33. Bittersweet

Knowing that Delun visited the palace for the first time in his accord, his old friends, Empress Haoxuan and Emperor Yong waited for him outside. At the same time, they also looked at the royal guard behind them. They pondered, from their circle of friends, Chang Bao and Delun were the closest ones amongst them. Chang Bao always took the initiative to speak to their stoic friend and also thought that they were like brothers.

However, why did it change in a blink of an eye? Did something happened to them? If Chang Bao really got mad because of the wedding, he should've forgiven Delun a long time ago. But, the way he treated Delun was off to what they have assumed.

And as his friend, they really wanted to know.

The two looked at Chang Bao as Chang Bao averted their gaze.

How should he tell them two? He really can't. In his mind, Delun was a traitor that he could not forgive no matter how hard he tried to persuade himself.

Should he tell them, that Delun wanted to poison the Emperor just because of his Empress? For him, Delun was like a tumor in his life. After he married his younger brother, he resented him more. They promised themselves not to cross each other's paths again. And here he was, he made his brother fall in love with him.

But as Li Jie's da ge, he could only wished for his brother's happiness. Even though it was against his will, he can't budge and can only say yes to them.

Emperor Wang tried to persuade Chang Bao, even telling their past experiences in childhood. But, it could only bring back the bitter times when Delun failed him completely. It makes him sick to mention his name. If only Li Jie didn't love him, the present should be fine. However, not only did they crossed paths, they met as in-laws.

He was furious.

"Chang..."

"Your Highnesses, no matter what you say, I still couldn't think of him as a friend anymore." He said coldly and looked at the Emperor and Empress' furrowed brows.

"Why is that?"

"This servant can't tell you. Sorry Your Highnesses."

"Why are you so formal today? I'm not used to it." Empress Haoxuan retorted, a smile shone brightly to his dainty and beautiful face. Chang Bao pursed his lips and didn't say anything. Empress Haoxuan and Emperor Yong sighed shook their heads helplessly.

Chang Bao thought, 'If only you all knew."

"The General and his wife has arrived!" The sound of the galloping horse and the roughness of the road echoed as the wheel rolled the way, the three turned their heads to where the carriage halted.

Delun walked out first and stretched out his hand to reach his wife. However, the cunning and tricky man wanted to eat his wife's tofu. As he held Li Jie's hand, he immediately snaked his hand to his waist, pulling his wife to his arms.

The scene was full of pink bubbles, and even ants have diabetes itself. The Emperor and Empress couldn't believe their eyes. Is this their aloof and cold General? The one that the military had been always feared?

The General was smiling while his wife was puffing his cheeks, while his face colored a deep tinted red on his cheeks down to his necks. The wife had an eye patch on his eyes but one could tell how much more beautiful he is.

"Delun." The Emperor said smilingly. Empress Haoxuan also smiled happily. Delun looked at Empress Haoxuan and Emperor Yong. And he deeply smiled. It seems like, he really did forget his feelings for Haoxuan and accepted himself that he was in love with his wife.

The two were stunned seeing Delun smiled. One would think that he was possessed. The two then pondered, Delun was really in love with his wife.

"This humble one respects Your Highnesses." Delun bowed and Li Jie copied Delun's actions. Li Jie then thought that he really need to learn etiquettes. He may embarrass himself if he hadn't learn yet.

Empress Haoxuan looked at Li Jie. He observed that Li Jie was beautiful and delicate, much more beautiful than him. He could also tell that the Delun's wife was still young. But for some reason, he really liked this person in front of him.

"You may rise." Emperor Yong said and the two raised their heads. The royal guard on the back looked at them sullenly. But after his brother spotted him, Li Jie's eyes sparkled and smiled widely.

"Da ge!" Li Jie said as he waved. Haoxuan smiled as he looked at Li Jie's innocent face. He then enviously looked at Chang Bao, jealous that he has such a cute brother.

However, the two was even more surprised that Chang Bao, who was so gloomy earlier, brightened his eyes and smiled warmly.

What kind of attitude switch is this?

Li Jie was embarrassed when he thought what he wanted to say. But he knew that the palace has much eyed than what he have imagined, and then he acted like a spoiled and madly in love wife.

"Baobei, I want to see my brother. Can I walk with my brother for a bit?" Li Jie asked with a sweet tone and honey-like smile. Though deep inside, he was feeling cringy but totally not hate it. And then he realized again, why didn't he hated it? And he even liked it?

'He- he called me baobei. Baobei, oh my poor heart!' Delun squealed like a maiden in love in his thoughts.

"Okay, call me if you need anything." Delun smiled and shuffled Li Jie's hair. Li Jie puffed his cheeks and scowled at him. Though, he only looked like a wrinkled cat when Delun stared at him.

