Sir Fenghui was among those completely shaken by the shocking revelation. The same went for Azaan and Hyun....both of whom had served King Yibo for years, shadowing his every step in secrecy, without ever realizing who he truly was.
There were many like them...people King Yibo had dealt with in different ways, sometimes through acts of kindness, sometimes through his quiet observation of his kingdom's affairs....never revealing his true identity until today, when he finally stood before them as himself.
★★
Inside the royal palace, confusion and disbelief swept like wildfire. The truth that had led the entire kingdom into chaos today had struck the royal court with the same intensity....leaving even the most powerful speechless. King Yibo had outsmarted them all....the kind of unseen brilliance that no one could detect until it was far too late.
Panic filled every corner of the court. Many of those who had long opposed him were now trembling, realizing the gravity of their underestimation. He was the King....and yet, his crown was the source of their deepest resentment. Their struggle against him had never been about justice, but about power. They had tried to divide his people for their own gain, while he had sought only to unite them under peace and order.
Despite being younger than forty, King Yibo carried the burden of his nation with unmatched strength and patience. And now, as the storm he had predicted unfolded, he remained composed....silent, yet firm in purpose.
What made him even more remarkable was his calm resolve. After addressing his people, no one heard another word from him that night....except for the doctors surrounding him, preparing to perform the medical procedure he had personally requested earlier that day.
★★
Meanwhile, Zhan....despite his strength and resilience....could not escape the weight of fate pressing down on him. His exhaustion, long periods without food, and constant anxiety had taken their toll. He was no longer the composed, sharp-tongued Zhan everyone knew; he was a shadow of himself, lost in thought, but still clinging to one final purpose: revenge against Prince Deng and Prince Langya.
Even if his life ended, his greatest wish was for the people of Beiping to uncover the truth....to know who King Yibo truly was, both in light and shadow. Destiny had shown him many lessons on this path, but tragically, his journey was ending too soon. The story of his life was becoming history....one that he had hoped to write himself.
He smiled faintly....a strange, unreadable smile.....as he inhaled the faint scent of the perfume that lingered in the cold, dim prison cell. It was the most secure prison in the entire Palace, and he was its only occupant, apart from the silent guards stationed around him.
(Who could this be that he sensed nearby? The scent of the perfume....it was too familiar. Could it be someone who he knew? Or perhaps someone who merely guessed…)
Zhan made no move to open his eyes, nor did he stir. The cell remained silent, filled only with the sound of faint breathing. Minutes passed, heavy and uncertain, as Zhan began to sense another presence nearby. And though doubt whispered in his mind, something else....a flicker of strange, fragile hope....began to rise within him.
Embarrassment and confusion washed over Zhan at the mere thought of meeting the eyes of the person sitting before him....if indeed it was him. He couldn't bring himself to look up, his chest tightening with unease. The room was dim, but faint light filtered through the window, enough for him to see the outline of the figure seated nearby.
The man was dressed entirely in black, even his hands gloved. His face was concealed by a face mask, and dark glasses hid his eyes completely.
To an observant mind like Zhan's, the proportions of the figure could easily have suggested a woman.... the frame, the posture, the elegance. Yet something about the stillness, the command in his presence, hinted otherwise. Neither of them spoke. Minutes dragged on in thick silence, the kind that pressed into the skin, until even the faint hum of the palace felt too loud.
The figure lifted his wrist slightly, glancing at the watch that gleamed faintly in the dim light. Without a word, he raised two fingers....a silent signal to the man standing behind him, whose posture left no doubt he was a male.
The second man nodded and drew a syringe from a slim case. Its metallic glint caught Zhan's eye a split second before he felt the sharp sting of the needle near his neck, between his shoulder and collarbone. He jerked in alarm, trying to cry out for help, but a soft cloth pressed instantly over his mouth muffled the sound. Within moments, a faint scent....strangely familiar....filled his senses, and everything went dark.
Just before losing consciousness, Zhan realized something crucial: that familiar fragrance wasn't King Yibo's after all....someone had deceived him with a scent meant to mislead.
