"
She rolled her eyes at him. Though she wanted to complain, the softness in his voice left no room for refusal. She put down what she was doing and rose to leave.
Once she exited, the King sat upright, no longer leaning back. He ran a hand across his face and exhaled deeply before calling Yibo's name...a sound that made Yibo's heart skip. He responded at once, bowing again.
King Mo Yi said,
"I don't know what people think injustice means anymore. These days, nearly everyone is guilty of it without realizing. People look for the slightest opportunity to take advantage of each other....sometimes for the smallest gain. I can't understand what sort of satisfaction it brings them. I always thought that a good person would do everything to protect others from harm, no matter how small. Even hurtful words are a kind of cruelty, let alone actions."
He paused, voice firm.
"That's why I've made a decision today....I wish you had been there to see it. Deep down, I believe it was the right thing. I will no longer show mercy to anyone guilty of injustice, no matter who they are."
The King's words hit Yibo hard...not just the final part, but the entire speech. He couldn't help connecting it to what Bai Wuxia had said. If Zhan truly had no support… if everything his heart feared was true… then Zhan had been wronged. Did that mean his own mother...the Queen...was part of that injustice? And what about himself? Could he also fall into that category?
But was injustice always a conscious choice? If it had happened unknowingly, how could he save her...his own mother...whom he still desperately wanted to protect? Did obeying her without question mean enabling her wrongs?
The King continued,
"I'll be traveling to California tomorrow for a conference at the company I invested in. I had hoped you would come with me. In fact, I've been planning that in four years...when you turn twenty-five...you'll begin representing me in public matters. I want to start stepping back gradually."
He sighed.
"But that plan won't work now. Time caught up with us. I wanted to speak with you three days ago, but you disappeared. So tomorrow, you'll come with me to the airport. I'll leave the city in the hands of the Chancellor. But this time, I want you to start learning the inner workings. You'll manage the city alongside him...as his deputy...until I return."
Yibo couldn't say much except,
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you."
King Mo Yi disliked dragging out conversations, especially since he knew Qinnu would be counting every minute of their time together. So he dismissed Yibo soon after, giving him the exact time they'd be leaving for the airport.
***
Several suitcases lay open in front of Zhan...some already neatly packed, others still waiting to be filled. It seemed like he had taken a break from what he was doing to sit and review the two documents in his hands.
A smile spread across Zhan's face, the kind that betrayed the happiness blooming inside him. Despite all the studying he had done, he hadn't expected the results of his exams to turn out this good. Both sets of scores had arrived unexpectedly...and with excellence.
"Zhan, I don't know what kind of love you have for studying," Aunt Anu remarked. He sighed and looked up at her, smiling again.
"I really love school, Mumma. I want to see myself grow through education," he replied with sincerity.
Aunt Anu smiled warmly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. You'll go as far as you want with it. You'll study to your heart's content."
He nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Mumma. Truly, thank you."
She gently placed her finger on his lips.
"Shh. I told you...no more thank-yous. I mean it. I've warned you before, haven't I?"
Zhan covered his face with his hand, bashful. Aunt Anu observed him, her eyes roaming from his face down to the swell of his belly. There was something touching about the way he carried himself. Though he was just six months along, anyone would guess he was already nine, maybe even ten months pregnant. The doctors themselves had expressed surprise, recommending another ultrasound by the seventh month just to be sure everything was progressing well. Zhan had insisted he felt fine, no discomfort, and so far, nothing seemed amiss. But the way his body had changed left them all baffled.
Aunt Anu ended up helping him finish packing. As for their own things, there wasn't much to pack since most of their belongings were already at their destination. They would be stopping first in Chongqing, where they didn't need to bring much.
"Make sure you take anything you might need," Aunt Anu said. "Once we leave, we might not be back here any time soon...at least not until Papa finishes what brought him here."
"Alright, Mumma." Zhan stood up again and double-checked his items just as Han Li's sudden cry filled the air. The baby had likely just woken and found no one nearby. Aunt Anu rose quickly.
"Your little prince is up...let me go check on him."
Zhan chuckled. "Stroke his head for me...I'll be there in a bit to bathe him so he can play happily."
Aunt Anu shot him a glare.
"With that belly of yours?"
She laughed as she walked out. Zhan smiled, but then his expression softened. His hand slid down to rest on his rounded belly. He began to gently stroke it, top to bottom. He still hadn't felt the connection or the overwhelming love people talked about when bonding with a child in the womb. Maybe it was just fate, or perhaps he'd only feel it once the baby arrived. Or perhaps what the baby's father and his family had done to him had dulled that feeling.
He shook the thoughts away, just like he had promised himself: to let go of the past and focus on the life ahead. He stood and continued gathering his things, organizing them into his suitcase with care.
The next day, with their trip approaching, Zhan spent time at home with his younger siblings. Unlike previous times when travel filled him with unease, this time he felt more at peace. Aunt Anu had done everything to make their lives stable, and even at home, their father had made changes Zhan never thought possible. Though surprised, he let his heart quietly accept it.
