The room was finally silence, except for the little plum’s eating, as Lin Hai had finally ushered the three annoying women out. Fu Chun and Fu Zuánshi’s voices could be heard all the way down the hall as they squabbled with each other. Why did he have to have so many concubines? And the ministers still nag on him to appoint a wife.

Di Xúe’s eyes turned to the little plum who just stared at the closed door while Lin Hai brushed off his clothes with a sigh.

“The Fus are surely… Spirited.”

“They are annoying. Don’t let them in here the next time,” ´said Di Xúe bitterly. “We need to know who wanted to kill me.”

The little plum let out a snort,” it’s obvious.”

“Oh, do tell,” Di Xúe said and cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.

“It’s that Fu Tián! Look at her, she is clearly way to innocent. No woman is that innocent!”

Di Xúe stared at the little plum along with Lin Hai.

“That is your reasoning?”

“You can see it in her eyes!”

“You must have quite a bad experience with women if you dislike them that much,” muttered Di Xúe.

The little plum huffed,” I have four nasty sisters who bullied me growing up.”

“That explains it,” thought Di Xúe but did not waste any more time with the plum.

“How do you want to proceed, Huángdi?” asked Lin Hai.

“Firstly, Xiao Mei needs to move in with me,” Di Xúe said with a sweet smile at the little plum who choked on the cake. He coughed and gasped for air while staring at Di Xúe with red eyes. “You can’t expect the ministers to take our relationship serious if you don’t even live with me.”

“That won’t bother me,” muttered the little plum with a pout while Di Xúe ignored him.

“Make sure to give him the Palace of Heavenly Grace as it is reserved for the Emperor’s favorite concubine. It is the one closest to my bedroom. Appoint both servants and guards to his quarters.”

“More than the concubines?” asked Lin Hai.

“Of course, we must put on the appearance that he is the favorite.”

The little plum rolled his eyes. “I’m sure that will convince everyone.”

“I can hear your sarcasm from here. Only add something if-“

“Throw me a party.”

Di Xúe stared at the little plum. “He actually dared to interrupt me!” He held back his anger and narrowed his eyes at the rude little thing. “For what purpose?”

“My birthday is in two weeks. If you want to play the favorite. Throw me a luxurious party and make sure to be seen at my side. Changing quarters will only make me seem like a concubine. You will need to do something you would only do to an Empress for this to work,” said the little plum casually. Di Xúe leaned back as he listened. The plum might have a good idea, though Di Xúe had a feeling that he only wanted to be spoiled with rich food and presents.

“Huángdi?” asked Lin Hai carefully.

“Do as he says. Make sure to make it extravagant.”

Lin Hai bowed to Di Xúe and exited the room to relay the Emperor’s order.

*****

Yecao Ji hummed as he packs all Yecao Cao’s things while ordering the servants sent from the palace to take them away. Yecao Cao could only glare at his brother’s light-hearted mood.

“Do you have to be so damn happy? Your little brother is forced to become the Emperor’s lover,” muttered Yecao Cao and his brother looked over at him with an apathetic expression on his face.

“If I would have known that the Emperor had such interest I would at least have told you to clean your ass first.”

“Y-you!” Yecao Cao searched for words but found none. He could only point at his outrageous brother in anger. Yecao Ji shrugged and threw some clothes at him. “What is this?”

“They are clothes given to you by the Emperor. I’m surprised that he hadn’t given you some dresses fit for an Empress. You clearly need to take some initiative here. Seduce the man.”

“Are you insane? He is the Emperor!”

“Exactly, an Emperor without an Empress. That means that the spot is vacant. He has ignored his concubines which should be a good sign for you. Think about it, all the prestige and food you can get on the throne. Not to mention all the gifts you can give to your dear family. Especially your dear oldest brother who has worked himself to tears in order to raise you ungrateful ducklings,” said Yecao Ji before suddenly looking at his brother with a strange expression.

