Chapter 84: Ancient Era / 9.5 : Puppet master is back
Jingxuan sent an envoy to his father and then left for his sister’s palace. He and his father arrived at the same time. Kuang tossed all the handmaiden out and took a seat in front of his daughter. Jingxuan sat next to her and looked at his father. He feels a little nervous at the idea of telling him what he missed when he was in the neighboring kingdom. Xinjie who was just as blind as Kuang asked excitedly:
"How did court go?"
"Something happened."
Kuang immediately asked angrily:
"What?"
"Eden found out that the men after Weilong weren’t thieves but hired assassins. They even caught them and had them killed once they got everything they needed out of them."
Kuang asked eerily calm:
"What else happened?"
Jingxuan swallowed and told everything to be done with it:
"I proposed your plan to send the army to the border but Eden said that it was a bad idea and the emperor took his side. Eden even managed to fix his father’s injuries. I saw him train this morning he is even stronger than he was before."
Xinjie and Jingxuan were both startled when Kuang banged his fist on the table.
Kuang looked at his children furiously. He was gone just a few days and this is what happened? He told Jingxuan to deal with the assassins he hired but Eden managed to find them before. If Eden hadn’t found out the truth the emperor would accept his plan to send the army to the border. When the thievery would stop and with Weilong still being incapacitated and his daughter’s persuasion in bed he knows he would have chosen Jingxuan as the new great general.
If it didn’t work he would just have Weilong killed since he was already a waste but now not only did Eden cure his father but he convinced the emperor not to send the army to the border. All the advantages they had over the Suns are gone now and they are above them with Eden being one of the emperor’s concubines. The only way they’ll thrive over their family is over his dead body. He looked at his daughter and asked:
"When was the last time you spent the night at the imperial palace?"
Xinjie felt embarrassed having her father ask that and her face reddened. She should be used to it by now she knows that everything her father does is to be the most powerful family in the empire. She coughed and answered:
"Seven days ago."
Kuang looked down and thought.
"Tonight make sure to spend the night with him and become pregnant."
Xinjie simply nodded then looked away uncomfortably. Of course, she tried to get pregnant before but tonight she’ll have to make it happen or her father will kill her. Kuang looked at Jingxuan and ordered:
"Speak to the ministers and make sure they stay on our sides."
Jingxuan nodded and asked:
"What are you going to do?"
"I have to talk to Eden."
"About what?"
Kuang answered:
"I want to know how he was able to fix his father. Whatever elixir he used I need to get it before we can start the new plan."
Xinjie frowned and asked:
"Why? Are you sick?"
Kuang said:
"I just think it would be useful to Jingxuan once he is the great general."
Xinjie relaxed, she was worried her father was ill.
Kuang looked away. He is sick, that’s why he’s been traveling so much lately to find a cure but he was unsuccessful. Whatever Eden used seemed to be a panacea and he needs to get his hands on it. He came back to make sure the Suns would be dealt with and his children would be at the top before he dies since he was sure he would never find a cure. He only has a couple of years left but before that, he’ll get rid of Shenyan and his future grandson will become the crown prince.
Eden entered the classroom where a young man was waiting. He had long brown hair with a round face. His eyes were almond-shaped green and he had an aquiline nose paired with thin lips. He looked adorable and familiar.
Shenyan smiled and said excitedly:
"Teacher!"
Eden smiled and caressed his head.
"How are you?"
Shenyan blushed and answered:
"I’m okay."
Eden’s eyes flashed with amusement. He finds it funny that the cold crown prince is shy in front of him.
Eden spent the next two hours teaching Shenyan. When the lesson ended he said:
"I have to tell you something."
Shenyan looked at Eden apprehensively.
"I’ll only be your teacher for the next few weeks then you’ll have a new one. Don’t worry I’ll find you one that’s suitable for your needs."
Shenyan is 14 years old which is considered pretty much an adult in this era. Yecheng had him when he was 18 years old a year after sitting on the throne.
Shenyan is way ahead of most kids his age that’s why Yecheng asked Eden to teach him. He is a genius and his teachers were useless. Shenyan’s face fell.
"Why?"
Eden sat next to him and explained:
"I won’t be working for the kingdom even as a minister."
Shenyan looked down upset. Eden caressed his head and said:
"Nothing is eternal."
After a few seconds he added:
"Except love."
Shenyan lifted his head slowly and murmured:
"Do you?"
Eden smiled.
"Of course, I love you how can you even ask me that?"
Shenyan smiled and his cheeks flushed.
"I love you too."
He knew Shenyan would have a hard time but it was better for the news to come from him.
Eden has been at his side for two years now and they created a strong bond. Shenyan is just like his father, he is apathetic to the entire world. The only persons he has feelings for are his father and Eden. But Eden thinks that it’s good because you have to be cold to become emperor. Shenyan suddenly grabbed his hand and asked:
"Will you stay at the imperial palace until then since I won’t get to see you as much after that?"
Eden looked at him unsure. If his father wouldn’t have married Eden he wouldn’t be able to ask that but now that they are he can.
Shenyan held his hand tighter.
"Please so we can spend more time together."
Eden felt uncomfortable at the idea of saying no, he loves Shenyan, and when he looks at his adorable face he just wants to spoil him. Everyone sees him as this cold crown prince but he’s incredibly isolated. He is an only child and he doesn’t have friends since he has a heavy schedule. When Eden saw him for the first time he felt this maternal instinct and over time Shenyan opened up to him. He knew he needed someone who loves and was there for him.
Eden said:
"You should ask that question to your father, not me."
"So if father says yes you’ll stay?"
Yecheng who was listening outside entered. He caressed his son’s head with an affectionate smile. He already adored him but now he does even more. Of course, he would love it if Eden stayed in the imperial palace like that he’ll be able to prove to him that they can be together.
Shenyan stood up and looked at Yecheng.
"Father, can I ask a favor?"
"Of course."
"Can Eden stay at the imperial palace until he stops being my teacher?"
Yecheng gave his hand to Eden and he took it to stand up. He caressed his cheek and asked:
"Will you stay at the imperial palace with Shenyan and me?"
Shenyan was stunned by the way his father was addressing Eden. Contrary to him he stopped royally addressing Eden a few months after they met but his father acts that way with everyone beside him. But right now he is looking at Eden with pampering eyes and he even caressed his cheek.
He felt excited at the idea that the relationship might be more than an arrangement. He knows that it was a deal between both sides so he never hoped it might turn romantic but it seems like his father likes him. He felt his heart beating faster in excitement but he decided not to get overjoyed in case.
Eden looked into Yecheng’s hopeful green eyes then Shenyan’s. Great now there are two of them. How is he supposed to say no? He sighed and said:
"Fine, I’ll stay."
Shenyan immediately hugged him with a bright smile. Eden hugged him back with a smile. Yecheng felt happier than he ever had in a long time. He already knew that his son loved Eden and vice versa and now that he does too it makes him even happier.
He often comes to see how the class goes, when Shenyan started to open up to Eden he was stunned to see how shy he was in front of him. He could tell that he felt this strong connexion to Eden and that he doesn’t want to lose him. He isn’t surprised since he could feel Eden’s maternal love for him and he never had that before. His mother never cared about Shenyan, she only cared about living opulently. They would never see each other until she passed away. He’ll make sure that the three of them become family and live together forever.
