Exhausted, Zhan stepped into the private wing. King Yibo was seated in the sitting room, his presence filling the air along with his distinct scent. His trusted aide, kneeling by his feet and sorting scattered documents, immediately bowed low to greet Zhan.
Zhan returned the gesture with a small nod, his eyes fixed on his "lion," who stared back intensely in a way only the two of them understood. With a subtle movement of his lips, Yibo silently instructed his aide to leave.
The aide stood up instantly....clearly waiting for that exact command. Entering the sitting room unexpectedly had become rare for him, because the couple who owned the house were always wrapped around each other, shamelessly displaying affection whenever and however they pleased. Sometimes he wondered if perhaps their King had been replaced by someone else entirely. But he knew better....what he saw was simply real.
Slowly, King Yibo opened his arms toward Zhan, a silent invitation. His eyes settled firmly on Zhan's beautiful face, softened and childlike, as if he might burst into tears.
Zhan instinctively stepped back, pouting, then tried to walk past him. But gently, Yibo caught Zhan's hand, a faint smile curling only at the edges of his lips.
He pulled Zhan fully into his embrace. Together they both released a deep sigh, holding each other tightly, as if afraid someone might tear them apart.
"You're my opposite in the middle of all opposites,"
King Yibo whispered into Zhan's ear, tightening his hold.
"And you're the only one who's mine, always, my lion," Zhan replied, placing long slow kisses across Yibo's chest. Then Zhan lifted his face, their eyes locking...filled with longing, even though they had only been apart since morning.
With difficulty moving his lips, Yibo murmured,
"Tired, baby?"
Zhan nodded dramatically, pouting again. But he lifted a hand and brushed his fingers gently along Yibo's jaw and the side of his neatly trimmed hair...something he loved beyond measure.
"But since it's work rewarded with affection, I don't feel tired," Zhan teased.
Yibo stole a quick kiss, pulling away to ask,
"Really?"
"Yep," Zhan replied, winking mischievously.
Yibo laughed quietly and tapped his nose before pressing his lips back onto Zhan's, kissing him deeply. Zhan kissed back with full skill and certainty, matching him without hesitation.
But soon, everything shifted...Yibo was not the type who believed in "just a little." Once he began, he always saw things through to the end. And Zhan, despite lacking experience in surrendering the way Yibo wanted, was trying hard to match him, offering cooperation every time Yibo whispered "stay still." Though Zhan always said "never," eventually he returned begging softly in spoiled surrender.
And King Yibo responded only with that mysterious, confident smile of his…
After they finally relaxed, Zhan gently persuaded King Yibo to call his parents. They spent a long time talking, because these days Zhan always made sure Yibo called them for him. However, whenever the call happened, King Yibo stayed in the room, never allowing Zhan's parent to see him or letting Zhan say anything about him. No matter how many times Zhan tried to convince him to show his face, he refused. He only agreed to make the calls, allowing them to speak freely while he listened silently from Zhan's side.
-----
Later that night, Zhan received a message from Dowager Taihou—the call had come through King Yibo. They already planned to visit her to say their farewells, because the following night their plane would be departing for Japan.
Knowing what Zhan planed, he insisted that King Yibo to let him go ahead first. He wanted to follow him later so he could bid farewell to Dowager Ruyan separately, and then the next morning Zhan would return to greet the rest of the household.
King Yibo saw no issue and agreed to let him go first. He also needed to have an important conversation with Dowager Ruyan concerning Zhan, and did not need his present.
As soon as Zhan stepped out of the car, attendants hurried toward him, bowing deeply. Before he even reached the entrance, word of his arrival had already been delivered to Dowager Taihou. Outwardly she said nothing, remaining stone-still, even when Zhan walked in.
All the attendants around her dropped instantly to their knees....the power Zhan carried stunned them. Regardless of anything, he was the Royal Consort.
Zhan merely lifted a hand lightly, signaling them to rise, and then sat boldly, crossing one leg over the other in a display of effortless authority. Every attendant in the room exchanged startled glances....because tradition demanded that a Royal Consort kneel before the Dowager Mother, and the floor was where he was expected to sit.
They stole nervous glances at Dowager Taihou, waiting to see her reaction....but she did not move even once, nor did she show any sign of displeasure.
Zhan shot a sharp look at the attendants and flicked his fingers, dismissing them. They scrambled out quickly, though clearly desperate to see how the encounter would unfold.
Silence filled the room. Neither of them spoke. Zhan simply dare to focused on King Yibo's phone in his hand.... browsing casually, intentionally unbothered, acting as though he had forgotten entirely whose presence he was in.
Dowager Taihou finally lifted her gaze, her eyes blazing with suppressed fury. She stared at him for long seconds before she exhaled harshly and said:
"So you think you're now powerful enough to argue with me?"
Even though Zhan heard her clearly, he did not move. Not until several seconds passed did he speak, without lifting his eyes from the phone:
"You already know the answer, Mother-in-law. And whatever Zhan decides to do....he will do it. Write it down if you want. Because I never forget to take back what's mine, especially when it concerns my blood."
