Chapter 46: The Councillors

'Chirp chirp chirp!'

Xin Suan opened his eyes. All of his body feels sore.

"Shit. I'm late.", He rubbed his eyes.

"Jiu Lan."

"Your Majesty, you are awake.", Jiu Lan teleports in, "I have prepared for your bath."

It is always Jiu Lan's duty to prepare for his hot water and burn special incenses as his perfume.Then, she has to help him wearing his thick layers of black silk garments. After that, she has to brush his hair and gives him hair oil if he asked for it. After he left his room, Jiu Lan has to clean every mess he made. Such a spoiled man, isn't he? But his trust towards Jiu Lan is absolute, so no one except her may enter let alone to clean his room without his permission.

"Meet me at the terrace after you clean my room. I need to talk to Yin Ling first."

"Ah, but General Yin isn't here. He is now meditating at Shang Mian Temple."

"Then, meet me after I'm done."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

He teleported away just in one blink. He found Yin Ling still meditating in the middle of the empty hall. Yin Ling seems to be at full concentration. Xin Suan is patiently waiting for him but after 30 minutes Yin Ling still shut his eyes. It's odd, Yin Ling supposed to realize that Xin Suan is near him right now.

"Hey.", Xin Suan shakes Yin Ling shoulder.

'Thud!', So, Yin Ling was asleep after all this time. Xin Suan started to burn by anger since he is a short-tempered man.

He inhales a heavy breath, "WAAAAAAKEEEEE UPPPPPPP!!!!!!!"

'GASP!!', Yin Ling instantly stand on his feet. He pulled his sword from his waist.

"WHO'S THERE!? WHO ARE YOU!?", His half asleep eyes keep looking around.

Isn't this familiar? It seems Xin Suan has ever been in this position when he trained Ai Lie's concentration.

'Pow!', He punched Yin Ling's head.

"I'M RIGHT HERE, STUPID!!"

"Ouch! Your Majesty!?"

"Huft....", Xin Suan stroked his chest.

"Cut me some slack!! I'm still tired!!"

"Yeah, I can see that. Me myself also woke up too late."

"So... What's up?"

"Sit.", Xin Suan pointed his finger on the floor as he sitting cross-legged.

"We need to discuss this, remember?"

Xin Suan summoned a crimson orb.

"Let's watch.", Yin Ling replied.

Their sight became blurry and red, as if they dipped their faces in crimson water. Their view changed into someone else's sight.

"Chairman Ma!!", It's Xia Xiaoli voice. They are now in Xia Xiaoli's point of view.

Middle aged man turned his face to Xia Xiaoli. He wore the fancy uniform for royal officials. His face is wrinkled. He has long black mustache and beard. His eyes are slanted, and hatred burnt inside them.

"What is the meaning of this!?", Xia Xiaoli held up a roll of paper.

"You can read, can you?"

"How dare you deleted my name from our project!?"

"I have told you, haven't I? If you can't support this secret project anymore, we can't have you as our sponsor. When our project is succeed, we won't give you anything."

"But I don't have anymore money!!", Xia Xiaoli shouted at him.

"Ask your father.", Chairman Ma grined.

"I told you, I can't!!!", Xia Xiaoli threw the roll paper on the floor powerfully, "That old man is insanely adores those stupid garbages!! If that old man knew about this, I will definitely get killed!!"

"But Master Xia Xiaojian is the best candidate to be a strong pillar supporting our duty, Xia Xiaoli. Why don't you try to reassured him?"

"NO!! I FUCKING CAN'T!!!", Xia Xiaoli shouted until his voice hoarse, "Please Chairman Ma, spare me!! I'm already at the end of the road!! If I can't revived my bussinesses back, my wife will divorce me!! My marriage will be ruined and she will take away my children!! I can't lose her!!"

"Hehehe, how sly.", Chairman Ma chuckles, "Do you think I'd believe that you love your wife that much? I know you are only taking advantage because she is the daughter of Huang Family. If she divorced you, you will lost your greatest money supply, right?"

Xia Xiaoli couldn't answer anything since what he said was true.

"In 4 days, His Majesty will send food aid to the affected villages. Why don't you prove yourself that you deserve not to be thrown away?", Chairman Ma stepped closer to him.

"What do you mean?"

