A sharp, mocking laugh burst out of Prince Langya as his eyes scanned the court summons delivered for the retrial set for today. He reached up, wiping the remaining droplets of bathwater from his forehead down to his face. Since yesterday morning, neither he nor Prince Deng had been home; only today was he returning, while Prince Deng himself would come back later in the night.
He grabbed the landline phone beside his bed, pressing the buttons while still standing. The moment the call connected, he again let out a loud laugh, then sat at the edge of the bed.
"So, King's Uncle, you got the summons too?"
Prince Deng let out a rough, irritated hiss from the other end.
"Stop talking nonsense. He thinks he has any authority here? Let him dare schedule another useless retrial. We'll deal with him....and that loud-mouthed brat husband of his with a tongue like a parrot."
Prince Langya burst into another round of laughter.
"Let him try. Since we returned to this Palace, nobody has dared raise their voice here with us.... and no one will today."
The two laughed together like unhinged men.
- - - -
Later that morning, they walked together to the dining hall. Their loyal attendant bowed deeply, respectfully greeting them. Only Zhan responded warmly; King Yibo simply moved his lips and walked past without a sound.
He personally pulled out a chair for Zhan. Zhan did the same in return, smiling at him. King Yibo didn't smile back; he only rolled his eyes in a deliberately stylish display of romance.
When the attendant stepped forward to serve their food as usual, Zhan stopped him and dismissed him gently, telling him to return later when they were done.
Zhan opened and arranged all the dishes, then looked at him, waiting for his preference. Those sharp, piercing eyes of the King locked onto him, and he silently pointed at him with one finger and said "I want to eat you"
Zhan pushed out his lips in exaggeration, blinking dramatically.
"I mean which food, not me."
King Yibo nearly burst into laughter, but he swallowed it back, turning his face away. Zhan also turned away with a pout, already recognizing the mood...today was clearly one of the King's arrogant-rule days.
He served what he personally felt like eating, placing everything neatly before him with a soft "Please."
King Yibo stared at the food, feeling something different about it today. In the past, his attendant always prepared his meals....yet now his own spouse had done it. Something he had quietly dreamed of for a long time.
Life… always full of firsts and finalities.
They began eating slowly. Zhan stole glances at him, admiring the commanding calm and elegance in the way the King ate. Nearing the end of the meal, Zhan suddenly winced sharply, clutching his head and gasping.
King Yibo's hand shot forward, grabbing his wrist.
Zhan lifted his eyes, now startlingly red, meeting his gaze. The sight raised goosebumps on the King's skin, although he kept his composure. He signaled silently: What's wrong?
Even speaking felt like a struggle today; the air between them was thick with unspoken tension.
Softly, Zhan whispered, "My head… it hurts."
"Since when?" he demanded sharply.
"Since this morning. But it's nothing serious, don't worry. Please.....let me go ahead to court first. You can come later."
King Yibo stared at him long and hard. Zhan tilted his head pleadingly.
King Yibo looked away without a word. For a long time he'd suspected something strange was affecting Zhan, and now the feeling returned stronger than ever. Something was wrong....something unsettling.
And the words Zhan just spoke echoed in his mind. Letting him go ahead alone… was there meaning behind that?
Something was definitely off.....whether someone had possessed him or something had taken hold of Zhan's mind, he didn't know. Pushing aside the troubling thought, King Yibo continued eating, but Zhan's words and the incident that followed that day would not leave his mind.
Zhan followed behind him as if he wanted to speak, but instead swallowed his words and released a deep, heavy sigh, stepping back.
King Yibo said nothing until he saw Zhan rise to his feet. In a low voice he asked,
"Where are you going?"
Zhan pointed at the clock. King Yibo glanced at it, then looked away.
Without meeting his eyes again, King Yibo asked, "Do you need an escort?"
"No my Lord."
Zhan answered shortly.
"But you know you can't go alone. They're waiting for you downstairs."
"Thank you." Zhan said at last.
