3.16

The warm sun spread its light in the endless sky. Together with the sound of birds chirping, indicating that it was already morning, and the servants in the palace started doing their routine.

Qiao Chen with his usually beautiful robe sat down in his seat, slender fingers touching the porcelain teacup, putting next to his lips, while calmly observing the dominant man in his opposite side.

It's not the first time that his majesty, the Emperor has visited Qiao Chen, this early. But this series of stopover consistently continued in the following days. Of course, Qiao Chen already know why the Emperor was in his residence just as the dawn commenced.

The evidence of the dark circles on the Emperor's eyes, and with his deep and observant eyes that never intended to leave Qiao Chen's, indicate that this was the result of the commotion yesterday.

Thinking about that incident, Qiao Chen seems to taste the tea more bitter and plain. It was like a void of irritation, trampled with the recollection of the cunning smile of the prince.

He smiled annoyingly.

He admitted that the second prince was devious enough to calculate the misconception, in order to put Qiao Chen in a difficult situation.

Furthermore, he knows Yong An deliberately visited him, last night. Not because, he threatened him, but because he entrapped him.

When the second prince discovered the real agenda of Qiao Chen, he used it as his advantages to set a trap to both Qiao Chen and the Emperor.

The protagonist intentionally lure the Emperor into thinking, that Yong An really has an ambiguous relationship with Qiao Chen. Although, Qiao Chen intended to do that in the first place, he still can't help but feel irritated when his plans was used against him.

He doesn't have any idea on how did the second prince manage to entered his chamber with all restrictions and veterans spies and shadow guards. Qiao Chen know that the second prince has many men and followers to produce his plans.

The protagonist used the servants as a bridge to convey their equivocal fake relationship to the Emperor.

That will make his majesty paranoid and crazy. In result, he will neglect all the court affairs of the country. In that way, Yong An will starts to manipulate all the ministers and individuals to gather supports and fractions.

'His majesty, the Emperor has no care about the country. He only cares about his sparrows.'

That will be the perspective in each individual. They will view the second prince as their savior and hero. They will protest. Complaint. And be dissatisfied at the Emperor.

But still, they have no power to dethrone his majesty. The Emperor still had many big backers and supporters, even if he neglected his duty.

But not for too long.

Yong An... that scheming bastard will definitely use the people as his weapon, this Qiao Chen already predicted.

What is the best way to eliminate a sheltered Emperor?

It is to start a rebellion.

In the original plot, even though the Emperor enjoys shedding bloods, he did not manage to forget his duty as the Emperor. He was wise and very calculative. Although, the protagonist had the people's supports, he had no power to start a rebellion because those backers was not enough.

That's why the original Qiao Chen comes into the picture. He convinced the Emperor to use Yong An as a puppet, to fill the position of the crown prince. They both manipulate the Emperor into thinking that Yong An has no power to resist, his majesty.

There were no rebellion in the original plot.

But now that Qiao Chen had never intended to help the protagonist, Yong An change his plans and made Qiao Chen as a scapegoat.

The Emperor will neglect his duties, and his majesty will lose some of the support of the ministers.

At the same time, because of the obsession and craziness of the Emperor, he will monitor Qiao Chen attentively. The result, Qiao Chen will have a hard time performing his plans and scheming against the prince.

It was like hitting two birds with one stone.

Qiao Chen cursed inside. Very well. The second prince already set his game.

Manipulative and calculative. A glint of darkness surrounded the sparrow's eyes.

He once again displayed his composed smile and put down the teacup, staring sweetly at the Emperor, "Your majesty, why visit Xiao Chen, this early? In the end, Xiao Chen did not manage to dress up properly." he uttered in a soft yet soothing voice, with his serene face dyed in crimson, shredded in shyness.

If it was a normal day, the Emperor will think that his sparrow was very cute and lovely. But right now, he only thinks about the reports of the servants last night.

Some very skilled unknown men made them unconscious, and invaded the chamber of Qiao Chen.

At first, there were a terror and panic at the Emperor's heart. He thought that something happened to his sparrow. He rapidly went to his residence and found out that the latter was only sleeping... with red bruised on his wrist.

The Emperor's trail of thoughts flew all the way into one conclusion. His suspicion become clearer and clearer each day.

He knew... that the second prince was responsible for that incident, and that... his sparrow and the young prince indeed had an ambiguous relationship!

He recalls the incidents that occurred with his sparrows... the assassination that injured the fourth prince. Maybe, it was also the second prince responsible for that!

