Chu Yun could feel Xiao Zai stiffen under his touch, go taut with confusion and worry, like an animal afraid of being lured into a trap. If Chu Yun was honest with himself, he had to admit he liked it.
He liked that Xiao Zai considered him a threat, enough to be on his guard around him.
It made this act he had to put up more bearable.
He might have to pretend to be eating out of Xiao Zai's hand for the benefit of everyone watching them like hawks. He might have to show everyone what a big bad alpha his husband was that he effortlessly subjugated a "foreign" alpha to his will in about a week of marriage.
'Hey, wouldn't it be great if he put some of that effortless dominance to good use and ruled the country?'
People were easy to manipulate -- but incredibly stupid.
If this was what it took to get Xiao Zai on the throne, Chu Yun behind him, effortlessly pulling the strings, then so be it -- Chu Yun would endure the humiliation.