MRE – Chapter 12

Chapter 12

 

Youwen went back to the palace as he was summoned by Wen Rouhan. The clan master as well as the prime minister asked for the current relationship between the empress and emperor.

 

“The empress has been doing his responsibility, but I think he’s still experiencing some effect from his accident,” Youwen said. He observed that the current Wei Ying is super laid back and relax as he used to be when they were children and students, compared to the times that he entered the palace.

 

“I received news that the emperor invited him outside the palace. Is that true?” the prime minister said.

 

 

“Yes,” Youwen hesitantly said. Although he has feelings for his childhood friend, he wanted to make Wei Ying happy as possible and let him enter the palace. That is why he follows him in order to protect and serve him, however, he was confused by the sudden closeness of the emperor and empress. The emperor used to hate Wei Ying and ignored him whenever they are in the palace, but his action right now, it was the total opposite.

 

 

“Keep an eye on them, I trust you Youwen. I promise I will give him back to you once He Peng gets the throne,” Rouhan said as he sips his tea and dismissed Youwen.

 

After talking to the prime minister, Youwen went back to his office and called one of his subordinates.

 

“Keep an eye on the emperor and report his every move and location, even when he is going to the empress palace,” Youwen coldly gave an order to his subordinate. During the time when they are in pub, he noticed how the emperor sternly looking at him and Wei Ying, his eyes was familiar and somehow that glare gives the same vibes as the man who tried to assassinate the empress when he came back.

 

“I must ensure that you will not hurt Wei Ying,” Youwen mumbles to himself.

 

 

 

 

The empress woke up in the middle of the night by someone’s embrace in an unfamiliar room. He traces the face of the man hugging him while he’s fully asleep.

 

“My empress, did I wake you up?” Lan Zhan said with sleepy voice, it’s been so long since he fell asleep peacefully, even he didn’t except how comfortable it was to sleep with Wei Ying.

 

Wei Ying was in dazed by the sudden action of the emperor towards him, how soft but husky voice when he called him empress, and he was wondering where they are. But he thought that this might be a fleeting dream that he always desired, or maybe he’s really dying after he fell on the lake, so he just appreciates the moment and holds the face of his beloved emperor towards him.

 

“Lan Zhan, this loyal subject of you will always be at your side, please remember that, whether in this life or the life after this,” Wei Ying said as he places his head towards Lan Zhan.

 

Lan Zhan was astounded by the sudden action of the empress, seems like he is half-asleep and thought that he might still under the influence of the alcohol, but he was also amazed by how beautiful his empress is, like how he first met him when they were students. Unconsciously, he also rests towards the empress and kisses him on the forehead.

 

“Good night, Wei Ying,” and Wei Ying falls asleep.

 

 

 

Xiao Zhan woke up in the middle of the night with familiar the familiar room, not just familiar but a nostalgic one. The room that he once dreams living together with the man he loved, no, the man he always loves. Suddenly, tears fall from his eyes by the sudden nostalgic memories, however he cannot move his body nor mouth but can only open his eyes.

 

 

He saw a man lying his head on his be and sitting beside him, serenely sleeping with obvious dark circles under his eyes, while holding his hand tightly. He wanted to call him, but he could not move nor speak, but he was so happy and thought that this might be a dream as he misses his real world. Xiao Zhan just look at him lovingly and hoping that this dream will never end, and after that, his consciousness faded.

 

 

After that, Xiao Zhan saw a man with long hair petite body in ancient black clothes sitting alone in a serene place on top of a mountain.

 

 

“Hey,” Xiao Zhan said. The other man faces him and saw himself with different clothes.

 

“Hey,” Wei Ying said while smiling.

 

“You’re not bad huh, now that I take a look we really look like each other!” Xiao Zhan said like he was looking at the mirror and praising himself.

 

“Haha of course, we are the same, or should I say, we share the same body and soul, just different world,” Wei Ying said.

 

“But I don’t get it, you have everything in your world, but why would you kill yourself, and what do you mean we are the same?” Xiao Zhan asked.

 

“Haha, well I think you already have an idea based on my memories, but I don’t know how this happened as well,” Wei Ying said.

 

“How can I get back to my world?” Xiao Zhan said.

 

“I’m sorry I don’t have any idea as well, but please take care of the emperor. I am always here,” Wei Ying said and slowly fades into the darkness.

 

Xiao Zhan tries to call and follow him but unfortunately that world was swallowed by darkness and by the time he opens his eyes, it’s already morning in an unfamiliar ancient room and a man embracing him.