As the matter of time he stared at Delun's bottomless eyes, a loud thump resounded inside his chest. On tick of seconds and it seems like the world has stopped. Li Jie didn't even know that he smiled widely, but as soon as he found himself in a daze and ran towards his brother Chang, embarrassed.

"Da ge! I missed you!" Shooing all his thoughts, he hopped happily to his older brother and hugged his neck tight. Chang Bao's sour mood gradually fade away. He smiled and patted his brother's chest.

Delun on the other side, felt extremely envious towards Chang Bao. How he wished Li Jie would take the initiative to hug him like how he hugged Chang Bao. But, he knew that it would take time before he fully trust him and take him as his own husband. Someday, that time will come.

The two brothers left the three on the spot. But before the two departed, Chang Bao coldly glare at Delun and immediately exchanged a warm gaze as he stared Li Jie. One could tell that he really doted Li Jie a lot.

"I'll prepare some tea. It's been so long when I prepare it by my hands. I'll be back when I'm done." Haoxuan said smilingly and left. Delun looked at Haoxuan's back and shook his head. Remembering the past, he really was a total jerk. He can't even look at their eyes anymore.

"Let's go to the garden. Let's reminisce our days in the past. It's been so long when you last visited the palace without being related to work." Wang Yong smiled and took a step towards the garden. Delun did the same.

Wang Yong talked while smiling as he told stories about their childhood days and was abruptly stopped when he remembered something important. It was indeed a perfect timing when he stopped, they were already in the garden table. Wang Yong urged Delun to sit and he followed him. The Emperor was acting carefree because he was his friend. But, he couldn't help but ponder something else.

"Delun, for having this kind of bonding for so long, why do you and Chang Bao so distant to each other? Is there something bothering you two?" Wang Yong asked making Delun froze. All these years, no one knew what he have done so despicable except for Chang Bao. Chang Bao trusted him as his own brother and here he was, blinded by jealousy and even wounded his friend.

The only friend who stayed by his side when he was on the downs of his life. The only friend that trusted him, but was being hurt by him in the end. He looked at Wang Yong, and then thought of Haoxuan, does he really deserve them as his friends?

He was just a naive teenager who fell in love before, not with some other person but with his other friend, who regarded him as his friend and brother. He was just young back then, but he couldn't deny what he did was horrible. Now that his predicament was false and he was even in love with his former friend's brother, who have regarded him as his own enemy.

And he thought of Li Jie, does he really deserve his love? If all of them knew what is on his mind that time when the two agreed to be lovers, will they punch his face and feed it to the dogs?

But no matter now. All he wanted was Li Jie's love, a genuine love, not like what he have before.

"There's something between us that we couldn't change. And no matter how I corrected it, will not change. And I'm afraid... I caused this mess between us." Delun frowned and slightly drooped his eyes.

Wang Yong was confused. But he knew the limits where he should speak. Delun sighed and looked above. It seems that the heaviness in his heart seemed to have lifted up lightly. Although the only thing remains was his former friend, Chang.

He must have cherished his brother a lot that he gave his support even though he hated Delun. But the past is the past, however it lead scars that will never peeled off no matter how hard you put medicine on it.

On the other side, Chang Bao was happy seeing his brother talked happily. But also sour when he talks to Delun all the time.

Li Jie talked to how Delun irritates him all day, how he wanted to punch his face, how he wanted to kick his balls, but he was happy thst he was with him.

Li Jie regained his senses after he discovered himself talked a lot about Delun. He froze, and remembering the night when he was being touched by him, his face reddened with embarrassment. But, his heart keeps pounding every single time when he thinks of him. And asked himself, 'Am I sick?'

"A-jie, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing! I just thinking something." Li Jie stuttered making Chang Bao drew question mark above his head.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then, how are you in the manor?" Chang Bao asked warmly. The onlookers were shocked. The guards passed by widened their eyes as the royal guard's mood felt warm and cozy. They then looked at the beautiful man with a patch on his eye, every time he opened his mouth felt like music to their ears as he speak.

"Delun feeds me a lot. Also cuddles me. Li Wei was there to assist me too. Delun buys me hair pins and clothes. Sometimes he acted spoiled and rogue towards me, but I find him cute. And... And..." Li Jie was surprised by himself. Why was he saying such things? He doesn't know why, but every ounce of heartbeat screams his name.

Chang Bao widened in surprise and listened to his brother. Does Delun really changed? Is he not the same as before? Chang looked at his brother's red face. He could really tell that he was in love.

Chang Bao hugged his youngest brother and chuckled lightly. As long as Li Jie is happy, then he is happy too.

But at the same time, he cried, his emotions swirled from his chest. He csresssed his brother's hair and said with a cracked voice,

"You've really grown, baby brother."

*************

A/N: Who read Erha Husky and his White Cat Shizun already? If you do, cry with me ಥ⌣ಥ My eyes can't take it anymore (╥_╥)