MRE – Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Xiao Zhan had a very good childhood; most of his peers, family and friends loved him. They support him in everything that he does, but one of the greatest that he can consider is having a great, supportive, and handsome boyfriend, which is Wang Yibo.

 

They were childhood best friends, grew up together, went to the same school together and fell in love with each other. Zhan’s family are supportive of his orientation, they do not care so long as he is happy, while Zhan is supportive of Yibo’s career. However, since Wang Yibo is a public figure, he always needed to maintain his image and they didn’t public their relationship, but their family and friends are fully aware of their relationship.

 

However, when they went to college and securing each path career, Wang Yibo told Xiao Zhan that they should break up with no explanation and left him in China. Apparently, he tried to contact him several times, but it seems that the man doesn’t even intend to talk back to him. Until they met again because of their nature of business and career and just acted professionally and went on with their own lives.

 

When Yibo left, he concentrated on being busy than thinking about that hateful man, he frequently visits bar and club to relieve his stress, he’s not innocent with this kind of these things since Yibo and him are vigorously doing it whenever they had a chance to do it and even though Yibo looks like a respectable gentleman when it’s come to bed it is quite the opposite, he is more active than him to the point that he cannot walk properly the day after.

 

He tried doing it with other people, but he could not feel anything, not even lust. He’s used to being a bottom but he’s utterly disgusted whenever someone tries to manhandle him and tops him. As a result, he tried to venture on a different role until he met a versatile man and tried to be a top, since then, he vowed that he’ll always be the top whether if it’s about work or in bed.

 

After those longing memories, he saw someone on the lake, clutching a black flute while sobbing. After a while he saw him walk toward the lake and fall. Following this, it became so dark, and Xiao Zhan opens his eyes and realizes that he is currently in their room.

 

 

 

“Your Highness! Thank goodness you are awake! You don’t know how worried we are when we saw you fainted again!” Wen Ning said while hugging Xiao Zhan, even Wen Qing wanted to reprimand him but thinking what happened last night terrified her as well, especially when they are not around Wei Wuxian.

 

“Sorry, I’m okay Wen Ning, don’t cry,” he attempted consoling the crying Wen Ning, but he’s also terrified of what happened last night, he’s really disgusted by the fact that they tried to harm and touch him without any consent, so he hugs back Wen Ning as he tried to look comfort as well.

 

“Thankfully that the emperor saves you!”

 

“He did? So that’s not an illusion.” Xiao Zhan mumbles and felt relief, of course Wang Yibo cannot just come there and save him and even if he is here, he is no longer associated with him nor cares about him.

 

“I should tighten up the security at night, we’ve already informed Lord Youwen about this so you cannot do anything about this. He mentioned that he will visit you after the council meeting.” Wen Qing said that she cannot let this happen again and risk of harming the empress.

 

“Aiyoo, but why did you do that?” Despite what happened last night Xiao Zhan is frustrated that he can no longer visit his haven in this boring world.

 

During the meeting council, the emperor and minister have been arguing about the lake incident of the empress. Wen Rouhan told them that they have already investigated the incident and told them that it was the work of Xiao Xingchen and needs to be punished immediately, they also called the servants who saw him going to the lake that night and talking to the empress. But in reality, no one saw if Xiao Xingchen really pushed the empress into the lake, but of course Wen Rouhan already dismissed them before Lan Zhan had a chance to question them.

 

“Your Majesty, we should punish Xiao Xingchen for the sake of the empress.”

 

“That’s right Your Majesty!”

 

“That’s impossible! You have no solid evidence that he shoved him to the lake and yet you wanted to punish an innocent man?!” Lan Zhan said, evidently, he is getting furious with the sudden accusation to his lover.

 

However, Xiao Xingchen entered the room that was accompanied by Youwen and other guards, Xiao Xingchen kneeled in front of them and Youwen remained standing on his back.

