Chapter 13: Words of a Hwangje

Rucheng walked over with the food and placed it on the table when she saw her brother was laughing. The girls went back to cleaning the room and after some time passed while they were eating, Youxian's stomach started cramping.

He pinched his butt cheeks as he felt something try to come out of him. When he realized he needed to take a dump, he excused himself from the table and scurried over to the toilet. He rushed past Rucheng who stared at him as he ran into the toilet room and closed the door behind him.

Turning on her heels, she proceeded to hang the dirty sheets she just washed on the line to dry. Youxian's stomach started cramping as he emptied his stomach. Changling who was in the pavilion stood up and walked over to the kitchen lazily.

When he arrived there he saw that now one was around, with the tea pot in hand he stood outside the kitchen and yelled, "Rucheng, Yuhua, where's the tea? I need more tea in my life!"

Yuhua came from around the corner, "Oraboni, why must you make a noise?"

Changling rolled his eyes and flicked his sister's forehead, "You little shit! Who taught you how to speak?"

Yuhua grinned, cheekily she answered, "Wasn't it you who raised me?" She took the pot from him and started preparing a second one.

*

Youxian came out of the toilet feeling light headed, just as he was about to faint, Rucheng caught him and knocked him unconscious by hitting him on the side of his neck. She dragged his body to the bath that she had Yuhua prepare and got into the water with him.

Mei Yuan came into the bathing chamber and undressed herself. Before, she was informed that she had to help them clean Youxian as it was difficult for two under aged females to clean a well maintained body of a soldier.

Getting into the water, she helped lift Youxian's body into the water and held him gently for Rucheng to climb in behind him. She supported Yuhua in washing him and saw that she wasn't fazed even though she was younger and was cleaning his penis and making sure that it was clean.

They soon turned him over and she gasped when Yuhua's finger easily entered Youxian's swollen entrance with the cloth.

"Why?" she asked in a high pitched voice earning her glares from the two girls.

She recoiled, lowering her head and scrubbed his back. The sisters looked at each other and sighed knowingly. The things they were doing was normal to the entire Rong clan but to outsiders nevertheless, Mei Yuan, a pampered Gongjunim of the kingdom, having to witness this and to be treated like a slave in her brother-in-law's home. It would take time getting used to but it was necessary, she didn't know who her future-husband is nor does she know who her eldest brother is, as a matter of fact, no one knows the activities of the Rong clan and this way she would slowly get to know of their capabilities.

"Gongjunim, what do you think of our brother?" Rucheng asked, looking at Mei Yuan. Her movements halted. She looked at Rucheng then continued washing Youxian. Thinking it over she thought it best not to tell the truth, "Brother Changling has the same aura as my father. I think he'd be a perfect candidate to rule this kingdom."

Rucheng scoffed, "If Changling was made Hwangje, he'd kill all the officials, ministers and maybe all of your siblings, then, do you still feel that he would be a great ruler?"

Mei Yuan's eyes widened as she looked at Rucheng, "What makes you say so?"

"It is in his nature, that is another reason why Yuhua and I are here. Both Qinghe and Changling have terrible tempers and I'm sure you will only see your beloved's temper after marriage. Those two rely on each other for a reason not even our parents are aware of and that is why we couldn't let Qinghe die just for you. If he did, Changling would have massacred everyone who attended the execution, royal family and officials… I understand that brother might be hard on you but it's because you lied and in our family, there are no liars, what he is also doing by having you work like this is for you to become independent and be a support for our brother and not be a hindrance. Orabonim also understands this but can't bear to see you fall from your pedestal and become a slave in his brother's palace so he won't visit you and the reason behind him not speaking to you is because you have yet to apologize to him whole heartily for putting our family in this position."

They took Youxian out of the bath and dried him as well as dressed him, Rucheng continued, "Changling is a beast and you will soon get to find out for yourself. Going against him isn't an option, he has yet to discipline Hwan Baeuja for running to Wang Seja and informing him of what was happening here. Killing both Hwan Baeuja and Wang Seja is like killing cockroaches to Oraboni and for him to spare them is like sparing a murder who killed his family."

Just as she was about to say something, all three of them heard a commotion outside. Rucheng's eyes narrowed. She left Mei Yuan and Yuhua to take care of Youxian.