★★
Not long after King Yibo's theater operation concluded, Zhan was discovered unconscious. The guards assigned to protect him.... stationed by order of Dowager Ruyan....had found him surrounded by fainted officers, all collapsed where they stood.
At first, everyone thought Zhan was dead. Their frantic shouts drew the attention of nearby security units, who rushed in and found that the four guards stationed around Zhan had also collapsed, likely from inhaling the same mysterious gas. The matter was immediately reported to Dowager Ruyan.
She wasted no time ordering that Zhan be taken to the royal clinic.
He was brought there in critical condition. The doctors surrounded him, working tirelessly, but after nearly five hours of examination, they found nothing....no poison, no visible wounds, nothing to explain his state. Zhan remained unconscious, his body unresponsive except for the faint rhythm of his heartbeat and breathing. Even the food he hadn't eaten that night and the following morning was tested thoroughly....nothing unusual was found.
This strange occurrence caused a greater stir than even King Yibo's earlier revelation. Whispers began to spread through the palace like wildfire. Fear turned to speculation, and speculation to suspicion.
People began to murmur, "Could something unearthly be happening here?"
The question echoed across the entire court, fanning confusion and fear among the nobles and citizens alike. The palace was once again gripped by unrest, every whisper feeding into the growing uncertainty that had already begun to consume the kingdom.
★★.....
Morning broke once again under the shadow of turmoil. The news of Zhan's critical condition had already divided the people into two sides....those who pitied him and those who didn't. Despite the royal court's efforts to contain the matter within palace walls, by dawn, it had spread like wildfire across news outlets and social media platforms.
Everywhere, people talked. Everyone had an opinion.
Dowager Ruyan, the once kind and graceful matriarch, despite everything Zhan had done to her grandson, was among the first to arrive at the royal clinic under the supervision of Daneen. Her heart was troubled....pity and deep concern stirred within her. She immediately requested to meet with the doctors overseeing Zhan's case.
The discussion lasted for nearly an hour. Outside, curious courtiers and attendants sent their spies to eavesdrop, desperate to learn what was happening, but no one succeeded. All they managed to uncover was the news that a renowned specialist from abroad had been summoned to examine Zhan, as none of the palace physicians could make sense of his condition. Even three top royal doctors who had arrived later had failed to diagnose anything.
Preparations for the foreign doctor's arrival began at once. Within fifteen hours, everything was arranged, and the doctor had landed in Beiping empire.
This time, Daneen personally oversaw every step of the process, which gave Prince Langya, Prince Deng and certain allies a new reason to whisper. They accused Dowager Ruyan and Daneen of hypocrisy....showing concern for someone who had once tried to harm their own bloodline. Some even dared to suggest that the mysterious condition of King Yibo and Zhan's illness were somehow linked to Dowager Ruyan and her circle. But she turned a deaf ear to their words, pretending not to hear the poisonous whispers that echoed through the corridors of the court.
★★★....
The specialists gathered around Zhan, working tirelessly for hours, yet by the end of the day, no new explanation was found. They chose silence over speculation, releasing no statements to the court.
Daneen, however, did her best to keep Dowager Ruyan calm. She called the clinic repeatedly, her voice trembling with worry....a level of distress that left even the royal aides puzzled. No one could quite explain why the Dowager seemed so shaken by Zhan's condition.
Although she and the others were not permitted to see Zhan that day, their minds eased slightly after hearing that King Yibo's health had greatly improved. By nightfall, under the care of his physician, the King allowed Daneen and Dowager Ruyan to visit him in his private chamber.
Though he did not speak, his eyes softened with relief at the sight of them, and Dowager Ruyan could not hold back her tears of joy.
Not a word was exchanged about Zhan....not from him, not from them. Yet both of them knew that the King was already aware of everything that had transpired in the palace since dawn. He had regained consciousness early that morning, and the doctors had confirmed the success of the delicate procedure performed on him the night before.
***
It had been two full days since Zhan had fallen unconscious, and still, there was no sign of him waking up. The doctors, who at first tried to remain composed, were now showing visible signs of anxiety. Every medical technique, every skill they prided themselves on, had been exhausted...yet there was no change in Zhan's condition, even though all their internal tests showed that he should have recovered by now.