“Be careful though, few Emperor’s and Empresses have lived a long life and practically none have been gifted with a natural death.”

“So why aren’t you against this?!”

“Because I will get rid of one of my freeloading siblings. Now you are the Emperor's problem,” Yecao Ji chuckled before patting Yecao Cao’s head. “Try not to get killed. Be smart, use that brain of yours… And try not to bully the concubines.”

“I don’t bully people!”

“…”

Yecao Cao glared at his brother who merely smiled at him before leaving the room. Yecao Cao crashed on to his bed with a sigh wondering what horrible deeds he had done in his previous life for the heavens to punish him so.

The Emperor was an ass and clearly a bully. Those cold eyes were like mirrors showing his true nature. Callous and cruel. He would without a doubt throw him to the wolf the first opportunity he got. Yecao Cao needed to be careful and look over his shoulder. He had first been surprised by the Emperor’s choice of lover. Wouldn’t it be better to choose Lin Hai? There was already rumor of the Emperor being in love with Lin Hai already so it would be more believable, but now Yecao Cao suspected it was because the Emperor didn’t want to risk Lin Hai being hurt. Yecao Cao, on the other hand, was expendable.

Damn Emperor! No wonder why they call him the Snow Emperor. The damn hooligan didn’t even give him a suitable court name. Who is he to call him plum?!

Yecao Cao grimaced as the answer was obvious. He was the Emperor. If he wanted to call Yecao Cao fatty, who was Yecao Cao to disagree?

Yecao Cao touched his round stomach that had grown rather luxurious the latest weeks since he had become a Ling. It would probably grow even more now that he has become a Zhiji…

A determined look of Yecao Cao’s face appeared as he was determined to do everything in his power to survive this and stuff it back into the Emperor’s face. That Emperor would not get away with this!

*****

The garden filled with chatter as the noblemen greeted the Emperor and gave the young Zhiji gifts. Music sounded in the Imperial Garden and dancers entertained the young couple. Everyone watched the peculiar scene as the beautiful concubines sat away from the Emperor while the Zhiji sat by his side.

The couple was far from harmonious as they looked like a dragon and a panda cuddling with each other which only made the people watching them have a strange expression on their faces. The scene had not become better since Lin Hai sat on the Zhiji’s other side serving him wine and chatting happily with him. How can this round thing get the attention of the two most handsome men in the kingdom? The heavens were too unfair!

Yecao Cao smiled at the Emperor and held back chuckles when he saw the Emperor trying to hold a smile on his face every time he leaned against him or pour him wine. Yecao Cao even fed the Emperor some food and seriously thought that he would be executed before the Emperor leaned in to eat the food.

The Emperor leaned in and whispered with a smile on his face in Yecao Cao’s ear. “I will punish you later, Xiao Mei.”

“But until then, another bite, my most loved Huángdi?” Yecao Cao giggled as he talked loudly so that all could hear him. He could feel the searing jealousy of the concubines as he fed the Emperor another bite of his food. The Emperor once again reluctantly took the bite and Yecao Cao could sense Lin Hai leaning in.

“More wine, honorable Zhiji?” Lin Hai asked briskly and did not even wait for an answer before leaning in and refilling Yecao Cao’s glass.

Yecao Cao took a sip and held back a grimaced when he tasted it. “Plum wine?” Yecao Cao glared at the Emperor who looked unusually satisfied and sipped his own tea. All who looked at the Emperor though assumed he was happy with his lover. Yecao Cao, on the other hand, became even sourer when he got served a plum cake. Heavens, he had started to hate the damn fruit!

“Wang Yu Jían has arrived!”

Yecao Cao looked up from his hateful cake to looked at the newly arrived man. The garden fell into silence as the man slowly walked over to them. His posture was majestic as he had beautiful, luxurious clothes and a fan. His long raven hair fell all the way to his waist and the eyes were clear and sharp. The man had a handsome face that could rival the Emperor’s though this man was calm like the wind while the Emperor was cold like snow.

