Gay Harem

Lover Number 2.1 - The Last Harem Preparations

Li Jie let out a weary sigh, his book forgotten as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. The relentless headache persisted, a constant reminder of his deteriorating state.

These past days had been an overwhelming blur, a chaotic mess he couldn't escape. The weight of it all was finally catching up to him, and he couldn't ignore the despair that settled deep within.

Two days ago, when Shi He's words cut through him, Li Jie was left paralyzed, trapped in a maze of conflicting emotions. The boundaries of right and wrong blurred, leaving him lost in a sea of uncertainty.

But Huang Yiming, in his unwavering loyalty, had taken matters into his own hands. He had pleaded with Li Jie's father, his body bent in submission, begging for the chance to protect him.

Yet, the emperor proved to be just as cold and unyielding as the walls that enclosed them. The echoes of his disdain for the Huang siblings resonated in Li Jie's mind, reminding him that his father's approval was always out of reach.

Years of hearing his father's disapproval had ingrained doubt within Li Jie's core. And when danger loomed in the palace, it was Huang Yiming who selflessly shielded him, risking everything for their shared bond. But the emperor's acceptance came with a price—a swift end to their clandestine adventures with Huang Baozhai, replaced by a constrained existence in the public eye.

Now, in this present darkness, Huang Yiming's absence weighed heavily on Li Jie's soul. The piercing ache in his head intensified, a cruel reminder of his solitude.

An hour before sundown, his heart heavy with worry, Li Jie's restless mind churned. The anguish that gnawed at him left little room for respite. His thoughts drifted to Huang Yiming, enduring his self-imposed penance, deprived of sustenance or solace.

"Your Highness," Han Yasheng's voice reached him, gentle and caring, as she took up the hairbrush, attempting to soothe his troubled mind. But her efforts were futile against the all-encompassing despair that consumed him.

"What's the point?" Li Jie's voice wavered, a mere whisper of his former self. "I don't know anymore. It feels like my entire world is collapsing, and I'm suffocating under its weight. I can't see beyond this darkness... I don't know if I even want to."

Han Yasheng's grip on the hairbrush faltered, her eyes widening with alarm. She took a step back, her voice trembling as she tried to steady herself. "Your Highness, please... Please don't say such things. There is always hope, even in the darkest of times."

Li Jie's gaze, heavy with weariness, blinked, momentarily shifting from his reflection in the gilded mirror to his loyal maid. "Merely an ill-phrased remark," he confessed, a melancholic smile playing upon his lips. "My words, alas, strayed from their intended mark."

"Your highness, it seems improbable for such a sentiment to find a favorable expression," Han Yasheng sighed, cognizant of her limited ability to assuage the crown prince's troubles.

"Indeed, I am aware," Li Jie replied, his voice tinged with desolation. "What I truly meant was the longing to slumber and awaken in a future untethered from these present afflictions."

Han Yasheng continued her ministrations, gently brushing Li Jie's hair, her touch meant to soothe the tormented soul within him. "I suppose, your highness, that countless hearts harbor similar yearnings each passing day. Yet, the realm of dreams is one that eludes our grasp, leaving us to seek solace in the moments that lie before us."

"The day nears its twilight," Li Jie observed, tilting his head to glimpse the fading sun through the corner of his eyes. "Alas, it appears that naught possesses the power to reconfigure the dreariness that shrouds our existence."

With a hint of reluctance, Han Yasheng laid the brush aside, retrieving a precious adornment approved by the crown prince— a jade hairpin, gifted by his departed mother, its hue mirroring the warmth of his blue-green eyes.

"I perhaps overstep my bounds, but..." Han Yasheng placed a comforting hand on Li Jie's shoulder, her reflection smiling back at him in the mirror. "Why not embark on an unanticipated visit to the young Huang? Surprise, they say, has the power to transform even the bleakest of days."

Li Jie, his lip caught between his teeth, deliberated upon the suggestion. "Alas, my imperial father has forbidden any encounter until the conclusion of his prostration."

"And have such edicts ever succeeded in curbing your resolve in the past?" Han Yasheng's smile morphed into a mischievous smirk.

"How...?" Li Jie's eyes widened, astonishment written across his face, before transforming into a grateful smile. "I offer my sincerest gratitude."

His heart now buoyed by hope, Li Jie sprang from his seat, his flowing locks trailing behind him like ebony ribbons, as he hastened toward the exit. If he could join his dearest friend ere the sun's descent, this wretched day might yet undergo a transformation of a thousandfold.

Surveying the hallways, Li Jie discerned no signs of watchful gazes within the confines of the crown prince's abode. Swiftly, he made his way toward the portal, feeling a semblance of youthful exhilaration rekindled within his heart—reminiscent of the days when disobedience lent him a taste of fleeting freedom.

During his formative years, Li Jie had been far from rebellious, yet the bonds of friendship had always proved mightier than his father's prohibitions. Reflecting upon this, he pondered why he had not sought solace in Huang Yiming's company from the outset.

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips, its echoes harkening back to a bygone era. Envisioning the bewildered countenance of Huang Yiming at the sight of Li Jie stealthily venturing forth, the crown prince felt a glimmer of joy permeate his desolation.

With graceful swiftness, Li Jie traversed the lesser-trodden corridors of the grand palace, his movements as silent as whispers carried by the wind. However, consumed by thoughts of his friend's reaction, he failed to perceive the figure that materialized before him in the dimly lit passageway.

"Your highness," Shi He's voice bore a tone of concern, his brow furrowed in both surprise and worry. "Pray tell, what brings you to this place at such an hour?"