As the third night approached, tension filled the royal infirmary. Even King Yibo, usually composed and unreadable, seemed affected. When Daneen visited him that evening, tears welled in her eyes as she spoke, assuming that perhaps the King hadn't been informed of Zhan's state...because he had said nothing, done nothing.
King Yibo sat in silence for a long moment, his gaze distant, his expression unreadable. Daneen's sobs echoed softly in the grand chamber.
"Calm down, Mamy," he finally said quietly, his voice steady but faint...as if the words themselves carried weight he didn't wish to bear.
Daneen shook her head, wiping her tears helplessly. "How can I calm down in this condition? My heart aches for that boy. I fear someone might harm him again...especially those foreign doctors we barely know or trust. Zhan has a gentleness most people never see; you only understand it when you truly look at him. He's like a rare pearl hidden in gold. I don't want to lose him....not when he deserves to be seen, admired, protected. I'm afraid others might take advantage of this moment to take him away from us."
King Yibo turned his head slightly, his eyes half-lidded, calm yet filled with unspoken storms. His royal demeanor...his quiet authority...made him seem carved from stone. Nothing on his face betrayed what he was thinking. No hint of emotion flickered there, and yet the silence itself spoke volumes.
For a long time, he said nothing. Then finally....
"Mamy, please don't cry."
He spoke more firmly this time, his pink lips barely parting as his cool gaze met hers. He reached out, taking three of her fingers gently in his hand. Daneen nodded, trembling slightly, and wiped the last of her tears.
King Yibo had more to say...far more than the few words that left his lips...but restraint was his greatest strength. Instead, he let out a slow breath and gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile, one that never reached beyond the corners of his mouth.
Daneen returned the look with affection, comforted by his steadiness. He wasn't just her King...he was her beloved nephew, the one she trusted above all.
Then King Yibo turned his gaze toward the doctor standing nearby. The man bowed his head instantly, heart pounding with a mixture of awe and fear. There was something about the King's silent authority....an aura of command and nobility....that made even breathing in his presence feel like a privilege.
The doctor had the urge to speak, to voice his thoughts, but before he could gather courage, King Yibo's sharp eyes landed on him.
The doctor froze, swallowing hard, and quickly lowered his gaze again. The power in that single glance was enough to silence him completely.
"Your Majesty, I wish you good health and long life. Do you require anything else?"
The doctor's voice trembled slightly under the weight of King Yibo's sharp, commanding gaze.
King Yibo continued to stare at him in silence for several long seconds....so long it nearly became two full minutes...before he finally moved his lips and spoke the thought that had been circling in his mind all evening.
"Can he stay here...with us?"
The doctor quickly nodded, bowing his head again. "If that is the wish of His Majesty, the honorable ruler of Beiping and guardian of its people, then it shall be done immediately."
King Yibo said nothing more, simply turning his head away as the doctor quietly exited the room.
Daneen's face brightened with a warm smile. She was about to speak, but King Yibo's glance found her first. Deep down, he was pleased to see that smile on her face....though no one could have guessed from his expression. His eyes lowered slightly, dark lashes casting a soft shadow across his pale skin as he murmured,
"You're happy about this?"
"Of course I am, sweetheart," she replied warmly, her smile widening. "May your life be filled with peace and strength. You've done the right thing, my dear King. You've made me proud...made this kingdom proud, he should be by your side and be protected."
"Mamy," he said softly, almost shyly, though his face revealed nothing. For the first time in days, Daneen let out a small, tender laugh...her beloved "Baby Yibo" was still there beneath that royal exterior.
(Seems our King still has a soft side 😜🏃♀️)
★
Within a short time, the King's orders were carried out. A second bed was arranged in the adjoining chamber of his private recovery suite...divided only by a glass wall...equipped with every monitoring device and medical aid needed for Zhan's treatment.
