3.30 [P] [Yong An's]

Warning: Violence

In the past, there was a myth, when a child was born, sky turned clearer than before, animals shouted in harmony, even the grass and flowers that withered in an unappealing brown blooms like a gorgeous peck of dusk. As if the heaven's favor this child and people who witness that scenery couldn't help but to called out the name of the gods.

He was the son of the golden dragon, the heir to the throne and naturally the darling of heaven.

But these titles and blessings couldn't make the child happy.

He was bored, lonely and indifferent.

"Your highness, are you done?" The young man with a gentle temperament suddenly couched down, staring seriously at the young prince's thin paper. A moment of surprised and satisfaction manifest in his eyes, once his sight left those phrases, "As expected of the natural son of heaven. Your highness is indeed a genius!"

Yong An flashed a smile, hiding the boredom and indifference in his eyes, appearing happy and interested in that praised.

The gentle man picked his paper and walked directly to the other aids, bragging the awesomeness of the young prince.

Yong An watched them boringly.

It was dull, passionless and repetitive.

It was all the same thing, people endlessly praised him for his talent and skills, servants wanted to carry his favor, his mother concubine coaxed him whenever she got time and the other princes watched him in envy.

For others, such limitless grace would make them thank the heaven for their whole life. But for Yong An, this life is soulless, boring and tedious.

He can get things with just a flicked of fingers, he can learn anything with just watching in one eye. There are no challenges at all. There is no excitement.

For other's perspective, he was a gentle and noble prince, though young, his fate was determined to ascend to the throne. But they were unaware that there is a beast imprisoned in his own body. A sadistic kind of monster, who enjoyed seeing their pain and agony, which resulted by their own recklessness and naivety.

Who tell them to trust and believed him wholeheartedly? Who tell them that he was an upright and holy prince? Not a person who enjoyed other's slaughter?

When did his sadistic nature start?

Perhaps, it was that time when he accidentally stabbed a working servant or that moment when he witnessed his own mother tripped down and had miscarriage, and didn't bother to help her?

Yes, maybe it's that time.

He watched boringly as his mother yelled in pain and shouted for help, while blood oozing into her legs, flowing down to her feet. Her face was miserable, and she keeps touching her stomach and weakly pleaded for mercy.

Unfortunately, there were no servants attending her, because Yong An was about to accompany his mother to eat lunch, that's why the concubine dismissed her servants earlier.

Yong An should remind her mother that the floor was slippery, or shouted for help. But he didn't. Instead, he boringly watched her mother suffer from this catastrophe, lips curving into a limited arc. He didn't enter, and continuously glanced at her in the door.

"Your highness, why don't you enter?" He was startled by the voice behind him.

He smiled gently, "I was going to surprise mother."

The old servant's face softened and was about to push him into the door, when a small and white hands stopped her, "What's the matter, your highness?" Then she heard a loud shout, "T-The concubine!"

"Don't." The soft and childish voice of the young prince interrupted her, "I was playing with mother, don't bother."

His voice was like a fabric that instantly wiped out her concerns, she smiled absentmindedly, "Understood, your highness. This servant will retreat." With that, the old servant didn't bother to find out why the concubine was screaming.

Yong An once again flashes an excited smile and turned his head to her yelling mother. There was a blast of pleasure contaminated in his pure eyes, as if the cries and yells ignited the fire of his senses. He faintly smirked and slowly closed the door, not allowing anyone to enter her mother's room.

As expected, the news of the miscarriage of his mother spread like a storm, furthermore, the concubine couldn't give birth anymore making Yong An her only child.

With this, Yong An was victorious again.

He was not envious nor jealous if ever his mother birthed another child, he just couldn't tolerate another brat exiting the place that he once exited.

He was possessive, crazy and sick.

Anyone that he likes would be fresh and untainted, whether it was person, things or animals. He wanted to be first in anything that he desire, and only others was allowed to covet once he was tired of it.