She made it outside and saw something she expected. Her brother was sitting in the pavilion drinking tea while the royal palace guards had their swords and spears pointed at him, surrounding the pavilion. Her eyes narrowed on them, "What is the meaning of this?" Changling's voice broke out.

An official and eunuch stepped forward, "Rong Changling! Although you are Hwangje's first child, you have yet to be crowned as Wangja of the kingdom. You, a civilian attacked Wang Seja, future Hwangje of this kingdom. Your actions are the same as treason towards the throne. Hwangje has decided to hear your side of the story against those of Wang Seja claiming that you only entered his palace to take Hwan Youxian against his will. You also injured his highness Wang Seja and therefore are summoned to the imperial palace along with Hwan Youxian for your statements."

The cup in his hand broke piercing the flesh of his palms. He slowly stood up showing his naked body to everyone. His eyes met with Rucheng's briefly which she took note of and stealthily ran back inside to get her brother's sword along with hers and Yuhua's spear.

"That man dares summon me?!" Changling growled out with hatred. Hearing him, they were all taken aback.

A piercing wind passed their ears and a sword landed in Changling's extended palm. His palace gates banged shut, with Rucheng safeguarding it. The few who turned around to see what the noise was, felt that something was off. They were told to bring Changling and Youxian back but why did it seem like… "If you value your life, you'll put down your weapons and leave quietly."

"You…" the official started. Just as he was about to step forward, Changling moved at an incredible speed and came before him. With a swipe of his hand, he cut the official's head off and stabbed his sword into the eunuch's body.

His naked body was splattered with warm blood as his eyes viciously scanned the soldiers. Frightened, some ran straight to him with their weapons raised and yelling but didn't make it far and were impaled or cut with his sword.

-

The soldiers who were left standing with lowered swords dragged their shocked selves back along with the bodies of those who Changling killed. When they reported to Hwangje, everyone who heard what happened couldn't believe it.

Hwangje along with his attendants, the royals, servants, Wang Seja, officials and many more were shocked. The corpses were piled before them along with the evident baffled expressions, "What did you say?" Hwangje asked dumbfounded.

The man reporting to him said, "Changling Wangja said that your majesty shouldn't dare think of summoning him."

"What did you all do to him that made him retaliate this way?" Dong Woo asked hurriedly. It was evident that wielding a sword in the vicinity of the imperial palace was equal to treason.

The soldier looked over at him and said, "Changling Wangja advised us to leave but we were ordered to bring him by force if we had to, because we didn't leave, a woman shut us in. Changling Wangja then warned us to lower our weapons and when we didn't he assaulted us."

Dong Woo bowed and spoke to Wu Yong, "From the moment I met him, I knew that Changling Wangja was different, perhaps we should pay him a visit instead instead of forcefully bringing him to the palace, after all he still doesn't consider you as his father." He advised.

Looking down at the corpses Wu Yong asked his trusted best friend, "Why is it that he takes after his mother so much? Not only did she deceive me, she ran off to marry a commoner, have him name my son and raised him to be disrespectful to his father?"

"Is that how you perceive my mother, your majesty?" Everyone turned around and saw Qinghe bowing and straightened immediately.

Wu Yong's eyes narrowed on Qinghe. 'He had actually dared to show his face here in front of me after manipulating my daughter?' Wu Yong thought.

Qinghe's eyes glided over the bodies on the floor unfazed as he spoke, "If Ah-Ling heard those words you spoke of his mother and father, his opinion of you would only lower further than it already is."

"Hold your tongue," Dong Woo warned him.

Qinghe shook his head in response, "I'm only speaking the truth. I know my brother better than anyone even our parents, he'll warn you twice before he cuts you down and he doesn't care whether or not it's at home to discipline his siblings or here disciplining his siblings hence what happened with Wang Seja."

Looking down at the corpses he continued, "But to those who act aggressively towards him, meet their end sooner than expected."

"This was a blatant act of treason," A minister stepped out and said with a furious expression on his face. Qinghe turned his attention to the man and smiled, "Feel free to say that to his face."

Steeling his expression, the minister remained silent.

Qinghe scoffed, "If your majesty wishes to see him, he won't come since he has a toy to discipline." Bowing Qinghe took his leave.

Wu Yong's fists clenched, "What was his reason for coming here and spouting that nonsense?"

Dong Woo looked at Wu Yong and felt that what Qinghe did was more of a messenger from another kingdom imparting the words of his Emperor.

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