King Yibo simply watched him, taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor. Zhan face had turned hard...cold and humorless. For a brief moment, King Yibo wondered if Zhan was possessed by something strange.
The Courtroom
Today's hearing was clearly going to be intense. The court was already packed, heavy with rumor and anticipation. What drew everyone's attention most was the commanding confidence in Zhan's stride as he entered. Attendants followed behind him. He looked striking in his fitted suit; his face almost shone.....brighter than starlight.
Though Zhan walked normally, to those watching he appeared to radiate pure power and authority. What captivated the court even more was that he walked directly toward Dowager Ruyan, bowing deeply to greet her with respect.
The doors opened again...King Yibo stepped in, stopping every whisper. The entire courtroom rose instantly. He walked with overwhelming presence, the sort that lived in his bones. Even the subtle fragrance that followed him stirred hearts. Many young women who had long been hopelessly in love with him nearly melted where they stood. His expression, however, revealed nothing....his eyes hidden behind blue-tinted glasses.
He took his seat on the official throne, murmuring an internal protection phrase out of habit. He subtly scanned the hall, searching for Zhan. He found him...but strangely, Zhan wasn't looking at him at all. King Yibo exhaled quietly, a breath so soft that even his closest guards couldn't hear.
Once everyone settled, one of King Yibo's uncles rose to address the crowd.
Opening Statement
"We welcome everyone to this third hearing regarding the ongoing case. In the previous session, the defendant admitted guilt, and this court granted time for deeper investigation into the attempt against the royal family. The inquiry team was authorized full access.
There was an incident involving the attempted murdering the Royal Consort, which delayed these proceedings until recovery. Today, this hearing will focus on the report from the chief investigator assigned to this case. Chief of Investigations, proceed."
The man bowed deeply to King Yibo, then faced the court.
"As authorized, we conducted a thorough investigation tracing the origin of the poisoned milk delivered to the Royal Consort's quarters. Our findings led us to the individual responsible for supplying the snake venom used in the mixture. Rather than burden you with excessive explanation, it is best you hear directly from him. I request permission to present Da Ghao before the court."
"Permission granted," the uncle announced.
Prince Langya and Prince Deng exchanged looks and subtle smiles, though both quickly stiffened when they saw the man being escorted in. Prince Langya attempted to stand, but Prince Deng gripped his arm, trembling.
Zhan, watching them, smiled faintly. By chance, his eyes met Prince Deng's, and Zhan gave him a slow, teasing wink before turning away and biting his lower lip provocatively.
Testimony
Da Ghao entered with the guards....an older man, perhaps in his late fifties. He knelt respectfully before the King. King Yibo did not move or react.
Da Ghao straightened and faced the questioning official.
"State your name."
With a slight tremor, he answered,
"Da Ghao. I am a specialist in snakes and venom, from the village of Bansh."
"What connection do you have to the Beiping Empire?"
"My connection is that of any citizen....loyalty to the Palace and its leadership."
"And yet you provided venom intended to harm the King of this Palace?"
"Never intentionally. I would never supply poison to harm a servant of this Palace, much less its ruler. One night, a man came to me presenting himself as an investigator researching venom snakes types. At first I refused, knowing people are dangerous and deceitful. But he showed an official identification card. Believing it was legitimate, I agreed to provide samples…"
"…And can you recognize the person if you see him again?"
"Absolutely. There is also CCTV footage of everything that happened between us. He never knew I had a camera installed there."
Da Ghao finished speaking while looking at the Chief Investigator, who understood immediately. He stood and handed a flash drive to King Yibo's uncle. The drive was inserted into a laptop and displayed before King Yibo, revealing every detail exactly as previously described.
The man shown receiving the venom was brought into the courtroom.....one of Prince Deng's most trusted aides, known widely throughout the empire. He had been by Prince Deng's side since youth, handling his private affairs and dirty work.
Prince Deng instantly lost control, his body trembling violently.
The courtroom erupted into chaotic murmuring until strict order was restored. Even the uncle conducting the session grew pale with shock; nothing needed to be explained.....everything was now painfully clear.
