King Yao’s daughter, her face still flushed from her earlier encounter with Xiang Yu, listened intently. Her curiosity was piqued, and she found herself even more intrigued by the enigmatic ruler.
King Yao’s plan having backfired couldn’t believe this vile demon king had no skeletons in his closet. For instance, the twins. At a glance, one could tell that they were human teens cultivating the demonic path. It wasn’t new that demons kidnapped human children. If not to eat them, it was to enslave them. How could someone who kept teen girls by his side be a good person?
"What about the twins? I’ve heard they are close to him," he asked expecting the worst.
The second maid servant’s expression softened. "The twins, young Miss Lian and Mei are like daughters to King Xiang. He rescued them in the past, and they have been under his protection ever since." King Yao’s daughter felt a pang of admiration for Xiang Yu. Despite his fearsome reputation, there was a side to him that cared for the innocent. She wondered what other secrets the northern demon realm king held.
As the group settled into the courtyard, the maidservants excused themselves, leaving King Yao and his daughter to ponder their next move. The night was still, the stars twinkling above. The northern realm had been known for its grim, foul-smelling air, but what they witnessed today was different.
The blood-covered streets were spotless, and the dilapidated homes hanging by crumbling piles of bricks were now rebuilt with unique architecture. Even the villages next to the northern realm were flourishing with never been seen before trade between humans and demons. It was no wonder his daughter admired this young demon king.
Xiang Yu sat at his dinner table, his gaze drifting over the artificial lake he had created a few years ago. The red moon reflected on the water’s surface, casting an ethereal glow that made the atmosphere almost otherworldly. Despite the serene beauty around him, the food on his plate tasted like ash. After he took over the northern demon realm he discovered that their tastes didn’t match his palate. He had the palace chef learn from the human realm but the food still wasn’t as good.
Lian and Mei excitedly chattered about the gifts brought by Demon King Yao and what they wanted to keep. Their voices were animated, filled with youthful enthusiasm, but Xiang Yu found himself detached from their conversation. He was more relaxed than before. Looking at him now one wouldn’t think he was the same person wreaking havoc in the grand hall earlier.
Lian, ever observant, noticed that their master had barely touched his food. She grabbed a dumpling from the shared plate and placed it in her master’s bowl. "Master, you haven’t eaten much," she said softly, concern evident in her eyes. She was infamously known for being the craziest of the twins but in front of her master and her sister she showed a rarely seen caring side.
Xiang Yu merely sipped from his cup, a lazy expression on his face. The liquid was warm, but it did little to stir his appetite. "No need. I am not that hungry."
Mei, always the more adventurous of the two, suggested, "Why don’t we go to the human realm for a vacation like we did last time? We could visit Sister Dan Dan and eat dongpo duck and hawthorns."
"Oh, and we can get more ribbons. I love ribbons," chimed in Lian her eyes shining bright just imagining those pretty colours. The twins’ excitement was infectious, and Xiang Yu couldn’t help but smile. Their voices were like a sweet song amidst the chaos of his thoughts. The idea of a brief escape, even to the human realm, seemed oddly appealing.
Behind them, a maidservant dressed in a dark green dress stood silently, her expression bland. But beneath her calm exterior, she clenched her fist within her sleeve, her knuckles white with tension. Xiang Yu’s smile lingered as he listened to the twins’ excited plans. He had a hard time refusing them. In other words, he spoilt them like they were little princesses.
After they finished eating, he had the maidservants take away the dishes. The young women left the room one after the other. As soon as they were far enough they began to chat happily gossiping and joking around. They all seemed satisfied with their lives, all except one.
Her face barely masked her frustration as she walked behind the group of young women. When they reached the kitchen they set the dishes down carefully but she, with a sharp toss, threw the dishes onto the table, the clatter echoing through the room. The chef, a burly demon with a temper to match, began to yell at her, his voice rising above the loud chatter.
She didn’t care. Ignoring his tirade, she walked out, her steps purposeful. The other maidservants glanced at her disappearing figure and began to whisper. She had always thought the others were beneath her because of her status in the past. Just like now she would half-ass her job like she was being forced to be here.
She knew that as soon as she left they would talk about her but it didn’t seem to bother her. Her nose up and turned to the sky, she made her way to her quarters, a small but comfortable room that had been renovated under Demon King Xiang’s orders. The leaky roof and mouldy walls of the past were gone, replaced by sturdy beams and clean, dry surfaces. It was a far cry from the squalor she had once known.
But for someone like her, who had clawed her way up the ranks to become the late Demon King’s concubine, it wasn’t enough. Her name was Mo Xi and she was the tenth concubine to the deceased demon king. She could have left with the other concubines and accepted the compensation that was more than generous. It was enough treasures to start a new life but she wanted more. She wanted to be on top.
She had begged to stay and serve the new Demon King, Xiang Yu all in the hope of seducing him, to regain her former status. This time it would even be better because there was no competition. But Xiang Yu had shown no interest in her, his cold eyes passing over her as if she were invisible. He was like a wooden statue with no normal emotions in the least.