25. Restless

Delun thought that all the ministers were present in the meeting. It turns out that only few selected ministers were present in the round table. The Emperor along with his royal guard on his back, Chen Guang, Zhang Wei and him were the only ones present in the meeting. As the meeting proceeds, Chang Bao excuses himself saying that his eyes felt like it had been stung by a bee all of the sudden. Chang Bao then looked at Delun irritatingly and glanced at Chen Guang agonizingly. This day had been the worst day in his entire history so Chang Bao went outside the room for the sake of his temper.

"So, Zhen has been hearing complaints with the people near the border. The tax keeps getting higher which made the people gained doubts towards the Imperial Palace. As you see, Zhen never increased the bills this month because there hasn't been any trouble in the Capital. If this continues, many people will rebel against the palace's orders and it could severe the connections in the Imperial palace." Wang Yong said hastily as he eyed the Qin map lying on the table. It is indeed a big crisis in the Imperial palace since the people outside started to doubt the palace's management. If this continues, it may lead to a huge catastrophe in the future.

"Your highness, it was indeed a big problem for us. The inside and outside of the palace had its own ears and eyes so I could not act to my own accord. But, I had been pondering lately. One of my people that I stationed inside the Liu manor, there was a basement in one of the mansion's critters that attracted the servant's eyes. So, he sneakily went inside of the basement and saw something peculiar." Chen Guang said, rubbing his chin. There was a hidden secret there that he himself couldn't believe. At first, he thought that the servant was just making excuses. It turns out that his predicament is true.

"What is in that basement?" Delun said as he calmly sip his tea. Chen Guang doesn't show that he didn't like Delun and only smiled at him and said.

"It turns out that all of the treasures that supposed to be in the palace were all in there. From medicine, to the sacks of rice and to the bunch of gold had been stocked inside."

The people inside were shocked. It was Minister Liu's job to ensure that the taxes from the people would be secured completely for the palace's emergency uses. As for the rise of suspicion because of the sudden increase of taxes outside without telling His Majesty makes it even contemptible.

The three out of four people didn't know the motive of Liu's plan but one of them just made a guess.

Zhang Wei, the minister of education had said, "It's just a hunch but I can't sure this must be it."

The three looked at Zhang Wei as he flipped his fan and swayed it in the air.

"If my guess is correct, Minister Liu had a foreign connection on the outside. If my predicament is true, he may be selling the goods from foreigners. I saw some of his men secretly, pushing a cart on the outskirts of the town previously, but I just couldn't believe my own judgement because I don't have evidence yet." The Emperor nearly fall off from his chair after he heard those words that came from Zhang Wei's mouth. He already knew the Minister's true colors, but he didn't know that it was much to this extent. He silently gritted his teeth and clenched his fist as he slammed it into the table.

All these years, he never encountered a person as scum as Minister Liu. Him, as the Emperor of Qin was deeply humiliated by the minister's actions.

As for Chen Guang, he really did his job as a chief censor so Delun was at ease with him. But, he still can't trust him fully because this man has too many secrets. One of the reason is that this man was his former friend and his wife's father.

"The reason why I called you here because you all are the only ones trusted in the palace. Find a perfect time to sort out his schemes and if you do, don't hesitate to corner him on the spot. Find evidences that could truly hinder him down as well as his other transactions from all the goods he had sold. I cannot bear with this. Sooner or later, the country's treasures will be soon devoured by that person's belly."

The three of them bowed and saluted, "His Majesty's orders will be fulfilled."

And then the meeting was adjourned. However, before the General could leave, Wang Yong stopped him and smiled, "Let's have a talk, shall we?"

Delun looked at Wang Yong and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Why so formal? After all, we have been friends."

Delun pursed his lips and didn't say anything. He just followed Wang Yong in the palace's garden and took a sip of tea.

Delun and him were quiet. It has been so long since they have been like this. Wang Yong had always invited Delun when there's an occasion. But, Delun didn't want to go to him and was only telling him that he has matters to do.

"So, how does the General this days?" Wang Yong sipped his tea and gazed the beautiful roses in the palace's garden.

"I'm alright, Your Majesty " Wang Yong could only twitched the corner of his mouth as Delun spitted those words.

