Zhan's expression was a mirror of his heart....dark, stormy, and silent, as if he had just received news of death itself. His eyes were fixed in one direction, burning with unspoken pain. There was no dignity left in him....none. His own image… being photographed to be sent to another man?
Warm tears spilled from his eyes just as the photographer finished arranging the setup and began snapping pictures.
It became unbearable. Zhan rose abruptly, right in the middle of the session, and walked away to the private room that had been assigned to him. Once inside, he locked the door, leaned against it, and allowed his sorrow to pour out in wrenching sobs.
No one was trying to console him this time. It was just him....alone with his grief and his broken pride. He cried until he had no strength left, then dragged himself further into the room and began pulling off the clothes that felt more like shackles than garments.
Moment later, a faint smile played across Queen Zaiye's lips as she scrolled through the photos. She hadn't even realized she was smiling until she reached the last image.
She had to admit...Ms. Bao had made the perfect choice. She deserved more than just what she have been given for her judgment. This wasn't just a good pick; it was flawless. She knew Yibo wouldn't find a single fault in this boy. Zhan would fit his preferences exactly.
With practiced fingers, she activated her data connection and sent the photos to her email. Then she composed a message and forwarded them directly to Yibo. Once it was done, she disabled her data and began searching for his number.
Prince Yibo was jogging under the soft afternoon sun, dressed in a dark sports outfit and lightweight sneakers. His long sleeves and fitted pants suggested someone who trained regularly, while his pace was steady but unhurried along the paved lane of his upscale neighborhood.
A cap shaded his face, and headphones rested over his ears. Soft music played in the background as he kept moving, lost in thought.
He didn't notice her approach at first
...not until she waved her hand right in front of his face. He turned slightly, acknowledged her with a quiet glance, but didn't stop. His steps remained fluid and measured, even as she tried to match his stride. She smiled widely, her teeth showing, dressed in form-fitting activewear as she kept up beside him.
"Hey!" she called out again, though she wasn't sure he could hear her. He did. He heard her clearly. But he looked away and acted as though she wasn't there....like she was nothing more than a passing breeze.
Then, with a sudden quickness, he surged ahead, overtaking her easily. At the end of the lane, he turned sharply down another path, one he knew would lose her completely.
He let out a frustrated hiss once he was out of sight. Her persistence irritated him. Her presence irritated him. Her fair skin and foreign aura revealed she was clearly not from around here. He didn't know her country, didn't care to. She was a shadow he couldn't shake.
Just then, his phone rang.
He stopped, pulled it from his pocket, and looked around for a bench beneath the shade of the carefully planted trees lining the street. Finding one, he sank onto it with a sigh and answered the call.... it was his mother, the Queen.
As always, their greetings were brief but warm.
"I've just sent you the images of the boy," she said. "If he doesn't suit your taste, we'll arrange for another immediately."
He only responded with a neutral, "Alright."
But then she said his name more firmly.
"Whatever you feel, even if you don't like him, this process won't be delayed. In ten days, everything must proceed. I've already spoken with Mr. James. The mention I told you about....it's ready. Go meet him and collect the keys. Check if anything needs to be adjusted to your preferences. And remember....I don't want anyone to know why you're leaving that house, or where you're going. Your life must remain private. I trust you understand."
He nodded instinctively, then realized she couldn't see him. "Yes, Mother. Thank you," he said aloud.
"Good," she replied curtly before hanging up.
He placed the phone beside him and picked up his water bottle, unscrewing the lid and drinking deeply. After several gulps, he exhaled sharply, letting the pressure in his chest ease.
He couldn't stop thinking about it....why she wouldn't let him marry Qiantang as they had once agreed. Was love so incompatible with education? Was marriage really such a hindrance? Why did she get to choose the timeline, the conditions, the destination?
He would follow her wishes....for now. But deep in his heart, he knew: he would never be able to give himself to anyone the way he had once hoped to give himself to Qiantang.
Yes, he was attracted to men. But he wanted to be the one to choose....to see someone, feel something real. Not to be handed over like a possession.
With a heavy heart, he picked up his phone and water bottle and continued walking home. Not once did he check the photos his mother had sent. He didn't care who the boy was.
Whoever he was, he could never be more beautiful or more precious than Qiantang.
From where he stood, he could already see the outline of his house ahead. And with each step, his mind swirled with questions he dared not ask aloud.
As Prince Yibo stepped toward the door of his residence, his phone buzzed again. A glance told him it was Qiantang calling. It was as though she could sense she was on his mind. His features softened slightly....anyone familiar with him would recognize this subtle lift of expression as his version of a smile.
Without hesitation, he answered and balanced the phone on his shoulder while unlocking the door.
"It's like you knew I was thinking about you," he said, his voice calm and warm.
Qiantang, lying on her bed with her eyes closed, opened them instantly at his words, a bright smile lighting up her face. Her lips curved so wide she could barely speak before she burst out, "What? Are you kidding me?"
He chuckled, the sound low and rich. "Do I lie to you?"
"No, my Prince. That was just… amazing," she replied, now sitting upright on the bed, joy radiating from her entire being.
