3.11
The commotion did not cause severe damage. When Qiao Chen returned to the Emperor's side, he regained his usual countenance. The other sparrow gave him a meaningful look while the Emperor was filled with joy.
For a reason that the Emperor was very sick.
He was a tyrant, and he also wanted all of his sparrows to possess this kind of mindset. Like lives was just a dust for them. And seeing his beautiful sparrow like that, instantly an immense sensation burst in his heart.
Like a gorgeous fox in the void of snow with cold and wintery claws.
It took a couple of minutes before the competition began. The drums echoed, and the horses started running. Endless cheers reverberated in the whole area as several young men finally entered the forest.
The bigger the prey, the highest the score. Some nobles was already declaring the winning lot with their champions. The air again was filled with observant eyes from anyone, and limited gaze.
Qiao Chen smiled softly. His face and clothes was still painted with blood. He sat beside the Emperor and even the latter found his present state amusing. The Emperor's eyes lit up and softened.
"Xiao Chen..."he uttered a soft voice, "You look very attractive a while ago. This Emperor harbored amusement from that incident."
"His majesty is joking..."the sparrow replied with a lower head, seemingly flustered and shy that created a huge contrast in his overall appearance right now, as he added, "Xiao Chen only did that, because Xiao Chen thinks that the young lady was ignorant. Even declaring that Xiao Chen, an Emperor's sparrow, does not educate his servant properly."
Others who heard his explanation can't help but to frown. But they dare not to protest in this kind of mindset as they perceived that the Emperor was even happier than before.
Bai Menxiang on the other hand watched the interactions with both Qiao Chen and the Emperor silently. His very cautious eyes hiding beneath those sliver naivety deeply exudes a hidden anger. He leaned closer to the Emperor's body and smiled sexily as his bare hands touched the exposed chest of the latter.
"Your majesty...eat these fruits. Menxiang personally prepared this for his majesty."he said in a delicate voice as he put a small piece of grapes on the Emperor's face.
The Emperor was very happy being served by a few of his sparrow. His eyes did not bother to look again at the ministers who was currently discussing about the current affairs and indulge himself from this endless temptation.
Qiao Chen's eyes flashed in a wicked light, as the teacup that held by his hand made a contact on his lips, "Your majesty...Xiao Chen heard that...this today hunt was very interesting."
Suddenly, the quite Wen Yang lifted his eyes. A vast of nervousness and anxiety fuse in his heart as he heard the words of Qiao Chen. He bites his lips and look at the Emperor, waiting for his response.
The Emperor grinned and straightened his back on his seat, "Xiao Chen was right. To add a fun in this game, this Emperor eagerly commanded to add a few dangerous prey in the forest."he paused and his fingertips gently touched the porcelain teacup, "Tragically, all those young men don't know about these things."
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned aggressive. The ministers in present have a deep shallow anxiousness in their heart. Some of them send their sons or either family members to participate in this hunt...and then the Emperor suddenly said that some dangerous predator was lurking in the forest without their awareness?! Who the hell will calm down after hearing that?!
But the most tense person was Wen Yang himself. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist that was covered by his wide sleeves. No matter how much he wanted to slice the neck of the Emperor, he urged himself to calm down as he recalled the words of Yong An.
He needed to act like they don't know each other in order to trick the Emperor.
In the meantime, Wen Yang already have fallen with the second prince just for their short clandestine encounter. This, Qiao Chen perceived as he observed the expression of Wen Yang. He smirked.
"The hunt this time sure is fun!"
Again the sweet voice of Qiao Chen penetrated their eyes. Other look away to control the inner vexation building in their insides because of such provocation. And yet the beautiful sparrows apparently enjoyed watching the other suffer.
Qiao Chen examine the face of the Emperor, his vigorous face turned calm and elegant then abruptly asked, "But his majesty...two of your princes has joined this hunt. What if something happened to them?"
The Emperor only smirked and nuzzled the head of the sparrow before he replied, "Their lives was in their hands. If they die, then they die."
This time, a huge fiery blaze was overflowing in the insides of Wen Yang. His mind wandered in each of negative trail of thoughts. He bit his lips harshly and was about to speak up when a surprising suggestion gradually made him stop.
