Hua Ren stood alone in the vast expanse of the Celestial Dragon Hall, the flickering light of torches casting long, wavering shadows against the gilded walls. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint crackle of fire and the whisper of his own breathing.
The large ornated table before him was covered in scrolls, maps, and official documents yet, his attention was fixed on a single piece of paper which read:
Merchants in Ironwall Kingdom.
The words seemed to blur as Hua Ren stared at them, his mind racing. He sighed, running a hand through his snow-white hair, his thoughts churning in frustration.
Lim Kang was Sheng Fei and he was Lim Sa Yu. Also, they are not merchants. How was he supposed to investigate? From where would he start?
He leaned against the edge of the table, staring blankly at the paper as though willing it to disappear. He suddenly felt bad and stupid. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone after the Emperor last night and focused on rescuing the captives instead. Now, he had gotten Sheng Fei and the others in trouble. He already felt like shit for blindly following the Emperor for years and destroying the lives of his people. He wouldn’t be able to bear it if Sheng Fei and the others were caught. He would never be able to forgive himself.
“I have never seen such an expression on your face before.” A familiar, commanding voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Hua Ren’s body went rigid, a shiver of dread crawling up his spine. The Emperor! How had he not noticed his presence? He whipped around swiftly, dropping into a deep bow.
“Your Majesty,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him.
The Emperor stood at one of the secret entrances to the hall, his imposing figure framed by the golden light spilling from the torches. He smiled, amused by the Ivory Warlord’s reaction.
"Did I startle you, Hua Ren?" He asked.
There was a time Hua Ren felt giddy whenever the Emperor referred to him by his name but now, he only felt sad. "Just a bit, Your Majesty." He nodded truthfully.
Slowly, the Emperor stepped further into the room, his crimson and golden robes trailing behind him in a show of regal authority.
“Rise,” he said, gesturing with a flick of his hand. “And tell me, what has my future wife frowning so much? Is it the case? Do you wish not to investigate?”
Hua Ren quickly shook his head as he straightened. “No, Your Majesty. I wouldn’t dare.” And future wife? He hadn’t even given his answer yet. This only meant that there was no room for rejection. The Emperor expects him to accept the proposal.
The Emperor’s gaze flicked to the paper on the table then back to Hua Ren. He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk on his lips. “Oh? But you can, Hua Ren. You forget your own gender. Despite still being a general, such things are not compulsory for you to do anymore. If you do not wish to do it, you can easily—”
Before the Emperor could finish, Hua Ren dropped to his knees. He lowered his head, his voice firm despite the rapid pounding of his heart. “I will do it, Your Majesty. I want to be the one who brings you the heads of the rebels that dared to attack you.”
The hall fell silent, the only sound the soft rustle of Hua Ren’s robes as he knelt before the Emperor. His words were a gamble, but one he had already decided was necessary. If he backed out now, he would lose any chance of protecting Sheng Fei and the others. At least with him leading the investigation, he could control the narrative, cover their tracks, and ensure their safety.
The Emperor regarded him in silence for a moment, his dark eyes unreadable. Then, slowly, his lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Good."
Hua Ren raised his head slightly, just enough to catch the flicker of approval in the Emperor’s gaze.
“You are as loyal as you are beautiful,” The Emperor said, helping Hua Ren to his feet.
Again, Hua Ren felt his skin crawl with disgust the second the Emperor’s hands landed on him. He forced himself not to flinch even though every instinct screamed at him to pull away. He straightened himself, his expression carefully composed, and took a deliberate step back. "Your Majesty honors me with your trust. I will not fail you.”
The Emperor chuckled, the sound low and amused. To him, Hua Ren’s reaction was endearing, a crack in the frigid armor he was so accustomed to seeing. "I know. That’s why I chose you." He replied. "What about my proposal? Do you have an answer for me now?"
Hua Ren wanted to talk but then, hesitated. Was this the right time?
"You know what, don’t tell me now." The Emperor quickly said. "Come to my chambers tonight. We shall talk then. Use the day to find out who those merchants are."
Hua Ren let out a subtle sigh of relief then nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. I shall see you tonight."
He then gave a deep bow, turned around and left the Celetial Dragon Hall.
For now, he had no other option than to play along. For the sake of Sheng Fei, his people and those that were captured, he would do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Even if it meant playing a dangerous game with the Emperor himself.
The cool morning air nipped at Hua Ren’s face as he hurried through the streets with his guards. The lingering tension from his encounter with the Emperor clung to him like an unwelcome shadow, but his thoughts were focused on the task ahead. He had only an hour before meeting Rowan, the Crown Prince of Lioncrest, to begin their investigation. Their first stop: the Twin Tiger’s Inn. He had to find a way to erase any trace the rebels might have left behind. Anything else, like the Emperor’s proposal, could come after.
Reaching his chambers, he nodded curtly to the guards as they took their positions outside his door. Sliding the door open, he stepped inside, but the moment he entered, his heart stuttered.
That scent. It enveloped him—sage and musk, rich and familiar. The very scent that had lulled him to sleep last night and made him linger in bed longer than usual in the morning.