Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven The day's sun was finally setting, leaving behind it the dark night's sky, yet the Chenxing palace remained more busy than usual. Around every corner, maids and servants happily gossiped away as they carried out their chores, while others were hidden away betting on the outcome of the night ahead. "I bet ten zon the prince doesn't perform tonight", one lively maid with dark red hair spoke softly as she handed over her ten zon note to the guard who was holding the wager. The two along with five others inclusive of maids, servants and guards were all huddled together in the far corner of palace kitchen, placing their bets. "Me too, me too, make mine fifty zon" this time a male who looked to be in his early thirties spoke, eagerly handing his notes over. "Don't you want to bid a little lower this time, Min Joon? Tonight might not be your lucky night?" Another male close to him asked, looking at his ten zon in his hand, a little aggrieved. Giving him a confident smile, Min Joon replied, "Sun, when have I ever been wrong, our Prince will never betray us. The name Zhang Wu won't succeed in their efforts for the throne, I Min Joon is loyal only to the Gang family" he declared proudly, beating is clenched fists to his chest. The one beside him, known as Sun, wasn't so convinced, "but could you really have him as emperor?" He asked callously, Min Joon frowned displeased, feeling a sense of betrayal by his question. "And what do you view as disqualifying of him?" He questioned, receiving a downward look from the others. "Min, do not pretend not to know, our prince is 'dumb' isn't he? Are you truly willing to accept someone like that ruling over our lands? Our country needs a strong alpha, we have been lenient with the Gang family for far too long. Prince XiaoSheng may be the lesser choice, but at least he is a true alpha and not a dumb hiding behind his crown. Besides" he lowered his voice and scanned the room at a glance before continuing, "We all know the emperor his also dumb, they've tried to hide their secret for generations but we the people are no fools" he bitterly explained. Min Joon's was filled with rage by the loose words of the man he's called his close friend for many years. However, he understood why many had begun to feel this way. After the Kazkah border tribe took control of the marketplace, they demanded the people to pay additional tax. Consequently, Many had suffered and lost business as a result. Yet no action was taken by the emperor, regardless of the people's cries for his help. Many had come to view his inaction has a direct sign that the Gang family no longer cared for the people of Zoulta. Hence, Min Joon has witnessed the faith of the people in their alpha and emperor diminished. But he refused to let his faith be wavered and was willing if called upon to fight for this country and emperor.
"That is precisely the reason why we as the people should remain loyal supporters, the moment our hearts faltered we leave room for those with ill intentions to take over. Besides, what if what you say is true, then who is speaking and giving orders on their behalf? Can that person be trusted? They want for nothing, yet they covet over what belongs to others. Isn't that a little too greedy?" Min Joon argued, his eyes filled with both passion and rage, glaring intensely at Sun's now complicated expression. The two betas heated debate had made the others among them uncomfortable, turning a petty moment of fun into a political stand-off. "Ah, do you lads always have to make the atmosphere so depressing? Leave your lover's quarrel for the bedroom. That way you can passionately kiss and make up, huh?" The wage holder spoke to be immediately spat at with the words, "WE'RE NOT LOVERS!", by the two men, who were unable to hide their embarrassment. "Okay, okay, if you say so" he dismissed their denial unconvinced, "now hurry and give me your monies" he continued to take the remaining bets and counted the pot. "Right! Everyone let's meet back here tomorrow afternoon, we'll find out if Min Joon is right again", he placed the money in his armour and left the group still chatting away with each other. However, unknown to them, someone had been listening to their every word. . . . After the fall of night, Chul Cha Ae had returned to Wu Shu's bed chambers, bringing along the tea she had prepared. "My lady, this maid Cha Ae has retuned", she softly called out as she entered, holding the crystal tea set. "Have you done what I have asked?", Wu Shu questioned, coming closer to inspect the tea set.
"Yes my lady, I have prepared the tea as instructed" Cha Ae confirmed. "Set it down and come assist me into tonight's dress", Wu Shu ordered, trying to contain the nervousness within her voice. Her eyes watching intently as Cha Ae placed the tea set down, never moving from where she stood. "My Lady, shall we begin" Cha Ae called out, pulling her from her daze. Giving her a small nod, she took her place at her dressing table with a complicated expression worn upon her face.