How long does the two had this kind of relationship?!

How long does his sparrow was fooling him?!

His eyes emitted a radiant darkness, with each abiding sensation trapping inside his chest, that will grip in every time. Just like a pool of madness, never intended to stop tormenting him.

Second prince... Qiao Chen... No!

He can never let his sparrow leave his side! Even if he dies, his sparrows will be buried with him!

In the end, he only forced himself to remain normal, "This Emperor misses Xiao Chen. From now on, this Emperor will stay with Xiao Chen all the time."

Qiao Chen almost compliment the Emperor because of his sanity. His mental power was very strong, but too one-sided. He smirked gently.

He blushed and deliberately covered his flustered cheeks with his fan, "B-But, his majesty is the Emperor, how can his majesty neglect his duties?"

The Emperor hearing this only knitted his brows, with his large and rough hands gripping the porcelain teacup.

He really wanted to push him away, just to meet with the second prince?! That will never happen!

He smiled darkly, "Xiao Chen doesn't need to worry. The ministers are enough to attend all the affairs of the country. Xiao Chen just need to accompany this Emperor."

"B-But—"

"Just I said, you just need to serve this Emperor!" His voice roared loudly because of the consistent refusals of the sparrow. All the rationality in his body, certainly drained out.

He dare put on an act that he was devoted to the Emperor, only to have a relationship behind his back?!

What can he gain about that prince?!

Because is he young?!

Or... because...

The Emperor's eyes widened because of a conclusion. He did not bother to coax the trembling sparrow like he usually does. His eyes flashed in the void of twilight. His breath started to get heavier. His face gradually changed from time to time.

The crown prince selection is getting nearer. He was already old... and needed someone to secure the position.

So... it makes sense that Qiao Chen had a relationship with the second prince, because in all of his four children, the second prince has the highest qualifications to become the crown prince and even... become the next Emperor.

His sparrow was still young, and if he will really dethrone, his sparrows will become the possession of the next Emperor.

Qiao Chen wants to make... the second prince, the crown prince to continue their intimacy!

He laughed in madness, making the trembling sparrow flinched and scared by his reaction.

But only anger remain in the Emperor's heart.

They dare deceive them?! Good! He won't let that happen! They can only dream to have that kind of intimacy!

He knows that he can't just punish or exile the second prince because he dare to covet his possession without proper evidence. Both second prince and Qiao Chen were smart enough to hide their traces. Even if he monitors Qiao Chen all the time, he will never see them together.

What he needs was a pawn. A puppet, to fight against the crown prince selection.

The prince who had the biggest supporters was certainly the second prince. But he was the Emperor, he can still manipulate the fraction to turn against that bastard prince.

The first prince was on the verge of the deathbed. He was not suitable for being his pawn. The third prince hated him and had a bad reputation.

Lastly, the fourth prince...

The Emperor's eyes narrowed, and his chest feel a severe anger. He can only swallow those sensations and calmly proceed to gather all his thoughts.

Sure enough, he was still mad about the sudden attempt to kill him by that another bastard prince. But he was still the best pawn out of the three.

He suddenly remembered why the fourth prince were injured that time. Qiao Chen and the fourth prince doesn't have any bit of possibility to meet. And he recalls that the fourth prince hated his sparrows very much.

If the assassination was really true. The fourth prince won't throw his life for his sparrow.

That means... the fourth prince was intentionally injured, not by saving Qiao Chen... but because he found out about the connection of the two. The next day... Qiao Chen consistently pestered him, to visit the fourth prince... because he wanted to shut him up? Did he threaten him?

Maybe the first time didn't work... that's why Qiao Chen deceived the Emperor to accompany him in visiting the fourth prince, to indicate that his majesty will never believe the fourth prince, even if he tells him about the connection of both the second prince and his sparrow. His sparrow really displayed that he can control and manipulate the Emperor.

Perhaps, the fourth prince was not aiming to kill the Emperor... but to kill Qiao Chen?

His hands turned into a fist. He once again returned his gaze to the trembling sparrow. Only a spark of hate will embody all the sensation that the Emperor's held. He found it funny that this little sparrow dare manipulate him and... betrayed him.

There were no longer sympathy in his eyes, only pure obsession and anger, like a wave of sensations seeping through the abyss.

The Emperor smiled, "Xiao Chen is a very bad boy..." I will let you witness how I kill that bastard prince you like.