"Be our eyes. We will provide you with some results from our experiments and great fighters. Your first mission is...", His feet stopped moving, "... Bring down the general.", He grined evilly.

"HUH!??", Yin Ling surprised. Their view changed back because Yin Ling's concentration broke.

"It was a trap. We both are being fooled by them.", Xin Suan grips the orb tighter, "Most likely the guard who lured us to jump into the crime scenes was one of those rats."

"Hahahahaha!!! I can't believe we have an enemy inside our own lair!!"

"Ha, clever. They purposely made us work in seperate. Xia Xiaoli was nothing but their puppet of experiment. They wanted to know how effective their new weapon is and the guinea pig was you. They just didn't know that I'd broke the law and recorded his memories."

'Slam!', Yin Ling strikes the floor with his fist, "THOSE FUCKERS!!!"

"Now they must've received the report that their new weapon is really effective. I can't believe in this crisis they are actually taking advantage of it."

"Do they really think they can live without the asuras in this realm!?", Yin Ling lands another strike.

"Sadly they think so. Hahahaha. What a joke.", Xin Suan throws the orb to the air and catches it back, "Chairman Ma... Does he know how hard it is to rule the world full of criminals? Even so, does he think he could stop the Qiong that will be spreaded once every 300 years?"

"Hahahahaha!! I could choke by laughing right now!!", Yin Ling yells.

"Perhaps they are too comfortable right now because the 10 remaining asuras are still doing their best to maintain the existence of this realm. I must acknowledge their courage for showing their fangs to us."

"What should we do now?", Yin Ling turns his head back to Xin Suan.

"Let's leave them be for a while. I will arrange an emergency meeting for Xia Xiaoli's death soon."

"With this graveyard violation, it's only natural for us to exile Xia Family out from the capital city, right?"

"That's true. They even deserve to be banished from their noble rank. But we can't do that."

"Why???", Yin Ling flinches his eyebrows.

"Because that's also their plan. Regardless of Xia Xiaoli poor money management and filthy deeds, Xia family is still a noble family. An aristorcrat is an aristocrat forever, they will not accept the fact that they have to be banished from elite rank and being forcibly impoverished. Once they fell from their glory, that Ma will start to move his cheap mouth to gain Xia Xiaojian's attention so that he will also walk on the same path as his son as a traitor. Ma will sell him pretty lies that Ma could help him gain his high status back. I believe when that happens, Xia Xiaojian has no choice but to follow his order. Meanwhile Xia Xiaojian himself has very strong influence among the nobles society and the councillors, if he turned his back on us, he will persuade his elite friends to join him. It will be our loss and Ma's advantage."

"Very strong influence... Of course. No nobles have the power to sponsor the whole Royal Fete if it wasn't Xia Xiaojian. To think he could take over Queen Bai Wu's place just to attract the asuras... Ha! Money talk!"

"Hmm. I have to inform you that Xia Family also have strong bussiness relationship with some noble families from western territory and to make it perfect they have blood relation with Xu Family from the north. We had no choice."

"We are fucked up.", Yin Ling facepalmed.

"Indeed, we are. But still, we can't leave this matter behind. It's a grave danger, soon when those rats have done their experiment, we asuras will be doomed. We have to discuss this matter at Royal Fete."

"Then, what about that orb?", Yin Ling pointed his finger.

"Let's keep it.", The crimson orb vanished from Xin Suan's palm, "As what I said before, we have to orchestrated Xia Xiaoli's death to be an assassination case. We have to play into their games at least for now."

"Playing dumb, huh? Hahahaha. Right, we have no choice after all.", Yin Ling chuckles, "What about that traitor in our manor?"

"I'll ask Hei She to get rid of him. With his snake form, he could easily kill him without leaving a trace."

"Good idea."

"Tomorrow, I will arrange a meeting with Xia Xiaoli's youngest sister. Go send her a letter."

"Oh, that girl?"

"Hmm. She may have some important informations for us. Also, I think I have to pay my debt on her."

And their discussion's ended. They both travelled back to the manor. As what Yin Ling had promised his master, he helped Xin Suan to check some documents that Xin Suan didn't touch. From financial reports, crime reports, even the reports from the affected villages. The victims of Qiong are increasing each day. After rummaging some of the rolls of paper, he found one that is tied with blue ribbon. Blue... That means this belong to Xiu Zhen.