"Your majesty...what if we add something fun?"
The Emperor stared at the face of the juvenile. The transparent light illuminated the pale greeny eyes of the youth, now reflecting his reflection and was focused on him. He displayed his satisfied grinned and leaned closer to the latter, "What does Xiao Chen suggest?"
Qiao Chen calmly smirked and turned his eyes on the silent Wen Yang, "Xiao Chen heard that before Wen Yang become a sparrow, he was an excellent hunter in their country. Why not let Wen Yang participate in this hunt?"
A wave of surprised floated in the faces in present. The Emperor shifted his gaze to Wen Yang and his forehead can't help but to wrinkled.
"Xiao Chen this is not appropriate—"
"Your majesty..."Slender fingers that touches his arms made the Emperor's refusal paused, "This event was most awaited part of the festival due to several aristocratic families tried to showcase their wealth and connections. Imagine, seeing them with their hired hunter's astonish gaze, realizing that the winner will be one of the Emperor's sparrow. How exciting it will be?"
The limited smile of the Emperor turned wider. He laughed crazily and almost exploded in excitement. He knew that Qiao Chen was very obedient and also shared a wicked thought, but he was still surprised on how much level the tyranny of his beautiful sparrow currently possessed.
The Emperor's eyes turned to Wen Yang, "Do you accept this participation?"
Wen Yang bowed, "Wen Yang will accept the command of his majesty."
He already knew that Qiao Chen was making him lost face in the Emperor. He was not novice in this kind of aspect, as such as praising someone's expertise only to be degraded in their sake. But he can't believe how dumb this Qiao Chen was. He accidentally created an opportunity for him to warn Yong An in the dangerous predator. Wen Yang smiled evilly.
"No!" Bai Menxiang shouted, he glared fiercely at both Qiao Chen and Wen Yang then pitifully peek at the Emperor, "Why must Wen Yang accept this? His majesty, Wen Yang was still a novice sparrow, how can his majesty gave a significant task to Wen Yang?"
Wen Yang also glared at the whining youth, "I am a prince in the past. I excel in everything, including this kind of hunt."
"But you are no longer a prince!"
"Why must fight when both of you can join?" Qiao Chen interrupted with a serene countenance, "The Emperor did not say that only one can join the contest. And it was even great when two sparrows will participate, we can gain more chance of winning. Is it right, your majesty?"
"Xiao Chen is truly right." The Emperor smirked, "Both of you have excellent abilities and can manage to compete with several of the contestant. I will grant you the privilege to join this hunt and the prize will also be the same."
Both Wen Yang and Bai Menxiang bowed and nodded. With different goals lingering in their mind. One adore freedom while the other one desired power. After the Emperor announced that two of his sparrow will join, the two immediately changed clothes and departed.
Qiao Chen smiled vigorously.
----
Yong Guan finally opened the small paper handed by Qiao Chen's a while ago. His brow knitted when he saw small letters appeared on the white paper.
'Go to the east side of the forest.'
He did not dare to question the command and hurriedly rode his black horse towards his destination.
While heading to the east side, he consistently hunted some of the animal prey he encountered. His moves were precise in firm, just a single arrow can kill even deer. No animal escape in his hands. As his prey become fewer, he was also getting closer to his destination.
"Fuck!"
Suddenly, a loud groaned interrupted Yong Guan. He pulled his horse forcibly and drove towards the root of the voice. His dark eyes deeply examine the whole area and saw two men surrounded by three tigers.
The younger one that was wearing a hunter clothes that was definitely different from their foreign country, and was dragging the older one, who was unconscious, forward. The three tigers surrounded them in particular ways. While the younger one was pointing his sword towards the tigers, he was also retreating backwards, but it seems that the two was being cornered as the retreating back of the young man has met by a blueish crystallized lake. There were no room for another steps.
"Damn it...how could this happen?!" The younger yelled in frustration as he continuously dragged the body of the older one closer to him. This is their end. He knew it. He trembled and closed his eyes when one of the tiger jumped forward.