Unknowingly to him, while Qiao Chen lowered his head, escaping the terror of the Emperor, had a crazy smile on his lips.

"Why are you not throwing tantrums now?"

Wen Yang mockingly smiled at the opposite side of him. His gorgeous face held a subtle nobility, far from his usual ferocious nature. He took a sip at his teacup and examine the unusual behavior of the young man.

The juvenile, sitting in front of him, grinned wickedly, "Does my impression in your mind was always that of a child?"

"Oh. I always thought of you as a child."

"Heh." The young man chuckled, his innocent eyes narrowed slightly, and suggested, "What I want is a cooperation."

There was a wave of surprise in the surface of Wen Yang's face while turning into serious, leaning closely into the young man, "Are you kidding me?"

"What? As far as I know, you are not really cooperating with Qiao Chen. You only used him, don't you? And he also used you."

"Wow. I never thought you are this wise kind of young man." Wen Yang grinned, but underneath those was a fury heart, he asked, "What is this cooperation are you talking about? As far as I remember, you had a deep obsession with the Emperor. Don't tell me, this cooperation was about saving the Emperor? Sorry, I had to reject."

"You are very funny, Wen Yang." A glint of darkness reconstruct in the young man's eyes, "Do you really think that I am obsessed with the Emperor?"

"Then what do you want?"

"Just like you, I also adore power." The juvenile flashed his dangerous smile, "Obsessing with the Emperor was only an act I have to exhibit. I am only a son of a courtesan, do you really think by not acting like an innocent child who were obsessed with his majesty, I will achieve this place?" his voice turned colder and colder, "I'm not going back to sell my body if ever, his majesty will grow tired of me. Just like you, I also want a permanent power were no one can insult nor trample me."

The corner of Wen Yang's lips lifted with a hint of amusement, "What made you sure that I will accept your offer?"

"Because like I said... you also want power which means... you want to conquer this country right? You were a spy."

Suddenly, the surrounding are turned fierce and cold. Like a fire and water, dominating each other, never intended to surrender. Wen Yang's blue eyes darkened. He controlled the raging emotions that invaded in his body.

"What can I gain from accepting your offer?" There were a sense of mockery in his tone. Wen Yang knows that this young man was not that simple like he used to know.

The juvenile smirked, "I will provide all the evidences, secret passages and military strategies and weapons that was used in the country. I have many connections to do that. I will aid you and I will cover you. But after that, you need to secure a position for me, with a permanent power that was not less yours."

Wen Yang glared but at the end, he let out a crazy laughed, "How did you know about my plans? I know that you are not a simple man... but I really underestimated you."

"Heh. When I heard that his majesty, has a new sparrow and his identity was crown prince from a nemesis kingdom, I know that it was very suspicious. That's why you never saw me at the banquet, right?" The young man smiled, his pure face was no longer been found, only wickedness was visible in his eyes, "I never attend at the welcoming banquet because... I already notice that you had ulterior motives. I saw someone, definitely from your kingdom, gathering information about the Emperor and the palace. Not only that, but I was also the one, who provide that information." he paused and examine the expression of the opposite side. A satisfaction rose in his heart. He continued, "That's why you put an act as a rebellious and arrogant young man, right? To catch the attention of the Emperor. I did not attend the banquet, because I followed the shadow guard who was gathering information and then, I saw you. That's why I already notice that you were a spy."

"What about Qiao Chen?"

"Heh. That wicked wench. I was tired of acting like an innocent and naive young man who was obsessed with the Emperor in front of him. He thought, he already manipulated me and making me fight against you. But he was wrong." he grinned, "Indeed, I followed his predictions, he wants me to become angry with you, I did. He wants me to scheme against you, I did. In truth... when I saw you kissing with the second prince, I never intended to report it to the Emperor, I only wanted to scare you. And to make my suspicion turn clear. As I expected, Qiao Chen stopped me because the two of you were working together."

Wen Yang was silent. He did not expect that this young man predicted and calculated all the things. Such a wise man, trapped in this palace. He smiled cunningly. He needs this young man. Not only that, but he can also be an awesome minister, in the near future.

"You surpass my expectations."

"I know." The young man chuckled but his eyes turned dark, "But I really wanted Qiao Chen to suffer. He dare use my identity as a bait for his manipulation?! I want to make him face a life worse than being death!"

Wen Yang smirked foolishly, "Then we can consider ourselves allies then..."

"Bai Menxiang."