"Hmph. Tread carefully," she warned coldly. "I am far more dangerous than you, boy. Control yourself if you want to remain alive long enough to protect your family."
Zhan let out a calm, cold smile and lifted his gaze to meet hers directly.
"Is that supposed to be a threat, Mother-in-law? If it is, then you should inform your so-called spiritual shaman that her tricks have failed....because she clearly didn't see that the blood of Zhan is beyond her reach. Even from a distance, neither child nor elder is someone she can touch.
So tell me, why did you call me here? I have urgent matters to attend to. If you summoned me just to parade your authority, to remind me you are a fierce tigress...then let me assure you, to me you are no more dangerous than a paper tiger."
The word "Spiritual shaman" struck Dowager Taihou like a slap. She did not even hear the insults that followed; her mind stopped there. Yet she forced herself to remain composed, giving him a cold, regal smile while looking at him as if he were a disrespectful child.
"I won't stop you from playing with your pride, boy. But I will leave you with a lesson history will never forget. I want to know your reason for trespassing into the royal storage and removing food supplies."
Zhan smiled again, placing the phone down and releasing a steady breath.
"Mother, I acknowledge that you are a tigress. But understand this....no matter how powerful a hunter may be, age eventually weakens the bones, and even a queen of the wild must one day bow to time. I am not claiming to be invincible. I am telling you that right now, everything you are is sitting in the palm of my hand.
I do not wish to stand here arguing with you or force a public display of power that would make others witness your failure or humiliation. Respect is worth preserving. Especially respect for the child you gave to this world...whose honor carries weight among the people, whether you like it or not.
I possess truths about you that, if i unveiled even once, would rob you of sleep for the rest of your life. But I will not expose them...not yet. Because of the dignity of your son, and the value he holds. However, that mercy lasts only as long as you choose to walk back onto the right path.
Five days ago, I discovered poisoned tea leaves intended for the King. I also found tainted milk. Upon investigation, the source led directly back to your wing. And when I checked further, both the milk and the tea were under your command.
I cannot understand what you are trying to achieve. Anyone who looks at King Yibo can see your blood in him....your resemblance is unmistakable. You yourself have said repeatedly that he is your son.
So what exactly are you after? What goal is worth turning him into your enemy? Do you realize that if he had consumed that tea or milk, the damage to his life would have been greater than anything that could ever touch mine? And in the end, you would have been the one drowning in regret.
If someone is feeding you lies disguised as protection, or poisoning your mind to destroy my life....wake up. Wake up before the ground disappears beneath your feet and every escape is gone in this city.
What are you chasing? What are you lacking? What position do you desire beyond what you already hold...one that should guide you peacefully into your future, like Dowager Ruyan, respected by all?"
He dragged in a heavy breath, his hand pressing against his forehead in frustration. Then he lifted his head again, ignoring the blazing fury in Dowager Taihou's eyes, and continued…
"You were created a woman when there are many who desperately desire to be one but can never become so. You were given beauty while others, far less fortunate, struggle to achieve even a fraction of it through desperate and risky means. You were given a healthy body, whole and without disability, while countless others live with injuries or illnesses as a daily battle. You were given strength and sound health, while many lie helpless in hospitals and in their homes, unable to afford even the simplest treatment—wealth or status unable to buy them relief.
You were blessed with wealth while many cannot afford one meal a day. You were raised in a grand household, sheltered by a noble lineage, while so many sleep on streets or in broken huts....not because you deserved more, but simply because you were born into privilege. You were given power to rule, while countless others spend their lives yearning for the same position—some of whom serve beneath you and are thrilled simply to stand in your presence.
You were granted education and opportunity, while many are surrounded by ignorance, not by choice but by the absence of anyone to support them. Some were forced into darkness, committing destructive acts not because they wished to, but because they never learned a way out. You were given a son...one worth more than a thousand...and a husband whose legacy the world will never forget, while so many mothers suffer from the pain and shame brought upon them by husbands and children who fail them.
All of these things were given to you not because you are superior to the rest of creation, not because you can escape death or judgment of consequences, and not because you are stronger than fate. They were given to you simply as a test...just as others were given their own trials.
So what more do you want beyond all this?
What desire burns in you so fiercely that destroying other people's children brings you joy, while you cannot bear even the smallest harm to your only son? You are a mother....you should be the first to understand the pain and terror of losing a child. Before you bring suffering to others, imagine the agony you would feel if it came to your doorstep.
I, Xiao Zhan, will never forgive vengeance done in the name of pride or cruelty. And I will keep reminding you of this...not out of hatred, but because I respect the role of a mother. I was raised never to dishonor anyone, not even someone a single day older than I. Much less a woman who could very well have been my own mother, especially if fate had written Yibo as a daughter instead of a son.
And above all...remember this...you brought into this world a warrior, a man of courage and strength. Even if I never speak the words aloud, every part of my being carries pride in him."
King Yibo is a just and disciplined ruler. He never boasts about the power and authority he holds, seeing it only as a responsibility and a trial. There are countless things I am still uncovering about you, and about your involvement in the destruction of other people's children. If you believe you can continue to challenge me with arrogance...Dowager Taihou, I swear you will not be seen again.
