Instead, images of Sheng Fei invaded his consciousness.
Those piercing golden eyes, steady and intense, watching him with a mixture of concern and something deeper, something that scared him but also ignited a fire inside him. It was like a switch was flipped and sensations he had never felt before were surfacing. Faster than he could comprehend.
He recalled the way Sheng Fei’s hands moved with such gentleness over his skin, stitching up his wound with practiced precision. His voice was deep, low and steady, assuring him over and over again that he was going to be okay and that whatever happened wasn’t his fault. That he didn’t need to punish himself. And even if he wanted to, he could do so by devoting himself to the citizens. By doing what’s right by them. By correcting all of his mistakes. Little by little, one by one, until they, together, free the Celestial Kingdom from the clutches of the current evil Emperor.
He turned slightly, avoiding disturbing his injury and a soft sigh escaped his lips as he opened his eyes, staring blankly at the open window, the gentle breeze carrying with it the faint scent of peach blossoms.
Sheng Fei and the Emperor....
What was he to do now?
Considering what he had seen the previous night, he wasn’t sure the Emperor would listen to him but he had a feeling that he could change the Emperor for good by making him see the error of his ways. He knew that the Emperor wasn’t always a tyrant. The Emperor was kind and gentle. He was the sort of person who never condoned even the smallest acts of injustice. It was the courage and unwavering determination he saw in the Emperor’s eyes that day that made him decide to follow the path of a soldier. That was the Emperor he fell in love with, not the one that watched as people were being sold off like cattle.
Hua Ren believed his Emperor, that same Emperor he saw years ago was still inside there somewhere and he’d have to do everything he could to bring him back.
He could not give up on the man he loved without trying.
But then, if he succeeds, where would that put him with Sheng Fei?
A sudden knock at the door broke his thoughts and Hua Ren’s eyes sharpened, his senses immediately alert. He could sense 4 people outside.
“General? Are you awake?” a voice called from the other side. Hua Ren recognized it as the head guard’s voice and he groaned softly. He had completely forgotten that the guards were still present.
“Yes,” he replied, swinging his legs off the bed, his movements graceful as he reached for a clean set of white outer robes which Sheng Fei must have kept within reach. Slipping them on, he cinched the sash at his waist and approached the door, sliding it open with a soft scrape of wood against wood.
Standing outside were the guards and a messenger. All immediately bowed.
The messenger, a young man with a serious expression, straightened. “Apologies for disturbing your rest so early this morning, General, but the Emperor requests your presence in the Celestial Dragon Hall. It’s urgent. ”
Hua Ren was slightly amused. Apologies? That was new. Normally, the messengers always relay the messages in commanding or arrogant tones especially if the orders came from the Emperor. Why was this messenger apologizing to him? Was it because his true identity had been exposed or had the Emperor revealed plans to wed him?
He quickly erased the latter thought for if the Emperor had announced it, the entire Kingdom would be buzzing with the news.
Not wanting to dwell on that, Hua Ren nodded once. "Understood."
The messenger and guards bowed once more before stepping back and Hua Ren slid the door closed with a soft click.
Leaning against the wooden frame, he allowed his eyes to flutter shut, his heart beginning to race. A summon so early in the morning... could it be the Twin Tiger’s Inn case? It had to be. All the people they had captured were freed. He and Sheng Fei had attempted to take the Emperor’s life. He almost died and had to rely on a Rebel to save him. So much happened in one night. There was no way the Emperor would not hold a meeting. Even if he didn’t want to, the owner of the Tin Tigers Inn and all the respected rich families that were present and suffered huge losses would demand one. The Emperor would not be able to refuse.
Drawing a steady breath, he opened his eyes and pushed off the door, moving to his wardrobe. He selected a set of formal snow white robes and changed carefully, so as not to disturb his wound.
He didn’t know how much information the Emperor had. Whether he was a suspect or not but whatever the Emperor knew, it didn’t matter. He would face it head-on and also, see if he could change the Emperor.
The grand doors of the Celestial Dragon Hall swung open, and the room fell into an uneasy hush as Hua Ren’s arrival was annouced for all to hear. The echo of Hua Ren’s footsteps carried through the vast chamber, his pristine white robes flowing like liquid silk around him. His expression was calm, his gaze sweeping across the assembly of furious faces filling the grand space.
He instantly recognized many of the people in attendance. Powerful heads of the most prominent families in the Celestial Kingdom. Their expressions were dark with anger and impatience.
He sighed, knowing he was right. It was definitely last night’s case.
There was the Pei family, the Cao family, the stern-faced Xian family head, accompanied by the Huang, Lu, Yuan, and Bei clan leaders. He had spotted many of them at the auction, now gathered in the Celestial Dragon Hall.
A scoff broke the silence. "What’s an Omega doing here?" sneered a member of the Pei family, his voice laced with contempt. Because of this said Omega, the third young master of their family was beaten to death. He already disliked Hua Ren because of his truthfulness and sense of justice. Now, he absolutely loathed him.
"Yes," the Lu clan head, a lean and significantly tall man with a head of full grey hair added, lips curling in disdain. "The Celestial Dragon Hall is no place for an Omega. Do you still think yourself a General or have you come to grovel by His Majesty’s feet? Beg him to forgive you and take you back? My advice to you, Omega, you should leave before your incure His Majesty’s wrath." The Lu and Pei families were close so if the Pei family hates the Omega, the Lu family did too.
Before the whispers could spread, the Emperor’s voice cut through the air like a blade. "Silence!" His tone was icy and sharp. He released his pheromones, using them to oppress the all the family heads present. As an Emperor of the purest Alpha bloodline, his pheromones were dense and heavy, allowing him to easily put pressure on other Alphas.