King Yibo sat upright on his own hospital bed, legs stretched out beneath a soft white duvet that covered him up to the waist. His back rested against a raised pillow, adjusted to perfect comfort. Even as a patient, he looked impossibly regal....the soft glow of his flawless skin, his smooth black hair falling loosely around his temples, every strand in perfect order. The faint scent of his cologne filled the room, elegant and distinct...no one else in the world carried such a refined aura.
A book rested in his hand, and he didn't lift his gaze even as the doctors entered to settle Zhan on the newly prepared bed.
Two male physicians carefully transferred Zhan from the stretcher onto the clean white sheets.
He lay perfectly still...eyes closed, face calm and beautiful, even in his weakened state. His features were delicate yet strong, though his body had grown thin from the ordeal. The blanket draped over him hid the toll his illness had taken, but his quiet grace remained untouched, like a fading moon still glowing faintly against the night sky.
When everything was finally arranged and the attendants left, King Yibo didn't lift his gaze from the book in his hands. He read quietly, every thought drawn inward, completely focused.
Only when he reached the passage he sought did he pause, closing his eyes and releasing a long, steady breath. Whenever he immersed himself in this book, he found a rare peace....something no throne, no wealth, no earthly power could grant. The words drew him into a secret world known only to those who truly read them, and for a while, all his worries dissolved. Each page calmed his heart, until he felt almost reborn.
After several long minutes, when his body and mind had found balance again, he exhaled softly and opened his eyes.
Through the glass partition, he could clearly see Zhan lying motionless...his body still, surrounded by glowing medical devices and soft beeping lights. Every part of him was visible, fragile yet dignified, and the quiet rhythm of the machines wrapped around him like a pulse.
King Yibo's lashes lowered, then lifted again...his eyes settling on Zhan's peaceful face, its pale radiance illuminated by the dim room light.
There were words waiting at the edge of his lips, but pride and the iron weight of royal restraint held them back. He swallowed them silently, thinking that some truths were better left unsaid...like a delicate feather caught in a storm.
★ ★ ★
Ever since news of what happened to Zhan that night spread, Jasrah had been excited. Her mind couldn't stop circling around the question... who could have done it? Whoever it was, she was certain they were among those closest to the King royals.
Excited and anxious, she tried to call her sister to share her suspicions, but the line wouldn't connect. Annoyed, she decided to wait....after all, she knew the truth would reach her eventually.
She went to bed that night filled with conflicting emotions....relief that Zhan was unconscious, but unease that he hadn't yet dead completely.
Now, her temper was flaring. Frustration burned in her chest as she stormed through the royal corridors in search of Dowager Taihou, furious over hearing that Daneen had once again visited King Yibo's quarters that morning to request for Zhan transfer to the King's chamber.
When she couldn't find the Dowager, her anger deepened....just as the news reached her that Zhan had been moved to the King's own chamber.
Shocked, she threw her phone aside and rushed out, not waiting for her driver. Her anger led her straight toward Dowager Taihou's residence.
Banou, one of Dowager Ruyan's attendants, was hurrying along the corridor to deliver an errand when she saw Jasrah approaching...her face clouded with fury. Banou licked her lips nervously, trying to compose herself. She had long hope about Jasrah's pregnancy, afraid of Zhan's sharp intuition...but today, she sensed an opportunity.
Their paths crossed suddenly when they bump into each other. Jasrah, blinded by rage, didn't slow down. Banou instantly dropped to her knees in exaggerated fear, begging forgiveness, trembling as she tried to touch Jasrah's feet in apology.
But Jasrah, her temper uncontrollable, raised her hand and slapped her sharply across the face. The sound echoed through the hall, leaving the nearby servants frozen in alarm.
Banou clutched her cheek, tears filling her eyes...but inside, she felt a twisted sense of triumph. The slap had given her exactly what she wanted: to eat Jasrah unborn baby.
Jasrah swept past her without another glance, storming into Dowager Taihou's quarters.
The Dowager's attendants bowed nervously, informing her that the Dowager was not receiving anyone.
Jasrah shot them a withering glare, hissed under her breath, and pushed the doors open anyway... her fury spilling into the royal chambers like a storm.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