Yue Fei's scream echoed all through the palace with a matter of urgency. She had fallen a few feet away from Prince Liang Chen, and the prince had fallen in the opposite direction. With her back turned to him, she had no clue that the man she was about to accuse now lay still on the marble floor, his head bumped and a little reddish bruise evident of his silent defense.
Maids and guards rushed toward the direction of the scream, their eyes widened at the scene before them. On the floor, Yue Fei lay with her hair a mess and tears streaming down her face, while behind her was the prince's consort, still and unmoving.
In his mind, the system chimed, and the words arranged themselves:
[Reputation loading…]
Liang Chen stayed still and listened to the chaos that was about to unfold. Seeing the maids stand still, not reaching to help her, Yue Fei cried even harder.
"He… he pushed me!" she choked, and gasps ripped through the little crowd.
Liang Chen's mind went blank. For sure, she was a drama queen, but he was a master. He had not gained a place in the court of Yunzhou in his past life by playing by the rules.
Rules were made to be twisted, turned, and overlooked, and he did so with pride and grace. A little childish act was certainly not going to tarnish his image.
From the other corner, the Empress stormed out with Ji Mingyuan and Ji Fengye. Ji Mingyuan's eyes froze at the sight before him. The maids were helping Yue Fei, but no one was paying attention to the man who lay still, almost lifeless.
"Liang… Liang Chen!" Prince Ji Mingyuan rushed forward and cradled him in his arms. He patted his cheek calmly, but the man in his arms was still as a rock, his breath calm, his lips dry.
"What did he do to you, Yue'er?" the Empress demanded, holding up a crying Yue Fei.
Ji Mingyuan's breath caught. Wasn't the outcome clear? One person was okay, breathing and talking, while the other lay still, his face pale, his lips dry.
"Are you serious now, Mother? Who could have hurt Liang Chen so badly if not her?" he hissed, but the Empress raised a hand, stopping him.
"No one was here to see it. If Yue'er says he tried to, "
"Tried to what?" Ji Mingyuan barked. "He is a man who loves another man. Why would he be interested in her when he can have me?"
The room went silent. Liang Chen's lips tilted a little, but it was back to normal before Ji Mingyuan, or anyone else, could notice.
"Are you now calling me a liar?" the Empress challenged.
Ji Mingyuan knew his mother's tactics better than anyone else. It was her rule to sweep the problems of those she cherished under the rug, and this time was no different.
"What will the court say when they hear the prince's consort attacked his betrothed?" she hissed.
Ji Mingyuan opened his mouth, but Ji Fengye cut in with his usual pretentious support.
"It's understandable. We all know he must feel threatened. After all, he is only… a substitute."
As the words fell, the Empress's face hardened.
"He should be punished," the Empress's words cut through the air.
Ji Mingyuan's fingers tightened around Liang Chen. Slowly, he carried Liang Chen into his arms. The thick scent of sandalwood was a surprising comfort to Liang Chen as he leaned closer.
"He will not be punished," Ji Mingyuan stated as he attempted to walk out with his consort.
"Don't you dare walk out on me!" the Empress snapped, and two guards quickly blocked the prince's path.
Ji Mingyuan stared at them, then his gaze fell on the man in his arms. He was quiet like a sleeping baby, his brow furrowed, but his face a soft reminder of just how much he had fought for this day.
Without complaint or protest, the prince walked over and carefully placed his unconscious consort on the soft sofa, then turned to his pretentious family. His cold eyes landed on his mother.
"We all walked into the scene at the same time, and for some reason, my consort is being tagged as the attacker. Mind you, he is unconscious, and she might have done worse. How blind can you be, Mother?" Ji Mingyuan muttered, his voice cold.
"And you," he stepped closer to his elder brother, "he was never a substitute. He is no placeholder, for it has always been him. Even when the world, and he, was blinded, it was him."
Liang Chen listened with a wide grin.
"And since we are all pointing accusing fingers, let's begin with you, Yue Fei." Ji Mingyuan's eyes darkened.
"Don't you trust me, my prince? Yue'er would never lie to you," she whispered, her voice ever so tender.
Ji Mingyuan's lips curled. "Is that so?" he asked, and she nodded without delay.
"I was on my own. He said I was the mistress and that I did not deserve you. He said so many bad things, and when I tried walking away, he pushed me…" Yue Fei choked, tears streaming down her face.
"But how come he is the one unconscious, and you are standing fine?"
Yue Fei opened her mouth, but no words came out. The question was as loud as thunder.
"Enough, Mingyuan! Are you calling Yue'er a liar?" the Empress barked.
Ji Mingyuan sighed tiredly. "I am calling no one a liar. But I know Liang Chen, and he doesn't need to dirty his hands."
"So you're calling me blind?" the Empress roared.
Ji Mingyuan was done with them. "No," he answered coldly.
"He didn't push her. And if you can't tell the difference between performance and truth…" He walked over and picked up Liang Chen in his arms like he weighed nothing.
"That's on you," he added and strolled out, leaving the bomb he just dropped.
The tension was already at its peak, and Yue Fei's cries did not help matters. Liang Chen listened to the Empress's roars, but Ji Mingyuan paid no attention to her tantrums.
As they turned into the hallway leading to the Consort Quarters, Liang Chen slowly opened his eyes.
"Having fun?" The thunderous voice of Ji Mingyuan rang in his ears.
At first, he jolted and struggled to be put down, as the guards' and maids' stares were becoming too obvious. But Ji Mingyuan wouldn't let him have his way.
"When did you find out I was faking it?" Liang Chen asked, and Ji Mingyuan's lips curved.
"From the start," he muttered. Liang Chen stared into those green eyes. he had not protected him in their last life... He had hunted him. Liang Chen sighed.
"Well… she had it coming. Framing me is something I would not take," Liang Chen pouted, settling comfortably in the other's arms.
Ji Mingyuan loved this playful sight of his; it reminded him so much of the times they had met.
As they approached the entrance to his chamber, the system flickered above Liang Chen:
[Reputation: 27%]
[Emotional: bond 20%]
Liang Chen smiled at the growth. This was certainly becoming interesting, and strangely, he found himself looking forward to the Festival of Colors.
Liang Chen was still basking in the joy of his victory when the system chimed again:
[Pending punishment: 1]
[State: Incoming]