"Hey, why'd you need the financial report from the eastern territory?"

"Their territory are the poorest compare to the others. I want to check how well Xiu Zhen's management is.", Xin Suan writes some letters with his black ink and brush.

"May I open this?"

"Sure."

In this document, it is recorded in this 500 years eastern territory's income is mostly gained by selling yields. The people there are living in simplicity, befitting their ruler. They have less unnecessary expenses compare to the 4 other territories. But because of that very reason too, not many noble families live in Xiu Zhen's territory and causes less finance support.

"Wow, they are so poor. Should we help them with our personal wealth?", Yin Ling scans every words on the paper that he lifts in front of his eyes.

"Ha.. I think Xiu Zhen will reject that idea. In fact, she could maintain her territory very well for this 500 years without asking anyone else's help."

"I can't believe she isn't only a public figure, she actually has the talent to be a queen."

"Indeed, I pointed her as a ruler with full of consideration.", Xin Suan stops writing and placed his brush. He collects some of the rolls in his arm.

"Anyway, I need to talk with Jiu Lan. I have to discuss about her promotion. Is it okay if I leave the rest with you?", He stands on his feet.

"Sure thing. Thanks in advance, Your Majesty.", Yin Ling seems to be happy.

Xin Suan walked to the Yang Pavilion's terrace. He sat there alone while reading some letters. The papers that they used as letters were all made by silk with various colors. Each of the letter has unique scents. These letters must be sent by the noble families.

"Your Majesty.", Jiu Lan kneeled beside him.

"Raise your head."

Jiu Lan did what he ordered.

"Jiu Lan, how long have you served me?"

"... Almost a thousand year, Your Majesty."

"Long enough, isn't it?", He placed his letter down on the floor.

"Jiu Lan, I as your master may have been ignored you the most loyal servant for too long. Meanwhile, me myself always trouble you over the simple things that I should've done it by myself."

"That's not true, Your Majesty! To take care of the lord is our duties as servants. I have never been troubled by serving you."

"Since your loyalty and honesty are uttermost, I will promote you to be the head of the elite servant."

"I beg your pardon?", Behind her mask, Jiu Lan widened her eyes.

"Starting from tomorrow, you may take off your mask and wear the exclusive uniform."

Exclusive uniform is only used by high elite servants. This uniform represents high status of maid, but Xin Suan is a picky master so none of his servant uses this uniform regardless how loyal they are to him. Back then, he thought that all servants are lowly and he prohibited the maids to get close to asura.Yet finally he broke his own rule and rewarded Jiu Lan as the first senior elite servants, resulting Jiu Lan to gain a new status. With her promotion, now she is able to reveal her secret relationship with Yin Ling.

"B-But, this...", Jiu Lan touches her mask.

"They think that I ordered you all to wear those for helping me to remember your names correctly, but actually the reason behind it is not only that.", Xin Suan threw his face to Jiu Lan.

"You see, I hate those women servants who can't take off their dirty eyes from me while I am bathing or dressing. It's disgusting. But you are the only servant who even when you haven't use that mask you can manage to avoid your eyes from me."

'Actually, I was trying my best...', Jiu Lan drops a sweat.

920 years ago, Jiu Lan was a new servant who was in charge of the king's personal matters. Her duties were preparing his bath, helping him to dress, cleaning his room, and doing his laundry. The rule to wear mask was only for the senior servants and soldiers while those who were still in training weren't required to follow that rule. But the rumor said the servants who had the same duties as her never work more than a month because they kept being fired.

It wasn't something new for the servants to madly admire the handsomeness of their king. She had a friend, but unfortunately her friend was also one of those girls. One day, her friend was ordered to prepare the bath for the king. When the king was still dipping himself in the bathing pool, her friend initiatively brought him his favorite drink. Actually, the king wasn't annoyed by her action, but when he raised his topless well-muscled body, her friend couldn't help but stare at him like she was admiring a beautiful painting in the museum.

The king felt annoyed, and thus he unleashed his anger by firing the new servant, and kicked her out from his palace. She ended up exactly the same just like the other servants who dared to stare at his body. A month after that tragedy, Jiu Lan was ordered to prepare for his bath. She tried her best not to take a peek on his divine body, even when she helped him to dress. Then, the king was satisfied with her job, so the duty to prepare for his bath and dressing finally were burdened on her shoulder until now. Of course at this time, Jiu Lan is very accustomed to see his topless body without being flustered.