All of Tian know of this man. He was Yujiang Jían, the uncle of the Emperor. He carried the title of Wang Yu, jade prince, and were one of the few people who was still a strong candidate for next Emperor if this one perished. Though he had few interests in competing with his nephew for the throne. The popular and wise Jade Prince spends most of his time studying military tactics and philosophy. He prefers to keep his current status as Guwen, advisor, and be his nephew’s strategist.

Yecao Cao was quite surprised by his young age. He was older than the Emperor but not over the age of thirty. Wang Yu Jían’s eyes first looked at his nephew before the eyes fell upon Yecao Cao. The eyes of the two men met for a second before Yecao Cao felt a hand push him towards a hard chest. Yecao Cao rubbed his sore face that had been slammed into the Emperor’s chest and looked up at him with a disgruntled glare.

The Emperor merely ignored him though and gave his uncle a sweet smile while holding onto Yecao Cao.

“Ah, Uncle! Have you come to greet my Xiao Mei?” asked the Emperor and Yecao Cao bore down his face into the Emperor’s clothes when he heard his nickname. A rush of chuckles echoed from the bystanders at his rather cruel nickname.

“Damn bully!”

“Ah, sweet as a plum. A suitable name for such a lovely being,” said Wang Yu Jían.

Yecao Cao hides a shocked expression. The Emperor had not changed his expression but Yecao Cao could see that the Emperor’s thoughts mirrored his own. “Are you blind?!”

“If you don’t mind. I have a gift for the young Zhiji,” Wang Yu Jían said with a respectful bow.

The Emperor gestured for his uncle to come closer and Wang Yu Jían pulled out something from his sleeve as he walked closer. Yecao Cao felt the Emperor stiffen and wondered if he feared that his uncle was the traitor.

Yecao Cao had no time to think about it though as Wang Yu Jían gave an ancient scroll to him. All the bystanders stretched to try getting a glimpse but none could see what it was. Yecao Cao took the scroll and opened it. It was a beautiful painting with a poem from a legendary swordsman called Lu Dongbin. The creator and leader of the Lu Sect.

A boat floating, carrying the innocent across the serene river.

The moon so fair brings light over the glorious land.

The river gleams with beauty and the reflection of the moon calls to the innocent.

Leaning forward to touch what isn’t there.

The water now carries the innocent

To the land of heartbreak grass.

Yecao Cao’s eyebrows shot up as he read the poem. The Emperor also read it and frowned at his uncle before giving him a tender smile.

“I fear my Xiao Mei might not understand the poem, uncle. Though I find it rather improper of you to give him a poem warning about the illusions of love.”

Wang Yu Jían merely chuckled but his eyes did not leave Yecao Cao’s face. Yecao Cao tried not to show any emotions but he did grimace when he heard the Emperor’s words. Many did assume that the poem was about the innocent being lured by love. The moon often represents the beauty of love and the reflection of the moon is often translated to someone faking love but… Heartbreak grass is one of the strongest poisonous plants on Tian. The poems real meaning is that you shouldn’t be lured by love to your death. The innocent reached for the reflection of the moon and fell off the boat to drown. Wang Yu Jían is warning Yecao Cao that he would die if he continued to be lured by the love of the Emperor.

Yecao Cao had no idea if this was a test though and gave Wang Yu Jían a bright smile.

“I loved the painting though. It is painted by Lu Dongbin so it is a unrivaled treasure.”

Gasps erupted from the bystanders and greed soon filled their eyes as they heard the name of the immortal Lu Dongbin.

Wang Yu Jían smiled and bowed respectfully before going to his entourage who was waiting for him. “Apparently, the Huángdi’s Zhiji is a fool,” said one of Wang Yu Jían’s advisors with a snort.

“But not foolish enough to not recognize an unsigned poem by Lu Dongbin,” mused Wang Yu Jían and threw one last glance at the boy who most likely was a sleeping dragon.