"Let me say it again," he added. "I was thinking about you when you called."
A delighted squeal escaped her lips. She loved when Prince Yibo expressed even the slightest sign that she held a special place in his heart....it filled her with indescribable happiness.
"Those words are the best gift I've received today. No treasure could ever compare. Thank you for making my day, sweetheart."
Still smiling, Yibo entered the house fully. Removing his shoes in the living room, he continued speaking with Qiantang while heading to the kitchen. He needed something warm in his stomach and made himself a generous cup of coffee, still chatting with her as he moved.
As he returned to the living room, he froze.
Standing there was Sikong, looking back at him with startled eyes. He had just emerged from the hallway....the one that led only to Yibo's private quarters. Their gazes locked.
"I'll call you back, dear," Yibo said calmly, removing the phone from his ear while keeping his eyes on Sikong.
Even to a stranger, Yibo's stare carried weight. Now, with suspicion laced into it, it became nearly unbearable. Sikong immediately began to fumble.
"Oh… so you're back. No wonder I kept knocking but didn't hear anything."
"Really?" Yibo raised a brow. "Didn't we already speak? I lent you the car, remember?"
"Yes, I came back just to give it to Jiang and Ka Gang. They had a lecture and were running late."
Silence briefly filled the space between them. Yibo could sense the dishonesty in Sikong's words but chose to let it go....for now. He sat down and took a long sip of his coffee while Sikong made a hasty exit, like a man fleeing from a trap.
__________________________________
"I still can't figure out what exactly they're planning," said Concubine Xueyin, her tone sharp with frustration. She paced slowly, addressing Princess Dingzhi....His Majesty younger sister by blood and Sikong mother.
"Zaiye keeps warning the boy to be careful. She's hiding something....refusing to share even the slightest details Not even her most trusted aides know what she's up to. Why is it that this woman is becoming such an enigma to us?"
Dingzhi exhaled slowly, her expression calm despite the storm in the room.
"Zaiye is unlike other women....clever, composed, calculating. Her greatest weapon is how little she trusts others. But whatever she's planning, this time we won't let her have her way. We will confront her head-on, along with any secret she's guarding. I've already sent Sikong into Prince Yibo's room. If there's anything hidden, we'll find it. That's why I've forbidden him from leaving the Prince's side. Their closeness must serve our advantage. Only by remaining near can he help advance our schemes more efficiently."
Concubine Xueyin nodded fervently, clearly agitated. Meanwhile, Dingzhi kept her own secret plans tucked safely in the shadows of her mind....plans Xueyin knew nothing about.
Just then, Dingzhi's phone rang. It was a call from Sikong. Both women leaned in instinctively. She answered, placing it on speaker.
Sikong's voice came through, strained and hesitant. "Mother… there's nothing. I couldn't find anything in his room....no sign, no clue, nothing that gives us any insight."
Their hearts sank. Disappointment settled heavily in the air.
"Are you sure?" Dingzhi asked, her voice growing sharp.
Sikong gave a bitter laugh. "Mother, you don't know how close I came to being caught. I searched every corner....he nearly walked in on me. Do you have any idea what would have happened? That man is not to be underestimated, not in the slightest."
"Understood," she replied curtly and ended the call.
Concubine Xueyin sat back, her pulse quickening with helpless fury. Was it all for nothing? Would they have to start over from scratch? She was convinced something was happening.....something that, if revealed, could shatter Prince Yibo's reputation and bring ruin upon him, his mother, and their entire lineage in Tianjin.
"They've buried the truth. Hidden it well," Dingzhi murmured, trying to steady the atmosphere. "But we'll continue. Nothing will stop us now."
🔹🔸▪️▫️
Within just a few days, all preparations were complete. The Queen had finalized every arrangement and sent word to Henan about Prince Yibo's upcoming wedding. However, the announcement was only delivered to carefully selected individuals..... those she knew would not cause complications. The news was tightly controlled, ensuring that it would not reach His Majesty or anyone she wished to keep unaware.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yun had taken a two-week sightseeing trip while construction on his new residence was completed. The building, now finished, was beyond anything he had ever dreamed of owning. Everyone agreed that the transformation was remarkable. What once stood as an old, crumbling house had been entirely demolished and rebuilt into a grand, modern structure. Only then did its full scale become apparent.... a spacious estate with a large sitting room, numerous bedrooms, and even a private upper floor designated for Xiao Yun himself.
Fenghua and Cunxin each had their own sitting room and bedroom complete with well-furnished sitting areas, and even the children were given a large, beautifully decorated room with an attached bathroom. All furniture and clothing appropriate to each resident had been provided in full.
Before long, Xiao Yun informed his extended family of his unexpected fortune and of his son's upcoming wedding. Immediately, relatives began arriving... some only to bless the new house and depart, others to stay and await the ceremony. He welcomed them warmly, grateful for the blessings. Food was never an issue, and to everyone who asked, he simply said that his future son-in-law... soon to marry Zhan....was responsible for this great fortune. As per the agreement, he never once mentioned Prince Yibo's name.