'I can't let my 920 years of hard work ruined just because of unimportant feelings....', Jiu Lan discussed with herself in silent.

"Furthermore, you never had the slightest ill will in your mind. You never steal from me, never attempt to kill me, or never spread any secret informations. That's why, you deserved that position.", Xin Suan pats her shoulder.

Jiu Lan stared at his smiling face. She noticed that her ice-like master has melt and become more friendly. All thanks to someone who isn't here right now.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. I will never disappoint you, I will do my best."

"Hmm. I'm looking forward to it."

Thinking about someone who changed her master's personality drastically made Jiu Lan curious about that someone's condition.

"Ah... Your Majesty, I'm sorry for interrupting you, but do you ever received any news from Xiao Mei?"

'Gasp!', Xin Suan instantly summons the jewelry box. He wear his earring back to his left ear and try to connecting his mind.

'Bzzzzt!'

"Hmm? Did my energy lost?"

"Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?"

"I put my energy on her earring and mine, but now I can't connect my mind. I guess I lost too much power because of 2 days ago's brawl.", Xin Suan sighed, "She will be angry. I have promised to accompany her every night."

"Perhaps no. She is very kind, she will understand."

Xin Suan stared at Jiu Lan for a while.

"Are you worried?"

"But of course, Your Majesty. It's natural for a sister to concerned about her younger sibling's condition when the two are seperated.", Jiu Lan smiled.

"Sister??", Xin Suan tilts his head in confusion.

"Ah.. Hahaha. It's a childish thing, but she said I'm like an older sister for her."

"Ha... She always labeled everyone she likes as her siblings, while me I need to beg like a madman just for her to call me Ge Ge. How unfair.", He muttered.

Jiu Lan immediately stunned. She never heard Xin Suan muttering before.

'Ah... He must've really into her.', Jiu Lan silently muttered.

Xin Suan suddenly gasped in surprised, "SHIT! I TOTALLY FORGET ABOUT HER PETS!!"

"Worry not, Your Majesty, I've feed them."

"Ohhh!! Phew..... Thanks, I owe you one! She will kill me if I starve them to death."

'She will kill me...?', Jiu Lan smiled awkwardly. Such nonsense to be said. Jiu Lan finally found out her master's another weakness besides remembering someone's name.

The discussion has done, now it's time for Jiu Lan let her master back to his business. She went away, and bumped into her secret lover that had waiting for her arrival in front of Xin Suan's room.

"Jie Jie!"

"Ah..."

She instantly being dragged and entered a room not far from the point Yin Ling stood. It's Jiu Lan's bedroom.

"G-General...."

"Tell me! Has His Majesty promoted you??"

"Yes. Was it your personal request?"

"Nope.", Yin Ling shook his head, "It's his own will."

"Now...", Yin Ling pulled Jiu Lan's hand and placed her palms on his cheeks, "Finally we are free to be together!"

"Hahaha.", Jiu Lan laughed, but her small laugh seems to be suspicious.

"We may not cross the line, General. If the other servants know about us, they will obviously think that this is unfair for them."

"HUH??? SO AFTER THIS ONE BIG EVENT YOU PREFERED TO TURN ME DOWN AND CONTINUE THIS RELATIONSHIP BEHIND THE SHADOW??"

Jiu Lan nodded.

"A-Ah... Ahahahaha! Okay, I see. I understand, I won't force you. As long as we can see each other, it doesn't matter."

Of course Yin Ling is disatisfied with Jiu Lan's order. Even Xin Suan wished the best for his best friend, he raised her status so she and his best friend could enjoy their moments together. But Jiu Lan is like a soldier, she lives only to obey the rule. Yet at least she realized the disatisfaction of her younger-looking partner.

"Well... We may meet an hour everyday. We can have dinner at your room. What do you say?"

"Sounds good.", Yin Ling lowers down his head and lands a kiss on her forehead. Jiu Lan stunned to the point she could only blinked her eyes three times. Somehow she feels embarassed eventhough they had been secretly in relationship for at least a thousand year.