Surprisingly, he did not feel the massive weight of the tiger jumping towards him. He slowly opened his eyes and was shocked on what has greeted him. The three tigers...who was supposed to be stronger than average animals...was completely lifeless with only three arrow pierce against their skins. His bewilder innocent eyes traces the root of this ambushed and immediately heard a loud horse footstep running in his directions.
There he saw a man...with a black eye patch on his eyes, making him wild and untamable.
But the young man did not feel any malicious air around the man, he smiled, "This brother. Thank you for saving my life and my brother!"
Yong Guan deeply stared at the two figure. He was sure that he is now in the east side of the forest. Then.... Is Qiao Chen wants him to save these guys? He cleared his thoughts and casually nodded at the younger man.
The younger one awkwardly coughed, "This one is Gu Shi. And this is my brother Gu Lan. We accidentally encountered those fierce tiger on our way back to our resident. My brother was pushed by one of the tiger resulting his head to be hit by a rock, now he was unconscious."
"Gu... Are you from the Gu Kingdom?" Yong Guan narrowed his phoenix eyes.
Gu Shi again felt awkward and almost exploded in humiliation, "This one is the seventh prince of the Gu Kingdom. May I know the identity of our savior?"
"Yong Guan. The fourth prince."
Suddenly, the ambience turned silence.
Gu Kingdom is the only existing kingdom that can firmly stand against their country. The two maintained their casual relationship as both kingdom possessed strong character traits. But they were also not on the friendly terms. And seeing two foreign princes from the nemesis kingdom, Yong Guan can't help but to feel suspicious.
Gu Shi noticed his fierce resistance and chuckled nervously, "Big brother...we really harbor no dangerous deeds..."
"Then why are you in this place?"
Gu Shi gulped, and his hands subconsciously tightened on his brother's body, "We are chased by the bandits. We did not expect that our feet will brought us here... I swear we don't have any thoughts."
Yong Guan only nodded. He believes that Qiao Chen intentionally lured him here just to meet these two strangers. No matter how much he felt suspicious, he still followed the command of the young sparrow, "There were a cave nearby. You can rest there until your brother recover."
-----
Wen Yang whipped the horse faster when he finally saw a familiar back for almost an hour. His smiled become wider, and he jumped out of his horse as he hugged the back of the young man.
"What—Wen Yang?!" A surprise expression floated on Yong An's face but right away softened and embraced the beautiful sparrow tightly, "Why are you here?"
"The Emperor grant me a permission to participate in this hunt. Are you not happy to see me?" Wen Yang put out a very detected face.
Yong An laughed and landed a soft kissed on the other's sweet lips, "Of course, I miss you."then the sweet kiss turned passionate forgetting the whole area and the two was deeply indulged in their intimacy activities.
"I miss you. I really miss you. Thinking about accompanying the Emperor made me sick."
Yong An encircled his arms on the whining face of his beloved and gently responded, "Don't worry, you will be free soon."
"You need to make it fast!"
"Of course I do."
Their sweet clingy action was openly witnessed by Bai Menxiang who was hiding in the large tree. He secretly followed Wen Yang just to steal all his prey and did not expect to witness an affair. An evil smiled appeared on his lips and almost laughed crazily but watching the two of them.
Great!
Now, he finally had a reason for Wen Yang to be kick out from his position.
He turned away and hurriedly rode his horse to the exit of the forest.
"Fuck! Bai Menxiang saw us!" Wen Yang panic. He pushed Yong An unconsciously and watched the retreating back of Bai Menxiang.
He shouted his name loudly. Damn it. This will be the end for him, if the Emperor discover their affairs. He turned his eyes on the second prince who also seems to panic, "Don't follow me."he then ran towards his horse and followed Bai Menxiang.
Bai Menxiang was laughing crazily as he was getting closer to the Emperor. His wicked guffaw was like a deep horrific noise that made even the calm birds fly away. All the nobles present was already at their tent, resting up. Only the Emperor with his sparrow was left in the center pavilion. He jumped down from his horse and almost ran the space between him and the Emperor.
"Your majesty!"he called loudly.
The Emperor was already drunk and hazy, "M-Menxiang…? How come you are already here?"
Bai Menxiang smirked, "I have something to tell his majesty."
"Bai Menxiang!"