 

“Ahhhhhh!” Xiao Zhan screams as he was flabbergasted by the man on his bed.

 

“Wei Ying, what’s the problem?” Lan Zhan said.

 

“Please tell me nothing happened again?! No, let me clarify, did we have sex?” Xiao Zhan hurriedly asked. He dreamt of Yibo last night waiting for him, so he’s in dread that something might happen to him and Lan Zhan, and this might be the reason why he dreamt of Yibo last night.

 

“Guess,” Lan Zhan said while subtly smirking, for some reason he’s enjoying teasing and admires how adorable the empress is.

 

Xiao Zhan checked his body, and everything is alright, there’s no pain and all and no kiss marks on his body nor love bites.

 

“We just fall asleep but you woke up in the middle of the night,” Lan Zhan said.

 

Xiao Zhan tried to recall if he really did, but he can only remember that he woke up in their previous countryside house with Yibo beside him, and talking to Wei Ying or more like he is talking to himself that time.

 

“I don’t have any memories of waking up in this room last night,” Xiao Zhan said emphasizing the location.

 

“Mn I see, let’s go back to the palace,” Lan Zhan simply answer and dismissed the topic as he thought, it might because he was half asleep and still under the influence of the alcohol.

 

The emperor and empress went back to the palace and each of their subjects greeted their arrival. Unexpectedly, Youwen together with the Prime Minister also waited for their arrival.

 

“Haha it’s nice to see how the two of you are having fun together. Are we going to expect an heir soon?” Wen Rouhan said.

 

“There’s no need for you to wait for us Prime Minister Wen, I believe that the empress is still tired, so let us dismissed and I will escort the empress first to his palace,” Lan Zhan sarcastically said.

 

“Haha I see, it is indeed good to be young,” Wen Rouhan said.

 

“Well then,” Lan Zhan said and walk passed the Prime Minister while holding Xiao Zhan, while on the other hand Xiao Zhan is a bit uncomfortable by the sarcastic exchange of words of these two.

 

They arrived at the empress palace and the emperor bid farewell to Xiao Zhan. Wen Ning and Wen Qing hurriedly assisted Xiao Zhan to change his clothes and Wen Ning hurriedly asked what happened last night.

 

“Aiyoo, nothing happened Wen Ning, don’t get your hopes up,” Xiao Zhan said.

 

“Really? The palace is talking about you two how you spent the night outside the palace, and it is impossible that nothing will happen, the emperor is a dominant alpha, and you are an omega plus strong alcohol,” Wen Ning tries to reason.

 

“Well, we just decided to have some drinks, beside—”

 

“Your Highness, the Minister of War is here asking for your audience,” one of the servants said outside.

 

“Ah, I forgot about him,” Xiao Zhan mumbles and added, “Let him in.”

 

“Your Highness,” Youwen said and bowed in front of the empress.

 

“Ya, I told you, you can just call me Wei Ying,” Xiao Zhan said as Wen Ning and Wen Qing left the room to give them some privacy.

 

“Alright Wei Ying, I would just like to check if you are alright, did something happened last night, I am sorry I left you to that —”

 

“Aiyoo why is everyone so invested in what happened last night, nothing happened last night okay? We just fall asleep, happy?” Xiao Zhan said his hangover is giving him headache to be honest.

 

“Is that so? That’s good, by the way Prime Minister Wen is asking for your presence.”

 

“Like now?” Xiao Zhan asked.

 

“Yes”

 

“Aiya! This is so stressful,” Xiao Zhan said as he put his head on the table.

 

“Are you alright? Do you want some hangover medicine?” Youwen asked.

 

“Do you have some?”

 

“Yes, here, chew this” Youwen hands him a couple of herbal tablet medicine.

 

“Wow! I am expecting this to be bitter, but it turns out sweet,” Xiao Zhan said.

 

“Of course, you hate bitter taste, especially medicine that has a white color, thick liquid texture and taste bitter,” Youwen explained as he describes the first hangover medicine that they have invented. But seems like Xiao Zhan has another thing on his mind and it somehow dirty, so he choked on his medicine.

 

“Are you okay? Drink this water,” Youwen handed him some cup of water.

 

“Coughs I’m okay I’m sorry about that,” Xiao Zhan said as he finished his medicine and thought that maybe he is sexually frustrated that his mind was thinking other things.

 

“Let’s go to the Wen, you’ll accompany me, right?”

 

“Of course,” Youwen said and escorted the empress to the Prime Minister’s office.