Butterfly Pavilion
It felt like an ice cold water was poured into Jin's soul. He could see the shock in Xian's face while worry etched into the Empress's facial features. Jin on the other hand began to panic, even if it wasn't so obvious on the outside his insides were quivering with fear for his beloved sister, even after what she did but knowing the empress dowager played a part, great danger loomed.
"I need to go back home!" Jin announced frantically, coming towards the closet to grab some proper clothes. His hand trembled as he tried to stuff everything into place but the emperor wasted no time to stop him.
Xian grabbed Jin's arms and stopped him, earning a disgruntled groan from the latter.
"Don't! You can't go back home right now" he demanded, holding Jin's arm even tighter.
"Xie Xie is in danger!" Jin argued, trying to pull his hands away from the emperor but Xian only tightened his grip, causing Jin to wince in discomfort.
As they argued, the empress sighed and cleared her throat. Catching the attention of the two.
"Mother isn't the type of person to hurt anyone physically" she stated and Jin couldn't help but scoff.
"Yeah right that's why she sent someone to do the job the dirty job for her"
"No, you don't understand" the empress pressed on and Jin finally stopped trashing around to look at her.
The empress sighed once more and closed her eyes. It seems she was trying to remember something, something very important.
"She won't hurt my Mai, a single hair won't be touched against her but she'll grab some proof"
"Proof?" Jin and Xian asked.
"Yes, proof. Mother will try to ruin your family's image from the public, nothing brings her more pleasure than seeing her enemies fall apart when they have nothing anymore" the empress explained carefully but there was a bitterness in her tone. From Jin's memories as a child, when his family line began to lose favor in court due to what may seem to be the empress dowager's doing. Then the empress would have a very solid point.
"What should I do?" Jin asked, looking at the Empress for guidance.
A grim look passed her face as she inhaled. "Sadly there's nothing we can do directly against her but we can prove to the public that mother is wrong"
"But she is right...this..what I did.."
"No!" The empress cut Jin's words and Jin looked up at her curiously.
"The public does not now. Not ere long ago did rumors about Noble Consort Li courting a lot of favor from the emperor began to surface because you and Xian have been caught frequenting outside together" The empress began.
"If we continue to make you two play this role. That everything is okay the short end of the stick would fall in my mother's hands" she explained, earning a nod from the emperor but Jin felt like something was wrong. Like there was a hole about the plan.
Jin thoughtfully analyzed the empress's words. She made clear points but something about it made him frown.
"The image of the royal family would most likely be tainted. It would affect the people's perspectives towards the laws and even challenge their loyalty" Jin explained.
"On top of that, the empress dowager's influence in court is a huge gap against our plans. She's far too powerful. I do not think this would even shake her foundation that much" Jin finished, looking at the empress and emperor anxiously.
"The public knows how much of a power hungry person the Empress Dowager is, if the people were to question her way but the court still decide to side with her they too would be affected. And the people in court are fools. They would never want to put themselves on the spotlight when something bad arises. Mother would lose her support and if things go our way we might just push her to the edge and cause her to lose her position" the empress stated as a matter of fact.
Jin listened carefully. He weighted their decisions in his mind. He was a bit shocked at the animosity the two held for their royal mother but maybe there were things hidden in the dark he doesn't know. He should know it when the right time comes and won't force it out.
But now back to the matter. If the empress dowager was stripped of her power, everything would fall under the emperor's hands. Jin glanced at Xian's way and he caught him glancing intensely.
How long had he been staring at me?
Jin doesn't know how the emperor would rule. What kind of plans he have for the future but maybe, just maybe it's better. That it would be better. He placed his hopes on it.
"I know how you're feeling right now" The Empress's hand came to pat Jin's shoulders. Jin looked at her and she offered a reassuring smile. One he returned with a tight-lipped smile.
"I'm scared for my sister" He admitted honestly.
"You're so caring that you could go this far just to protect her even when it was a lie" Xian suddenly spoke, his eyes staring coldly at the Empress's hand.
"It's not that bad" Jin denied earning a chuckle from the empress.
"It is that bad" Xian pointed out and Jin ignored him.
"I'll do what you need me to..but promise me. Promise that you'd guarantee my sister's safety in exchange for my cooperation" Jin said firmly and the empress smiled in satisfaction, nodding in agreement to his terms.
As they discussed their next steps, the Empress proposed a plan involving them sticking together to dispel rumors, leaving Jin uneasy about sharing a room with Xian, his supposed rival for long periods of time. Knowing the emperor, even the slightest tension may ignite something and this time they might do more.
No no no!
Jin flushed at his own thoughts. How could he think that way while his sister was in trouble. How shameless could he be.
He couldn't help but glance at Xian's way and when their eyes met, Jin's face flushed red. The emperor on the other hand seemed amused.
"Anyways Jin, you and Xian should atleast try to be with each other when you can as much as possible. From time to time I will come back here with information I would get, hopefully that I would and we could execute a plan that would change the course of these events to tilt to our favor" With those final instructions the Empress left Jin and the emperor standing there. They both stared at each other before Jin looked away.
"I'm guessing you'll sleep here"
Xian nodded.
"In my room.."
He nodded once again.
"Beside me..."
He nodded once more.
"Why..." Jin whined in distress.
Xian gave Jin a deadpanned look as if telling him 'you already know why' which made Jin pout.
"You're sleeping on the floor"
"You can't make me. I am your King" Xian argued.
"Then I'll sleep on the floor"
"Just endure being with me who's your-" Xian paused and smirked at Jin. "So called rival".
Jin groaned and rolled his eyes. Despite stating that he would sleep on the floor he plopped down face first on one side of the bed.
"Just don't get into my side of the bed" he warned, voice muffled by a pillow. Soon after Jin said that, he felt the bed dip beside him. He waited but nothing happened which made him breath a sigh of relief. Jin doesn't know if Xian would do something in his sleep, somehow that night he was very nervous about what would transpire between them from now.
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Disguised as a Noble Consort (MxM)
FantasyA brother's love knows no bounds. This was proven true when our Male Lead decided to disguise himself as a female and enter the rear palace of the forbidden city after hearing about the mistreatment his beloved sister was going through, little did h...