"I already told you that we shouldn't act formal when there's no people. Still as hard-headed as before huh."

Delun just shrugged and enjoyed the view. He then recalled those past memories he and his friends before. Even now, the Emperor didn't know what he had done. That's why, he can't bring himself to go to the palace and faced him. For all those years, this was the first time that Delun had stepped his foot on the palace again.

"It seems that you're quite happy when you married. You really love him so much."

"Yes, I love my wife so much." If Chang Bao heard this, he will not hesitate to hunt him to death. Wang Yong just laughed and shook his head.

"No wonder that royal guard of mine looked gloomy all day. It seems that you really snatched something so precious from him." Wang Yong smiled and sipped his tea. He was happy that his friend finally found his happiness. It has been few years that he spoke to Wang Yong this close, as if they were the same when they were five.

"Chang Bao just sulky because his lovely brother has grown up. But he will get used to it someday."

Hearing this, Delun nearly scoffed as he thought of these words. Because, him being friends with Chang Bao again seems impossible. No matter how he approached him, he can still feel Chang Bao's resentment towards him.

"If that really happens, then I would be glad."

Wang Yong looked at Delun, confused. He knew that these two were close before, but these few years they were really far from each other. As if the two didn't know each other.

Delun stood up and saluted His Majesty good bye. But before he go, he looked back and met Wang Yong's confused gaze.

"I'm sorry, Wang Yong."

'If only I could say this to Chang Bao, but I don't have guts to do so. It's clear that he'll only ignore me.'

Delun then left the confused Wang Yong in the garden.

.

.

.

In the manor, Li Jie was about to rot on his bed.

He was either laying in the bed, or eating in his bed. Li Wei was about to shout at his master for being a sloth, but he knew that Li Jie won't listen to him. Li Jie decided to teach him during the day, so Li Wei had his first lesson after Delun went to the palace.

Now, Li Wei went to his room to rest.

Li Jie was gazing on the window when he felt his waist was circled through someone's hands. Li Jie was about to struggle but sniffing the familiar sandalwood scent, he stopped squirming and let the person tightened his grasp on his waist.

Delun hugged Li Jie tight and buried his nose on Li Jie's nape. Li Jie stood stiffly as the warm breath of Delun slides off Li Jie's skin. Li Jie really wanted to ask Delun why he was clingy.

"Um, Delun, what happened today?" Seeing Delun so clingy to him, Li Jie couldn't help himself and asked.

"Nothing, you're just pretty today."

'Pah! You are pretty! You're whole family are pretty!'

Li Jie just scoffed and ignored Delun from behind. But suddenly, Li Jie was being pulled off by Delun and lay him on his bed.

"I'm tired, let's cuddle for a moment."

'Do I look like a teddy bear?!' But Li Jie could only voiced out in his thoughts.

Delun cuddled Li Jie from the bed as Li Jie was laying stiffly beside him. Seeing Delun act like this, it made his hair stood up. His heart was beating abnormally that he himself couldn't explain.

"A-jie, if I tell you that I really love you, would you believe me?" Delun said tenderly as he stroke Li Jie's hair. He scrunched his nose as he turned his body to the side facing Delun. As he shifted his body, Delun saw Li Jie's delicate face beside him and Li Jie's heterochromia eyes were gazing right through his. His cheeks blushed as he looked away from Delun's gaze.

"W-what are you thinking exactly?" Li Jie stuttered, doesn't know what to speak. Right now, he could feel his heartbeat risen up uncontrollably. Li Jie then looked miserable as he turned his body on the other side again.

"Nothing. I think I love you."

'Is this guy for real?'

Li Jie then pretended to be dead and didn't move, even how Delun pinched him.

"It's okay, I will make you love me. And if you did, I will make you remember my name to the afterlife."

'Can I decline?'

"No, you can't decline."

'Did he just read my mind?!' And now, Li Jie felt scared even more than before.

Delun then lifted up Li Jie's head and placed it on his arms. Li Jie wanted to refute but he has no strength to do so. So he just do as what Delun pleased.

Being treated like this, Li Jie was not sure if he liked boys more than girls. Li Jie was restless after he thought such things.

'This General can really bend the sturdiest ruler to a U-shaped stick.'