Though the vehicle had tinted glass, Zhan could still clearly see the dramatic transformation the house had undergone. He kept his gaze steady as the car drove through the gate, then circled around to the section where Xiao Yun now lived. The door was opened for him, and Zhan stepped out....his shoes, ornate and regal, glinting faintly beneath his robes.
He hadn't even taken two steps when a flurry of motion rushed toward him. Suddenly, he was engulfed in an embrace. Startled, he looked down to see Ao, Chou, and Yulou clinging to him. Que was also hurrying toward him with quick, eager steps.
"Gege… you're back?" they all asked at once, their voices filled with joy and disbelief.
Something shifted in Zhan's chest. His eyes began to sting, emotion threatening to rise....how easily he had become attached to these faces. He knelt and embraced them tightly, wishing with all his heart that his return meant they could be together again, just like before. What they didn't know, however, was that he would only be with them for two more days before leaving again....this time, for far longer.
They stayed in that moment for a long while. Zhan couldn't bring himself to say a word, only holding them close. Eventually, he turned to Que.
"Take me inside," he said softly.
She led the way, joyful and chattering, with the others trailing behind. Each child took turns excitedly telling him about all the changes they'd witnessed. Zhan merely listened, giving them his ears if not his full attention. It was obvious to anyone....changes had happened. From their living conditions to their clothes, nothing was the same. But not once did Zhan's heart accept this transformation. To him, it felt less like a gift and more like a ransom....a payment for his silence and a cost for his dignity. A signal that his worth was being quietly bought and soon, perhaps discarded.
In the sitting room, Fenghua sat grandly upon a plush, imported couch, her eyes fixed on the television in front of her. Nearby were three of their paternal relatives, waiting in anticipation for the wedding. A wedding that, to Zhan, felt more like a transaction....a symbolic handing over of himself, stripped of choice.
Fenghua's face lit up upon seeing him. She greeted him with an exaggerated, almost theatrical reverence. The others joined in, flooding him with praise and welcome. It made Zhan's skin crawl, but he said nothing. He endured it.
Soon, he excused himself and followed his siblings to their room. He longed to hear how they had lived during these past two weeks without him....how they had adapted, how they had survived.
Zhan remained silent, a calm warmth slowly spreading through his chest after hearing all their stories. There was no hardship....his siblings had lived in comfort, well-fed, well-dressed, and surrounded by care. There had been no tension between Fenghua and Cunxin; in fact, Cunxin had embraced them fully, often saying they were now her children, since she had none of her own in the household.
"Heavens, please soften their hearts toward these children. Let them offer care and protection beyond what they had even planned," Zhan found himself praying silently.
From the moment he arrived, he realized he had become a central figure in the house. Everyone treated him with reverence. Two days later, preparations exploded into a grand celebration within the estate....one held entirely without the presence of his mother's family. Not even a whisper had reached them. Only his father's side, the neighbors, and the extended family of the co-wives were invited. They poured in as if competing to share in the moment's glory, determined not to miss out.
His heart filled with quiet astonishment and reflection. Some of the faces present were people he hadn't thought about in years....individuals from times of deep poverty and struggle, those he never expected to see again. Yet here they were, claiming kinship and clinging to his name, determined to benefit from the event.
And all this unfolded without him.
They played their music, danced their dances, yet the one called the groom....Zhan himself....remained locked away in his room, surrounded by his younger siblings, cherishing the few remaining hours they would have together. He hadn't even stepped into the room prepared for him....lavishly stocked with ceremonial garments for the wedding. He refused to look at them, let alone try them on. The maids assigned to him were sent away; he had no use for them. He didn't want anything that reminded him of the palace or of the looming reality ahead.
No one seemed to mind. As long as they had what they wanted....plentiful food and drinks, boxes and bottles stacked high for anyone to take....they were content.
On their final night together, Zhan spent hours with his siblings, speaking to them about life....lessons most were too young to understand. Perhaps Que and Yulou might grasp some of what he meant, but Chou, Ao, and the others… they were still learning themselves. His words were like seeds cast into soft earth, hopeful that someday they would grow.
They stayed like that for a long time. Eventually, sleep overcame them. Zhan remained awake, silently unraveling the knots in his heart.
💚🦁❤️🐰💛🐢
In a Palace owned by Queen Zaiye's father, the secret wedding took place. No guests, no grooms, no ceremony....just documents. They brought the papers to Zhan in his room. He signed them without fanfare. Between the two of them....Zhan and the one he was marrying....he was the first to place his name on the marriage contract, which was dense with conditions and obligations.
Zhan was stunned when he learned that even three of his brothers come with his father to witness his marriage.
Though Prince Yibo come to attend the wedding, Zhan never caught so much as a glimpse of him.... not even a passing shadow that could be called "husband." If someone had pressed Zhan and asked which of those men was his supposed spouse, he wouldn't have been able to tell. Even Queen Zaiye herself had remained hidden from view. The absence of everyone... the prince, the queen, and the truth....only deepened Zhan's conviction that he was stepping into a different life entirely.
But how that journey would unfold… he still did not know.
NB
🥱🤒Pheeew the wedding finally happen...
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