 

“What is this, why do you treat him as if he is really accountable?!” Lan Zhan yells at them and loses all his composure. It is the first time that they saw and heard him shout at them as they are all aware that he is just following Wen ‘s order but then again since this is about his lover, he cannot idly wait and let them convict his people.

 

Even Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen and Lan Xichen is getting worried with the sudden escalation of the event, as expected they move faster to cut all the thorns on their path.

 

“Please punish me Your Majesty! It is true that I am with the empress that night,” Xiao Xingchen abruptly said, it is true that he is guilty as well, he didn’t even help nor ask for help to save Wei Wuxian and this is just a small sacrifice compared to the freedom that the emperor is fighting for.

 

He cannot let their plan expose just because of him; besides he is aware that Wen will not kill him right now as they need him as the emperor’s lover.

 

Unfortunately, the man behind him is thinking otherwise, Youwen wanted to slay Xiao Xingchen for thinking that he truly injures the empress, so he grabs his sword and prepared to strike his head once the sentence has been granted.

 

“No, you cannot do that!” Lan Zhan anxiously said he can no longer afford to lose one of his people and glanced at Xingchen, he saw him shaking his head as an indication to not fail to remember their goal.

 

 

“I, I am pleading with you Prime Mister, Wen Rouhan. He’s my soon to be concubine and my lover, I’ll do anything just don’t kill him,” Lan Zhan said as he strides in front of Xiao XIngchen, even as the emperor he begs and kowtows in front of the minister.

 

Deep inside he curses all of them but for a greater good, he must not lose his temper. As a result, he pleads and just clenched his fist and gnashes his teeth out of wrath.

 

In the eyes of his Minister, especially those under the Wen Clan, thought that Lan Zhan was really a hand puppet emperor and just a figure for the throne with no power, and even must beg them just for his lover.

 

“But Your Majesty, he attempted to kill the empress, and we must punish him as will. I suggest banishing him from the empire and we will just look for more fitting concubines for you,” Wen Rouhan said as clearly that he wanted to put concubine from their clan.

 

Lan Zhan can no longer hold back his anger and tries to reach one of the guard’s swords but before he can do that Xiao Zhan emerged in front of them.

 

“No minister Wen, you cannot do that!” Xiao Zhan loudly said. He can no longer take the drama and he really wanted to get close to Xiao Xingchen as well since he’s his type and this might be a good chance to repay Lan Zhan for last night.

 

“Your Highness,” everyone in the room acknowledged his presence and Xiao Zhan thought that it really feels good to have power and people acknowledge your presence, so he strides proudly in front of Lan Zhan.

 

“You cannot punish them, it is true that we talked that night, but it doesn’t mean that he pushed me to the lake,” Xiao Zhan said and even Lan Zhan and his men was bewildered by his unexpected action since they are fully informed that he is under the coalition of the Wen Clan.

 

“What do you mean Your Highness?”

“That night, I, tried to kill myself.”

 

Everyone was stunned by the sudden declaration of the empress, particularly Wen Rouhan and give a deathly glare to Xiao Zhan. He explained everything what happened that night that he’s feeling anxious ad suffocated in the palace, so he decided to kill himself that night.

 

As their plan was ruined by the empress, the minister no longer has the reason to punish Xiao Xingchen at the same time as it puts them on a bad side instead. Thus, they adjourned the meeting and even Youwen was troubled by the sudden statement of the empress.

 

 

Even after this, Lan Zhan stood by Xiao Xingchen side and embraced him firmly as he assisted him outside the hall, Xiao Zhan felt a sudden pain on his chest and reflexively clenched on Youwen’s uniform as he saw Lan Zhan fondly console Xiao Xingchen. Youwen saw his expression and aided him outside the hall, he needed to support him as well, but the empress didn’t say anything but just kept looking at the couple who was in front of them.

 

“Are you alright Your Highness?” Youwen asked him with a concerned face.

 

“Ah, yes of course! Would you like to walk with me? Hahaha” Xiao Zhan just laughed it off and kept on walking with Youwen on his back.