A Game of Favour
Xiao Liu had acted in too much haste. He had thought to scope out the empress's pavilion to see if there was anything he could "happen to hear."
He hadn't expected his prey to be there.
The moment his shoulder brushed against Prince Kai En's, Xiao Liu felt it—a sharp, fleeting sensation.
It shot up his spine, prickled against his skin, and left behind an uneasy warmth in his chest.
It was nothing.
Xiao Liu ignored it. He had no time for distractions.
He bowed low as the older servant beside him trembled, pressing his head to the floor in desperate submission. Xiao Liu followed—not from fear, but to avoid drawing attention.
Yet, even with his forehead nearly pressed to the marble, he could feel it. A lingering… awareness.
Prince Kai En hesitated. Only for a second. But Xiao Liu caught it.
Even when the prince dismissed them, turning on his heel, something still felt off.
Xiao Liu had to turn around to confirm, only to meet the prince's gaze again. Huh? Could it be that the prince felt it too?
Xiao Liu's lips thinned. As the older servant pulled him up, he masked his face with quiet obedience and let himself be dragged down the corridor, enduring the hushed scolding in silence.
He wasn't listening.
His mind was still circling back to that moment of contact. That brief, weird feeling.
No. He was reading too much into it.
Kai En was just a spoiled prince who basked in battlefield glory while his family rotted in decadence. Xiao Liu's target—nothing more.
Xiao Liu took a slow breath, forcing his thoughts into order.
The mission came first.
Whatever that feeling was—he would ignore it.
Even as it lingered like an echo beneath his skin.
*****
The next day, the Grand Hall dazzled with embroidered banners and tables overflowing with elaborate feasts.
The murmur of conversation blended with the delicate strains of traditional court music.
At the head of the hall, Emperor Feng Xi sat on a raised dais, flanked by Empress Lian and his favoured son, Prince Feng Kai En, who lounged beside them. Below, the other royal children sat with their mothers, subtly vying for the emperor's attention.
The atmosphere was heavy, with a mix of celebration and hidden tension, which is typical of such gatherings.
Prince Feng Wei was engaged in animated conversation with a group of military commanders, and his loud laughter echoed across the hall.
Kai En, dressed in deep purple robes embroidered with gold, exuded calm confidence.
His slender fingers idly traced the intricate patterns on his wine cup. Sharp, steel-grey eyes flickered across the hall, missing nothing.
As usual, everyone was trying to curry favour with one person or another; no real interactions were being made.
Servants clad in silken robes silently moved about, offering the guests delicacies and fragrant rice wine.
His eyes met with Minister Shen's from across the table and the bastard had the guts to wave at him.
How imprudent! He huffed, turning away from him.
As the banquet progressed, wine flowed freely, and the mood grew more jovial. People came forward to praise Kai En's exploits on the field and the emperor for siring a "mini him".
By evening, Consort Lan seized the chance to elevate her children's status, her sweet voice cutting through the chatter.
"Your Majesty," she began, respectfully bowing to the emperor. "Our daughter, Ling-er, has been diligently practising a new dance. She would be honoured to perform for you tonight with your permission."
Kai En rolled his eyes discreetly, masking his disdain behind a sip of wine. The emperor, however, nodded approvingly. "Very well. Let us see this new dance."
Princess Feng Ling stepped forward, her delicate frame adorned in flowing pale blue silk robes embroidered with silver cranes.
Kai En blinked, noting the daring cut of her bodice—like many others in the room.
Her long, dark hair, adorned with pearls and jade, shimmered in the lantern light as she moved gracefully to the centre.
The musicians began a hauntingly beautiful melody, and Ling's dance displayed an elegance and skill that drew murmurs of admiration from the courtiers.
She twirled and leapt with the grace of a swan, her robes billowing like wings, giving the image of a celestial beauty gracing them with her presence.
When she finished, the hall erupted in applause. "Truly, your children are the pride of the empire," one courtier declared.
The emperor beamed with pride. "Consort Lan has been intentional with my child's upbringing." Consort Lan preened at the praise, her tight-fit bodice pushing her bosom up as she bowed low.
The emperor's eyes lightened as he stared at them. "Eunuch Qin, send some brocades and jewels to the Peony Garden Residence."
"Yes my lord," Eunuch Qin bowed low.
Consort Lan's face lit up, "This consort is honoured by your graciousness."
She cast a sideways glance at Empress Lian, her smile a mask of false sincerity and challenge. The empress responded with a tight-lipped, forced smile.
Turning to her son, who appeared more focused on his meal than on earning his father's approval, she leaned in and hissed, "Kai En," using his childhood name, "Do something!"
Kai En raised an eyebrow, fingers tapping his wine cup. Do something? He'd already won—seated beside the emperor, honoured for his triumph. This was just another petty squabble for favour.
He absently picked at his roast duck, thoughts already on the intelligence reports awaiting him—border skirmishes, loose ends. Problems that couldn't be left to fester.
Plus he didn't yet have time to play court with these fools.
A shadow flickered across his vision. He glanced up—just a noble flattering the emperor. Yet, a strange unease lingered, he sighed and resumed his meal.