Facing the aide, who by that time was completely shaken and restrained by guards, the uncle demanded:
"We don't need delay or excuses. Tell the truth now....who ordered you?"
Slowly, the aide lifted his head, glancing briefly toward Prince Deng and Prince Langya. Prince Langya stared sharply at him, nervously tapping his finger against his thigh. The aide exhaled shakily, then turned back to the podium.
His voice came out firm and direct:
"My master, Prince Deng, gave the order."
The courtroom exploded instantly.....gasps, shouts, uproar. Prince Deng lunged toward his aide, screaming, but the guards grabbed him and restrained him. People shouted curses and condemnation from every corner until they were silenced by force.
The aide continued:
"I didn't know what he intended to do with the venom. But he poured it into the milk in front of me and ordered me to deliver it to the male royal consort's quarters, saying it should appear as though it came from the Dowager mother's side."
"I didn't dare refuse....if I had, he would have had me followed, and then killed. So I obeyed. I believed the royal consort would give the milk to someone else. Later, I learned that the milk was intended directly for His Majesty, disguised as coming through the royal consort."
"And let me be clear....it is not the royal consort's fault. Prince Deng cast a spell of intimidation and manipulation over him, controlling his every move. And once finished, he planned to eliminate him as well."
No matter how hard the judges tried, silence could not be restored. Rage erupted throughout the courtroom.
Zhan released a slow, dangerous smile, watching Prince Deng stand frozen like a corpse. Then his gaze shifted to Prince Langya, drenched in sweat. Zhan laughed inwardly, thinking: "I haven't even begun with you." Outwardly, however, his face betrayed nothing.
Prince Langya, meanwhile, believed his plan had worked.... that Prince Deng was now the sole target of blame. He himself had planted the aide close to Prince Deng for years, ensuring he reported every move.
What he and Prince Deng did not know was that the aide no longer served tjem....he was now loyal to Zhan, who deliberately piled all accusations onto Prince Deng first, planning to drag Prince Langya down later, piece by piece, until total ruin.
A sudden burst of loud crying from Prince Langya snapped Zhan out of his thoughts. He stared at the dramatic scene before him....Prince Langya trembling and sobbing uncontrollably as he looked at Prince Deng, as if his entire world had collapsed.
"Deng! Deng brother, how could you?" Prince Langya cried out in anguish. "You betrayed our brother with your own hands, and you became the one who planned his son execution. What more do you want from him? What did he ever do wrong to deserve this? He treated us like a true father would. Yet we failed to protect the only son he have left, simply because he refused to support your hunger for the throne!"
"I suspected for a long time that you were desperate for power, but I never imagined you would go this far.... not until the day the forbidden charms were found hidden in the royal throne, and you refused to attend the council meeting, and in the end… you tried to silence your own wife." His voice cracked as he broke down into sobs again.
With wild fury, Prince Deng lunged forward and grabbed Prince Langya by the throat, shaking with rage, shouting that he would kill him.
Even in the chaos and shouting, King Yibo sat silently watching through his glasses. For the first time, even he felt confusion.... because throughout his investigation of his uncles, he had always believed they worked together, doing everything in secret. Zhan had also confirmed they acted as a pair. So how had everything suddenly turned against Prince Deng alone?
Almost as if the Uncle could read his thoughts, he spoke.
"Your highness Royal Consort, do you have anything else to add regarding Prince Deng's connection to this matter?"
Silence. It seemed Zhan would not speak. But then, with great effort, his tear-streaked face lifted.
He accepted the handkerchief offered by Dowager Ruyan, wiped his face, and after briefly meeting the cold gaze of King Yibo, he turned toward the council.
Even Dowager Taihou watched him intently.
Softly, with visible pain, Zhan spoke:
"I don't even know where to begin. What I know for certain is that I have no personal connection with him. I never knew him.... not even by appearance....until the day I was presented before the elders of this honorable household. Even then, I barely recognized him."