Li Hung, on the other hand, was pacing continuously with the walls of his secret room, his mind not on the night ahead but his earlier encounter with that omega. He had hoped of consulting Ronald of his concerns along with finding out who the unknown omega was. However, upon rationalising his thoughts, he was thankful that the other person wasn't there to consult. Li Hung's reaction wasn't too unreasonable considering his unfamiliarity with omegas, the Chenxing palace did not permit the ownerships of omegas slaves, a law enacted by his father. When Li Hung had once asked why he did not simply abolish the omega slave laws, his father responded that such battles were for the strong and not the weak. At the time, Li Hung was confused because he had always viewed his father as an unmatchable ruler, it was not until he was wiser had he understood what those words meant. Having given up on the intention to discuss the matter with Ronald, Li Hung decided to retire for the night and return to his bed chambers. However, as he drew closer to the doors off his bed chambers, he felt a strange feeling of dread come over him, halting his steps. He looked around, seeing the normal palace guards standing guard by his door, their faces carrying the usual null expression. Stepping away, he scanned the area for anything suspicious but found nothing, until finally dismissing the feeling and headed inside. However, the moment the doors closed behind him the guards also locked the door trapping him inside, the action puzzled Li Hung at first, but he was taken aback when a familiar pheromone hit his nose. Walking towards the smell, he was alarmed to find Zhang Wu Shu laying suggestively in his bed. A complicated look flashed across his face, he had forgotten all about his mothers' arrangement. The two eyes met, and Wu Shu gave him an awkward smile whilst climbing down from the bed, "You're here… I hope you don't mind…. When we had arrived you had not responded to our greeting… so I… thought it okay to let myself in" she spoke gently, standing nervously at the side of the bed.
As expected, Li Hung was silent and continued to stare at her with a blank expression, he had intended to hide away again and let the night pass, knowing that his mother would have strongly scolded him once she came to know. But his lapse in concentration had led him to this unprecedented situation, and no matter how he thought for a way out, he couldn't and was therefore trapped with her for the night. Wu Shu was also a lost for a different reason, she knew nothing of how to flirt or of how to seduce a man, searching through her lesions not once had they taught her the art of "how to seduce your husband 101'. She had imagined this night a hundred times in her head, the thoughts alone had made her undeniable aroused, even fantasying of the two using their birth abilities in some sexual animalistic way made her cheeks burn with excitement. "Ahem… would you like something tea?" She asked, quickly removing herself from his intense gaze. In a dazed, Li Hung watched her every step as her neatly fitted silk gown floated In-sync with her long black hair delicately against the marbled floors, making her steps look like a walking angel. His eyes then wandered around the room and on his bed that had since been decorated were red petals scattered loosely over freshly made white bedsheets. The room was filled with the smell of apple scented incense, with only a few candles flickering lively at each corner, it set the mood for a romantic night head. The scene would have been perfect had it not been for the person before him, the image caused an uncomfortable feeling to rise to his chest, at that moment with his hand held at his back he began to form a condensed air pocket within the palm of his hand, intending to use it to subdue her and rid himself of this night. Wu Shu paused as her hand griped the handle of the crystal tea pot, conflicted of her next move when she heard the voice of her wolf, "what are you waiting for? Give it to him already", the domineering tone of Daiyu echoed throughout her head. "I don't think this is a good idea, he doesn't seem as indifferent today" Wu Shu replied, hesitant to carry out her own plan, "Tsk, and you have such abilities to bed him without the drugs? Besides, we've already come this far, and you know nothing will happen between you two if you don't do this. Therefore, stop hesitating and give it to him already" Daiyu spoke in a frustrated tone, she had a stronger and more domineering personality well suited for and alpha wolf. She often found Wu Shu timid and docile personality frustrating, she knew that Li Hung disliked Wu Shu and had tried on several occasions to convince her weaker body to take more control of their abysmal marriage. Biting the corner of her lip, Wu Shu nervously looked at Li Hung and found that the other was now wearing his usual indifferent expression, and his earlier mesmerizing gaze had disappeared replaced with disdain. A sore feeling burned within Wu Shu's heart, "I thought you said he wasn't indifferent today" the mocking voice of Daiyu rang in her head. Taking a deep breath, she lifted the tea pot and poured out its contents, then brought the crystal cup with its green tea-leaf still floating leisurely at its top to Li Hung. "The servants prepared this new blend of tea for us earlier" she offered the tea cup that sat neatly on its crystal saucer, waiting for a hesitant Li Hung to accept. Li Hung glared at her suspiciously, and after pausing for some time he finally lifted his hands to accept her offering. Wu Shu smiled gently, her nervousness still showing, as she watched his long white fingers guided the crystal cup to his soft peach rose lips and gently pressed it against his lips, taking a small drink.