For example, his favorite servant who served him for almost a year, but because of the constant nagging, he grew bored and tired. He accidentally stabbed him in the past, which resulted in his sudden death. That time he was scared and nervous, but when the matter and situation was clear, it was as if a new experience stimulated his desire.

At six, Yong An killed a young servant.

This doesn't end, he was addictive of their cries, agony and despair. At the front, he pretended like he was a holy son, never be tainted by darkness and was an upright prince. This made his public image liked by the whole country, and many officials and ministers put their eyes on him, admiring and worshiping.

It was funny and exciting. He likes the feeling of being admired and then, tricked them into abyss. For the mean time, Yong An find the thing that will make him happy.

All the things, he can control it with single hand. He can manipulate every person and could take their lives too lightly.

But not for that one.

Not for his fourth brother.

He recalls that once he saw that young prince who was thin and full of dirt, enduring the servant's constant whipping. Yong An doesn't bother with that in the past because in his impression, his fourth brother was the lowest creature in the whole country.

He was the product of the Emperor's disgusting mistake, his whole name was tarnished with ugly things. For Yong An, such a dirty creature doesn't need to get concern of. But watching from a far, while the brave servant consistently whipping his back, while the young prince didn't flinch nor scream, ignoring the pain and was staring at nowhere.

It was strange. It was different.

Even if Yong An was rumored to be blessed by the gods, he couldn't withstand that torture and will surely yelp in pain.

But this prince... could only watch in silence being abused by the servant, as if nothing matters in his eyes.

Accidentally, the young prince's eyes drifted to Yong An's from distance, and that short time could make Yong An shivers in cold.

Because his eyes... was deeper than the ocean. Darker than the night. Not only that, it seems covered with layer of wall, protecting and overshadowing the emotion on that pupils, fully enveloped with frost. Dull, lifeless and soulless.

For a moment, Yong An was taken back. But then a wave of excitement surged in his heart.

He flashed a smile and slowly approached the servant, "What are you doing?"

The servant was startled and almost fainted in fright just as he identified the identity of that voice.

"Y-Your highness!" He trembled, almost his face was drained of color.

Yong An didn't stare at him for too long and shifted his sight to the young prince.

His fourth brother was neglected, his mother died by giving birth to him, and it was expected that he will be abandoned and be treated worst in the palace. He was small, thin and dirty, but such eyes contained those emotions. His face was lowered and Yong An couldn't identify what his thoughts are.

Yong An gave up and pierced a glare to the servant, "You dare treat a prince like this?"

"Your highness, it's a misunderstanding!"

The servant couldn't yell anymore as the guards dragged him away from the princes.

Yong An was filled with fantasy. This is the same. He will help a person and that person will be grateful for him. How did he think that his fourth brother was different?

He glanced down and saw the fourth prince looking at him. But gratefulness wasn't portrayed on his eyes, it was still serene and dull. Like he doesn't care whether someone will help him or not.

Somehow, Yong An was irritated, but this was covered by his gentle facade. He was much taller than the fourth prince, he leaned down and patted his greasy hair, "Brother was here, brother will protect you."

He was already a veteran by manipulating each's mind. Give him a warm, comfort and support, and that person will forever thankful in his whole life.

But this time, it wasn't the same.

The fourth prince was still looking at him, eyes calm as the clearest water in the lagoon, without a slight ripple, as if he wasn't bothered about the things that surround him, including him. Like he wasn't worth his attention.

For the first time, Yong An was desperate to gain another's attention.

Their fateful encounters didn't end there. Yong An execute various conflict for the fourth prince, but the latter again wasn't bother with those things. He didn't get angry nor seek revenge. He was like an empty vase, no matter how much one's would trouble him, he wouldn't care or put concern even a tiny bit of it.

Just as Yong An put too much attention in breaking his shells, his desperation turned completely into obsession. He wants to shatter his emotionless face and explored the depth of his ardor and sensation. He wanted more. Furthermore, he wanted to become the first one to experience his warmth, passion and also... lust.