Wen Yang sudden voice interrupt them as his loud footstep gradually echoed in the now quite pavilion.
The Emperor was confused on how did two of his sparrow arrives early, "Menxiang what is the thing you want to say?"
Bai Menxiang smirked widely on Wen Yang and turned his head on the Emperor, "Your majesty—"
"Bai Menxiang!" Wen Yang again cut in. He can't let this slut say the truth to the Emperor or all their plans will completely destroy!
Bai Menxiang's smiling face turned fierce, "Your majesty, this slut—"
"Menxiang...." This time, Qiao Chen's serene face appeared in front of him. He already changed into a new set of clothes highlighting his clean face as he turned his eyes on two calmly before finally shifted it in the Emperor, "Guide his majesty to his tent. His majesty was tired and need to rest."
The Emperor absentmindedly nodded while muttering the name of Qiao Chen in his close eyes.
Bai Menxiang roared loudly, "I need to say something to the Emperor!"
Then a huge force landed on his soft cheeks. The action was very severe as Bai Menxiang fell on the ground, while staring at Qiao Chen in wide eyes, touching the swollen cheeks.
"Menxiang...his majesty is tired, and you dare to disturb his majesty's sleep."he then turned his eyes to the rest of the sparrow, "Quickly, deliver his majesty to his tent. Sister."
The other nodded and followed his command. Qiao Chen turned his eyes on Wen Yang who was also filled in surprise and uttered in a soft voice, "Wen Yang, please leave us alone. Wait for me...and I will also talk to you."
Wen Yang did not ask any question and leave the two of them.
Finally, Bai Menxiang exploded. "Chen-ge! Wen Yang was having an affair with the second prince!"
"I know."Qiao Chen's smiled and patted the head of angry youth, "I already know."
Bai Menxiang's eyes widened more, "Then let tell this to the Emperor!"
"Did you forget why I slapped you that time?"
"W-What do you mean...?"
"Menxiang." Qiao Chen sighed as his gorgeous face exudes a helpless appearance, "You are indeed a child. His majesty was still fond of Wen Yang. If you tell what you saw to the Emperor, Wen Yang can always deny it as you, don't hold proper evidence. In the end, your accusations will fall on your behalf."
"Then...d-did you slapped me to stop me from saying something to the Emperor?"
"Menxiang is a good child. I can't just watch your downfall."
"Then what do we do chen-ge...it seems like Wen Yang made the Emperor's obsessed with him." There were bitterness in his tone as his lips was bitten harshly.
"There are time for that." Qiao Chen patted his shoulder and showed a sincere smile, "Right now, we need to gather real evidence we can use against him."
"Chen-ge is willing to help me?"
"Of course."
Bai Menxiang hugged Qiao Chen suddenly. His delightful face turned evil as his embraced tightened.
Good. Now he can gather enough evidence to kick Wen Yang out of the picture. If he managed to do that, he can always use Qiao Chen in his plans. It seems like the two indeed share a common hatred towards Wen Yang. After Wen Yang in the future will dethrone, Bai Menxiang can always use a thousand of schemes to frame also Qiao Chen in the future.
The Emperor will be his. And only his.
That's his thoughts while leaving the pavilion.
Qiao Chen watched the retreating back of the latter and whispered, "Pathetic."he then turned his back, "Come out. I knew that you already heard our conversation."
Wen Yang finally come out from his hiding place and stares at Qiao Chen in bewilder, "Y-You..."he looked away. "Why are you helping me?"
"Why?" Qiao Chen's face illuminated a severe divine serenity that was glowing beside the afternoon sun as he shifted his gaze on Wen Yang, "Just like you, I also wanted freedom."
Wen Yang was shocked, and his heart trembled in excitement, "That's why you manipulate Bai Menxiang? Because like me, you also wanted freedom?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't we cooperate?" Wen Yang finally showed a sincere smile. He believes with Qiao Chen, all their plans will be less hard. Although, he still hated this young sparrow, he can always get his revenge, anyways.
His smile went even deeper as Qiao Chen nodded, "Yes."
Qiao Chen watched how the darling of fate hide his excitement and hideous thoughts. The corner of his lips lifted.