Eyes widened. Ji Mingyuan's steps thundered on the marble floor as he walked through the extended hallway like a marshal marching to war. Objects shattered behind him, and the roars of the queen echoed into the distance, but he paid no attention. Not when the one in his arms trembled in fear and anxiety.
Silence whispered as the servants bowed, their eyes fixed to the ground. No one dared utter a word in his hearing, but Liang Chen could feel his gaze, the tension in his jaw, and the tightening of his fingers around him. All eyes turned in their direction as he marched into the consort chambers.
Liang Chen watched as the servants scrambled out, bowing as they rushed on their heels, but the scandal had already taken root: the crown Prince of Yelan had married a man.
Ji Mingyuan set Liang Chen down slowly, his eyes scanning the prepared room. It was everything to his taste: the thick curtains and the furniture placed at perfect angles. It wasn't crowded: a tea table at the center, a king-sized bed at the far end, and two doors, one leading to the wardrobe, the other to the bathroom.
"You should rest," Ji Mingyuan muttered as he turned to leave, but Liang Chen held him back.
"You shouldn't have walked in with me," he said quietly, his voice heavy with the thousand questions running through his mind.
Ji Mingyuan didn't turn. The man behind him, his eyes alone, was enough to make him spill everything.
"You gave me no choice," he replied flatly.
Liang Chen's lips curled, but he didn't buy the answer, not when he could hear Ji Mingyuan's heartbeat louder than a war drum.
"What do you take me for, Mingyuan? First, you insist on a marriage your people disagree with; then you drag me into your kingdom, and now you stand there to tell me you had no choice?" Liang Chen stepped closer, his breath heavy. "Mingyuan, I hate you."
His words sent a stabbing pain through Ji Mingyuan's heart, but he stood still, his face cold and his eyes unwavering.
Liang Chen didn't wait for another word. He watched the Crown Prince of Yelan walk away and slammed the door behind him. Without delay, he collapsed onto the ground, the weight of everything bearing down on him.
"His mother wouldn't forgive this. His court wouldn't succumb to it. And his betrothed…" Liang Chen chuckled bitterly. "How can he push me into the den of lions when I've only just arrived?"
Liang Chen stayed on the soft rug longer than he anticipated. His mind held a thousand questions, but none came with answers.
By nightfall, a gentle knock echoed, and a familiar face stepped in.
"Good evening, my prince," Shuming bowed.
Liang Chen only nodded and picked himself up off the floor.
"The Empress has fallen ill, and the Crown Prince ordered dinner to be served in your chamber," Shuming said. On cue, the door opened, and two maids stepped in carrying trays of fragrant dishes.
As tempting as the aroma was, Liang Chen wasn't interested. He was exhausted. He didn't want food; he wanted a way out.
"I am not hungry," he said dismissively, walking toward the bathroom.
The two maids halted, their bodies frozen, their eyes begging for mercy.
"You have to eat, my prince," Shuming pleaded, but Liang Chen was not having it.
"Is it another order from your prince?" Liang Chen lashed out.
Shuming opened his mouth, but no words came. His silence was louder than words.
"Take the food back. I am not hungry. And if Mingyuan wants to force-feed me, he might as well do it with his own hands."
Liang Chen stepped into the bathroom and slammed the heavy doors behind him.
Shuming sighed tiredly, rubbing his temple. It was only the first day, and his new master was proving more stubborn than expected. Slowly, he turned to the frozen servants.
"You heard the prince… take it back," he ordered, and the maids scrambled away hastily.
Thirty minutes went by before Liang Chen stepped out of the dressing room. The design was perfect, just like home. The bathroom had a connecting door leading into the dressing room, allowing him to bathe and dress with ease before returning to his chamber.
The bathroom came with white and pink towels; for reasons he didn't understand, he loved the idea. But the dressing room is beyond words. Every piece of clothing fit his size, color, texture, and liking.
The wardrobe consisted of three large sections: one for ceremonial attire, another for casual outfits, and the last filled with nightwear, more delicate and seductive than he wanted.
Stepping out in white silk pants and a loose sleep shirt, he had a hand towel over his head, drying the droplets from his dazzling ash hair. Liang Chen was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the figure before him until he bumped into a hard chest.
"Wh… what?" Liang Chen stuttered, his body falling, but a strong pair of hands slipped around his slender waist, pulling him close.
"Ji Mingyuan!" Liang Chen stressed the name, pushing himself away from the cold figure.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, ignoring the man and moving towards the large mirror beside the bed.
Ji Mingyuan watched him walk over and sit, drying his long hair with quiet ease.
"You should eat," Ji Mingyuan muttered, his eyes piercing into Liang Chen's skin.
"And why should I?" Liang Chen retorted, still focused on the mirror.
"You have to eat, Liang Chen. You can't start by refusing food," Ji Mingyuan half-yelled, as if scolding a child.
"Start?" Liang Chen hissed, tossing the towel on the bed as he rose to his feet, meeting the intense gaze of the man towering above him.
"I haven't started, and you're already complaining?" Liang Chen laughed darkly.
"I need answers, Ji Mingyuan, and until you start providing some, I'll make sure this marriage is nothing but hell for you."
Ji Mingyuan pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed tiredly. "Rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
He turned to leave, but Liang Chen wasn't finished. He held him back by the hand.
"You can't run away forever," Liang Chen whispered.
For a while, they stood quietly, letting the words sink between them.
"What would you have me say?" Ji Mingyuan chuckled weakly.
"Why did you marry me?" Liang Chen asked, stepping closer until he faced him.
"You could have had Yourong, or any other woman of your choice. But no, you'd rather marry me and condemn me to this cage of a fate."
Ji Mingyuan's eyes blinked, and a wave of emotion flashed through those tempting green eyes. He stepped closer, closing the gap between them.
"Why should I marry a woman, or anyone, when I can have you?" his lips curled, sending shivers down Liang Chen's spine.
Liang Chen swallowed hard, his nails digging into his palms. "But why?" he asked, his voice calm yet stern.
"Because," Ji Mingyuan whispered, "I'd rather be condemned with you than crowned without you."
Liang Chen's breath caught. His lips quivered, and his knees threatened to buckle. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air thick and hard to breathe.
Liang Chen looked away, his steps retreating, but Ji Mingyuan moved closer.
"Why do you hate me this much?" Ji Mingyuan asked.
Liang Chen's breath hitched. He opened his mouth, ready to scream, because you've hurt me before; you took it all from me—my land, my throne, and my life—but the words never came. Instead, he turned away and walked to the bed.
"See yourself out," he muttered, pulling the duvet over his frame.
He closed his eyes as time ticked slowly. The door slammed shut, and echoes of footsteps faded away.
Breathing heavily, he drew the duvet from his face, gasping for air like one on the verge of drowning. His eyes darted to the door. He was gone.
This was only the beginning, yet he already felt like he was choking.
Liang Chen closed his eyes, and the system chimed.
[Mission Progress: Emotional Bond – 5%]
Staring at the numbers, he sighed. This was certainly harder than he thought.