This realization made him disgusted, he almost requested his death just to cut off this repulsive emotion, but he controls himself. If he accidentally kills him, then he couldn't find keen enjoyment anymore.

However, the fourth prince didn't put him at his eyes at all. The fourth prince leaves the palace without giving him even a bit of attention.

Yong An was mad, a dozen of servants suffered in his hands that time. But his desperation didn't end just there. He followed the fourth prince sneakily, and with that moment, he witnesses how the fourth prince ruthlessly cut the head of an assassin without flinching or trembling.

For a moment, Yong An experience terror and horror. But those emotions turned excitement and pleasurable.

But what triggered the fourth prince to unleash the beast inside him?

Yong An again was jealous but with his investigation, he found out that those assassins were from the Emperor.

He doesn't have a fatherly feeling with the Emperor. He knew that the latter was only treated him as a fool, a pawn that will be used in the throne. Yong An didn't bother at him in the past, but right now, how dare him sent assassin with the fourth prince? He wasn't a fan of dethroning his father but with this situation, he vowed that he will be the one who will uncrowned that bastard.

He already imagines himself being a ruler, with the fourth prince on his side, protected and guarded, only showing his emotions to him, like a tame dog, licking and rubbing on his feet. It was wonderful.

With that, Yong An started planning.

But the sudden interference of Wen Yang shaken his goals. There was like something pulling him into his embraced, like an invisible rope tying him to his side, even with the new sparrow being useless, Yong An find himself indulging in cooperation. He was also a cunning and ambitious one, but Yong An wasn't astonish with him, he only knew that he was bound to approved their cooperation.

Only for a while because those unexplainable emotions shattered one by one by also a mysterious force. He didn't try to cooperate with Wen Yang anymore, but he also didn't abandon him.

Howbeit, he found out something.

The fourth prince... who yield no emotion, was infatuated with the Emperor's most favored sparrow.

The sudden discovery almost ripped him into pieces.

Why?! Why!

He couldn't find any possible reason for the fourth prince to have such emotion with that sparrow. Surely, his face was exquisite but other than that, there were no other great traits!

He, the son of heaven and almost a deity, was ignored while the sparrow who couldn't get away with the Emperor's restraint get his attention?!

Not only that, Yong Guan who wasn't concerned about anything were suddenly meddling in all his affairs.

Why? Does he like that sparrow to the point that he wants to be an Emperor?

Good.

Yong An flashed a cunning smile. As long as he was alive, he wouldn't let those two get together.

That's why, he played a game with Qiao Chen. At first, Yong An had an ugly impression with Qiao Chen but with their constant confrontation, he found out that the sparrow was no empty vase.

There was a different aura around him, his elegance and gracefulness will hook anyone just by a mere sight, he was like a bird with wings filled with so many surprises. And Yong An found himself again... being interested.

No matter, Yong Guan or Qiao Chen, he will get them both.

He tried to break away their connections, but... it was no avail.

"What? I experience his kiss, anger and resentment. While you can only watch him from afar." He cheekily said.

But he received no response from the fourth prince. It was still the same. There were no anger nor madness in his eyes, only Qiao Chen can make those emotions appeared on his gazes.

He wasn't worthy.

Yong An tried too hard to succeed in becoming the Emperor, but he overestimated his abilities. He was a proud son of heaven, and losing wasn't on his mind. Surely, he was one in a thousand... but Yong Guan was one in a million. He deliberately let Yong An gained the upper hand because he already knew that he will win in the end, he only uses him to get close to Qiao Chen as for the fact that their cooperation contains Yong An not becoming the Emperor.

He was playing on his palms all along. It hurts his pride and ego, his title as the son of heaven sounded like a joke.

In the end, he lost.

But he wouldn't lose easily, he will drag them to the hell with him!