"It wasn't until the day the first Royal Consort died...on the same night Prince Maiqing passed....that I went to His Majesty's wing. I was desperate to confirm the rumors that he was the one responsible for the deaths of his wives. While I was examining the body, they entered with the commander of the guards. I panicked and hid. After the room cleared, Prince Deng returned and found me, becouse he saw me."
"I was terrified, but he told me to calm down and speak with him. He promised to keep my presence a secret, but wanted us to work together. He told me many confusing things. The most shocking was a video claiming that our respected leader was responsible for my parents' deaths. He even showed me a strange snake marks on the body of the late Royal Consort and insisted the same fate awaited me if I didn't fight alongside him to overthrow His Majesty."
"At that moment, I lost control. Panic over my parents consumed me, and I couldn't even process what he said. He realized I wasn't in my right mind and left."
That night....the 9th of February....he called me again around eight in the evening. I was surprised, because he didn't hide it: he said he wanted us to continue the work he mentioned the previous time, and that he had something important to tell me. I didn't interrupt him; I told him I was listening.
He said it wasn't something he could discuss over the a phone, and gave me his number so I could call him directly by video. I didn't suspect anything at the time....although I was scared. After all, he was his majesty uncle, and even if I tried to tell someone, no one would believe me. So I followed his instructions and called him, even though I barely knew how to use the video system.
From that moment on, everything became confusing. He monitored me so closely that I felt trapped, to the point of delivering milk to our respected leader myself, only to realize later it was part of his plan. That was when I began to understand that all of this was a setup.... especially his insistence that I must be taken to the prison. And once I was taken there, he followed me and said shameful, degrading things to me."
Zhan broke into a painful cry.... this time not an act, but raw truth. The word "whore" that Prince Deng had once threatened to use against him still burned deeply inside him.
His voice, his trembling hands, the sincerity in his eyes....anyone watching would feel tears rise, and anyone with a heart would believe him.
The courtroom burst into chaos again. Prince Deng fought wildly as if he wanted to destroy everything, refusing to let anyone speak against him, trying to excape and saying he will kill Prince Langya and Zhan, they had betrayed him.
No one paid attention to his shouting anymore. The room was heavy with the weight of discovery....pity for Zhan, and outrage that the truth had finally surfaced after so long. Many who once swore loyalty to Prince Deng now whispered that he never had their trust to begin with, and had acted alone. And now, everything lay exposed in the open.
The courtroom grew so loud that King Yibo had to raise his voice to restore control. Slowly, silence fell again.
He remained quiet for nearly three minutes, expression frozen, before finally speaking....his tone low and restrained, like someone forcing themselves to remain composed. It took everything in him not to explode at the thought that his own uncle had spoken to his husband in such a degrading way....something Zhan had chosen to hide from him.
"Based on the evidence and testimony, Prince Deng is confirmed to have acted upon everything brought before this court. However, this court will allow him the right to explain his motivations in the next session. Until then, he will be detained in the same secured cell where the Royal Consort Zhan previously stayed, until the court recalls him."
"This court fully clears Royal Consort Zhan of all accusations and authorizes him to present the person responsible for executing the schemes in the upcoming hearing."
"Royal Consort Zhan also has the right to file charges for being used and exploited by Prince Deng. And finally....I, Wang Murong Yibo, formally file charges for the attempted murder of my husband, committed twice: once by poison injection and once by attempting to drown him."
With that, King Yibo stood gracefully, displaying that composed elegance he was known for, and left the courtroom....leaving everyone in stunned silence after his final words.
Dowager Ruyan allowed herself a soft, satisfied smile, as did Daneen.
While Dowager Taihou's heart pounded wildly in her chest.
As for Zhan, his eyes remained locked on Prince Langya. In the air, he traced the word "NEXT", then drew a finger across his throat in warning, closing one eye in a cold wink…
"Oh, King of Beiping, it's time for you to runaway too. Because truly, Zhan the hawk, become the master of reckoning."
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