After 4 o'clock, Que walked up to him and dropped a black plastic bag in front of him. Zhan gave her a questioning look.
She sat down and said, "It's the money you were given when you came back here."
Only then did Zhan remember. He slowly reached out, opened the bag, and looked at the money inside. It felt like both redemption and preparation...something that could protect his dignity and help in whatever lay ahead.
He carefully folded the money back the way it was and handed it back to Que. She hesitated, clearly expecting more explanation.
"Use it for yourself and the others. Take care of yourselves."
The amount overwhelmed her, and she seemed unsure whether she could even accept it. So, the two of them sat down, and Zhan went over a plan with her...using a detailed list to explain how to spend it wisely. It took a long time, but he made sure she understood.
When they were done, Que looked at him with eyes brimming with tears.
"There's no doubt you've been both a father and a mother to us. You're the anchor of our lives. Without you, I don't know what would have become of us." And with that, she burst into tears.
Zhan pulled her into a comforting hug, gently soothing her as he blinked away his own tears.
"We're all responsible for our own journeys. No one survives simply because someone else is alive. Even without me, you'll survive, Que. You're fifteen now...you're already stepping into adulthood. Carry yourself with pride and protect your integrity. Never let the absence of your mother push you to do something you know is wrong. I've tried my best to raise you all right, to give you a path that's clear. Even if I'm not around, I believe you'll be okay. If Chao doesn't return before I do, I promise I'll look for her...no matter where she is."
Their farewell was painful and quiet. Zhan didn't leave the house until after 8 p.m. when the driver came to pick him up. He departed with a heart full of longing for those he left behind.
***
A convoy of sleek, elegant cars from the Tianjin Palace cruised through the broad highways of Tianjin, headed toward the Beijing International Airport.
Every street they passed was lined with citizens waving and wishing well to their just and beloved king...King Mo Yi....regardless of whether he could see them or not. All they wanted was for their goodwill and hopes to reach him wherever he was going.
Inside the most luxurious car of the fleet, King Mo Yi sat calmly, dressed in traditional royal attire. Beside him sat Yibo, equally resplendent in formal wear. He looked stunning...too handsome for his own comfort...but the formal outfit wasn't for himself. It was for his father. A gesture of respect. A distraction from his own troubled thoughts.
"Yibo," King Mo Yi said with gentle warmth. Yibo responded respectfully.
"When I return from this trip," the King began, "we'll sit down with Qiantang's family to discuss your marriage seriously. By now, things should be clear. As heir to the throne, your path to starting a family should be solid. It's time."
He chuckled lightly, unaware of the subtle tension that crept across Yibo's face, and continued.
"And if you feel your education has reached its peak, I think you should speak up. I can start transferring control of the estates and business affairs to you so you can take over fully. That way, I can finally slow down and focus my attention on other things. To be honest, even the throne is starting to feel heavy. Your mother and I talked about this..."
He paused, then added with a smile, "She believes you've inherited enough... both from her side and mine...to manage well on your own. She wants you to prove yourself independently, to learn the value of hard work and self-reliance. I think she's right. But we'll talk more about that later, when I'm back."
Yibo remained silent throughout the speech. Only after the King finished did he respond calmly:
"Thank you for your trust and the honor of your plans. I do have two things to say. First, regarding the proposal to Qiantang's family... I'd like to request a delay. Let's revisit the topic later. As for managing your affairs...if you return safely, I promise I'll consider everything carefully before making any decisions."
The King nodded, then asked, "But why do you want to delay your engagement? Don't you realize all your cousins have already settled down? I even thought we could hold multiple ceremonies together..."
He sighed, studying Yibo's unreadable expression.
"Alright. I'll give you time. But don't take too long. I expect a proper explanation soon."
Yibo murmured a quiet "Understood," and shut his eyes briefly. With everything going on in his head, the last thing he needed was another layer of pressure. He hadn't even begun to solve his current problems.
At that very moment, Aunt Anu and her household arrived at the same airport. Anyone observing them could tell they were a warm, close-knit family. Even Zhan's face...normally so tense...was bright with calm and contentment today. Just thinking about where they were headed filled him with hope. He wished this feeling would last. He hoped leaving Beijing would be a fresh start, free of the heaviness he was leaving behind. Everyone, bags in hand, made their way inside as the driver dropped them off and turned back toward home.
Meanwhile, the Tianjin Palace motorcade arrived at the airport shortly afterward. The royal cars were directed to a private section. As King Mo Yi was preparing to step out, the Minister of Tianjin arrived, briefly delaying him with greetings and formalities. By then, the boarding process had already begun.
Realizing time was slipping away, Yibo respectfully leaned in and whispered to his father that they needed to hurry. With a nod, the King concluded his brief interaction, and they entered the terminal. Yibo followed closely behind. All attendants remained outside; the journey would be undertaken by the King alone, accompanied by just one trusted aide.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