A sudden commotion broke the lull of the evening. A servant, hurrying to refill wine cups, stumbled and spilt wine onto Princess Feng Ling's delicate robes. The hall fell silent, all eyes on the scene.
Lord Zhao, a staunch supporter of Consort Lan, shot to his feet, face twisted in fury. "Blind fool! How dare you distress the princess?" He kicked the servant aside, his voice booming.
The hall buzzed with whispers, nobles exchanging knowing glances. Kai En leaned back in his seat, his lips curling into an amused smirk. Ah, the evening finally gets interesting.
He noted Lord Zhao's unusual anger. A bit touchy, aren't we? A good excuse to revisit his illicit dealings as minister of justice. This public display was the perfect excuse to start probing.
This was an excellent chance to get him in for questioning.
Kai En watched as Feng Ling's face reddened, her eyes flashing with barely contained rage. The wench was far from the delicate beauty she pretended to be before the emperor.
How will she get out of this now? He thought, shifting on his cushion to get comfortable.
Feng Ling feigned tears, turning to her mother. "Mother, it was an accident. Please, show mercy."
Oh? Kai En arched an eyebrow, so she was going through the pure route. How original. He thought as he popped a grape into his mouth.
Consort Lan seized the moment. "Your Majesty, this slave must be punished severely for his carelessness. He has caused great distress to our daughter on this important night."
Lord Zhao, still fuming, suggested, "We should cut off his arms or cut out his tongue, so he never repeats such a mistake."
Before the emperor could respond, Kai En spoke up, his voice cold and mocking. "That would not look good to the people if we kill someone over spilt wine on rags."
Consort Lan's face flushed with rage and shame, but she maintained her composure. Challenging Kai En here would be foolish.
She turned to the emperor, her voice trembling with feigned indignation. "Your Majesty, is it fair for the third prince to speak to us this way?"
"Curious, isn't it?" Kai En smirked as he rose. "Lord Zhao speaks with such certainty as if he knows Consort Lan's affairs better than His Majesty. One wonders—whence comes such confidence? Unless, of course, he enjoys a more... intimate understanding?"
Whispers erupted throughout the hall. The implication was clear—scandalous, even.
Consort Lan paled, her mask of composure cracking ever so slightly.
Perfect. Kai En thought, his smirk widening.
The other women of the harem shifted in their seats, staring at the mother-daughter duo with barely concealed hate and satisfaction. It felt nice to see their rival fall without them having to lift a finger.
Lord Zhao forced a laugh, cold sweat appearing on his forehead. "Your Highness, please don't make such heavy accusations in jest."
"Who said I was? Do I seem like a jester?" Kai En asked steel grey eyes narrowed coldly.
Lord Zhao dropped to his knees before the emperor, pleading. "Your Majesty, please, I am loyal to you alone. I beg you not to listen to such baseless accusations."
Prince Yu, Consort Lan's son, stepped forward at last, unable to endure his family's humiliation any longer. "Father, I beg you to consider my mother's dedication to you. This is a misunderstanding."
Kai En turned to Prince Yu with a cold smile. "And what would you suggest, Brother? I am lying?"
Prince Yu's jaw tightened, but he kept his composure, plastering his charming facade. "No, brother Zhixian. However, there must be clear evidence before making such severe accusations."
Emperor Feng Xi's gaze shifted between his sons. The tension in the hall was palpable. "Yu-er, your filial piety is noted. Yet, if there is even a hint of impropriety, it must be investigated."
Kai En nodded, sensing his father's support. "Thank you, Father. Lord Zhao, as an esteemed minister, should welcome the opportunity to clear his name."
Lord Zhao, still kneeling, trembled with fear. "Your Majesty, I swear on my life, I am innocent."
"Silence!" Emperor Feng Xi's voice echoed in the hall.
Everyone went silent.Kai En hid a smirk, the emperor's mood had darkened.
He might be able to get his chance after all.
Emperor Feng Xi's brow furrowed with displeasure, gaze shifting between Kai En and Lord Zhao, "Do you have any basis for this accusation?"
Kai En bowed again, his eyes glinting with cold amusement. "I have only returned for a day yet have seen Lord Zhao around Consort Lan's courtyard a little too often. Perhaps I have misunderstood, and I beg your forgiveness if I am mistaken."
The hall buzzed with renewed whispers. Kai En's words had dug a deeper hole for Consort Lan and Lord Zhao. Consort Lan fell to her knees, dragging a stunned Feng Ling with her. "Your Majesty, please, this is too much."
The emperor's anger simmered. "The slave will receive ten lashes. Lord Zhao will be taken for questioning."
Kai En stepped forward, his voice calm. "Allow me to handle the questioning, Father."
The emperor nodded. "Very well, take him away from my sight."
As the guards dragged Lord Zhao away, he screamed, "Your Majesty, I am loyal! Someone is trying to destroy my reputation!"
The hall remained deathly silent. Kai En turned his gaze downward.
The slave was still on the floor, his clothes dirtied from being shoved down.
He blinked in shock as his eyes met the same cold green eyes from the night before. That same servant again!
As if on cue, his nape began to tingle again.
The man's dark eyes burned with quiet defiance, and Kai En had to resist the urge to step closer, to—