Follow me carefully....I am the one who will take you anywhere you wish to go, not the other way around. Just as I brought myself into this empire...you did not bring me here. Just as I made use of Langya, Deng, and Xuanji...they did not use me. You witnessed their downfall even though I had only just begun with them. And just as I granted your son....whom you boast about...protection; he did not grant it to me. Yet you dare to provoke and hint that he will withdraw his protection from me?
Return to your senses while there is still time. I warn you...do not force yourself into the list of people whose dignity I'll crushed publicly in this empire, only for your own son to pass judgment on them. Do not push this to the level of war. Lay down your weapons and hide behind the honor of your son. The consequences should remain between you and me alone.
There is very little time left before everything explodes. And once it begins, there will be no turning back...because I have realized that even you do not know who your son truly is. You only see him as a fragile rope you can control, when in reality, he is a ferocious lion disguised in the skin of a lamb."
He smiled faintly and walked slowly toward her.
Zhan reached out and took her hand and placed it gently on his abdomen.
"I congratulate you," he said softly, "because by the time we return from our honeymoon, i will be carrying your grandchild beneath this imperial roof. So stop torturing yourself over forcing my husband to marry the woman you desire just to deliver him for you....or trying to sever our bond to make it happen through some tainted milk.
When the day comes that his existence is confirmed, start counting the days of your regret and suffering until his birth. From that moment on, power and authority shift from your hands into mine, Dowager Taihou, becouse I will become the first RULAN to your Lion son."
Zhan burst into a short laugh and released her hand...her arm falling lifelessly, showing that the nerve linking her movement was no longer responding.
Slowly, Zhan fell silent, frowned slightly, then knelt beside the Dowager's feet. He sat down and carefully took her foot, beginning to massage it.
Dowager Taihou jolted violently, like someone splashed with a barrel of ice water...exactly as King Yibo walked into the chamber.
Zhan laughed lightly, pretending not to notice his arrival, and looked up at the Dowager.
"Mother, why did you jump like that? Did I press the sore spot again?"
The Dowager's eyes shifted abruptly to King Yibo as he approached with calm steps, his expression relaxed, eyes on the two of them. Before she could speak...before any excuse or accusation formed on her lips...King Yibo cleared his throat gently.
Zhan lifted his gaze to him, still smiling playfully.
"Oh good, you're here," he said, feigning a sulky tone. "Mother is threatening to kill me with laughter. She claims I was pressing her foot too hard because we've been in the same spot for too long...but when I tried to stop, she started protesting."
King Yibo let out a faint smile, barely lifting the corners of his lips as he shifted his gaze away from Zhan, who was kneeling on the floor, and returned it to Dowager Taihou...her face frozen in shock at the cunning of the boy who seemed determined to choke the breath from her chest.
Slowly, in his calm and composed voice, he said, "Mom, this is why I told you to start exercising since last year. Sitting in one place for too long isn't good for anyone. Look at you now...your legs are failing just like Grandma's did."
With great effort, Dowager Taihou forced herself to release a strained smile that hurt more than tears. "And what exactly do you expect us to do at this age, my son? Start running laps?"
Before King Yibo could respond, Zhan cut in smoothly: "Of course exercise is for you, Mother. It's incredibly beneficial. You should at least take short walks outside in disguised. See how the common people live their daily lives. And above all, it improves discipline, physical health, and strengthens the heart."
Dowager Taihou felt a sudden burning urge to wrap her hands around Zhan's throat.
She understood perfectly...his words were wrapped in thorns, aimed directly at her. She stared at him, wondering whether he was truly human or some demon disguised in human clothing. Someone should investigate him, she thought. This matter was growing too large to ignore. But outwardly, she clenched her jaw and remained still.
King Yibo nodded slowly, not fully grasping the hidden daggers in the conversation. His eyes remained fixed on Zhan as he blinked once, calmly.
"Mom, this is actually good advice. I've been meaning to suggest it to you, but my duties never allow me enough time. And now that Zhan is here, after me and Aunty, you have another son to support you. I know he will take care of you as we do. Being close to the people publicly will also increase their love and loyalty toward you, just as he said. Try it...you might enjoy it. You can even go with Zhan. I'll support both of you."
"Hmm, well… may things go smoothly for us," Dowager Taihou replied flatly.
They both echoed "Yes," in unison... Zhan smiling, King Yibo unaware.
But deep inside, Yibo knew she had not accepted any part of it. Wanting to change the subject, he picked up her travel papers for their upcoming journey. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at him but said nothing.
Inside her chest, a burning pain spread like flames.
So today was the day....her own son informing her casually that he would be leaving the country, to another one, for a honeymoon.
Had she started losing him already? Losing him from her grasp?
She recalled Zhan's words. Words even her late mother had never spoken to her with such bluntness or cruelty. Yet Yibo sat calmly, seeming not to detect the intention behind them at all.
There was a problem.... a serious problem... and she, Dowager Taihou, had completely miscalculated.
The rhythm of the palace was changing, and the music must change with it... or she would burn the entire Empire to the ground before allowing her crown to fall.
Never. Not ever.
Zhanxianyibo 💚❤️💛