Xu Zhengming and Sect Leader Zhao are facing each other at a small tea table having their afternoon tea. Their jaws are literally aching because of forcing their smiles on each other. No one talks, just drinking jasmine tea, and smiling.
This is awkward to both of them. Very awkward.
Setting his jaw aside, Xu Zhengming has something else that bothers him for a good while now.
He wants to pee.
For goodness sake! Xu Zhengming and Zhao Yangguang are pouring each other's teacups for who knows how many times already? Wang Junjie brewed them tea a couple of times too.
Eunuch Xu's stomach is full of tea and he really wants it out as soon as possible. However, he doesn't want to be rude to the sect leader. Wouldn't leaving sect leader Zhao here make him look bad?
Xu Zhengming could only hope that the emperor will find his twin sister as soon as possible, and come back here real quick. He doesn't think he'll be able to handle this level of awkwardness in the atmosphere for days. He silently thinks that staying alone in the Lotus Hall is way better than staying with the cultivators here in Wan MoliHua Palace.
The silly eunuch can't help but think silently, "How did I end up here again?"
It was indeed a long journey that it took them about three hours before they arrived at their destination.
Fortunately, Xu Zhengming didn't fall throughout the sword flight. Well, how could he fall if he's sticking to Prince Yin Wenyan like a lizard? The prince, on the other hand, got overwhelmed by the fact that Eunuch Xu is hugging him real tight which caused him to barely control his flow of spiritual powers. And that leads to a faster pace of their flight. He could only hope that this silly eunuch won't notice his fast heartbeats.
And that's how they arrived in Penglai much earlier than the prince expected.
Xu Zhengming looks at the tall gate in front of them. Although it's not as high as the walls of the imperial palace, this one is still not to be underestimated. "What is this place?"
The sweet and sensual smell of jasmines lingers with the wind.
The prince smiles at him. "This is my home."
"Home?" Xu Zhengming's mind is loading slowly. "Isn't the imperial palace your home?"
Prince Yin Wenyan shakes his head. "The imperial palace failed to make me feel home as I do here. This is the Wan Moli Hua Palace."
Xu Zhengming recalls a minor detail about the emperor and the princess. It was said that Emperor Yin Renshu and his sister Princess Yin Xiulan were cultivators and that they grew up in a cultivation sect.
Upon hearing the name Wan Moli Hua Palace, Xu Zhengming can't help but be reminded by his late father. He was a cultivator in the said sect... and died for the sake of their young master. Because of that vision, he saw in that certain dream he had, he learned that this young master is no other than the current sect leader of Wan Moli Hua Palace, Zhao Yangguang. The same person as the one who looked after the current emperor and first princess when they're still young.
"Eunuch Xu? Are you alright? Do you feel like throwing up? Sorry, I think we flew too fast." Worry is written all over the prince's face.
"I'm fine." Xu Zhengming waves his hand. "Wan Moli Hua Palace. Even without seeing what it looks like inside these tall walls, I could say that it's worthy of its name. I can smell jasmines from here."
Prince Yin Wenyan knows very well that Eunuch Xu already knew the deepest and darkest secret that the said sect keeps for years. It involves the death of their Lin-dage, and at the same time Xu Zhengming's father. Bringing him here would be like putting salt in his wounds but then again, Prince Yin Wenyan only has limited choices. He hates to do this to his beloved eunuch but what can he do? He'll be safe here unlike in the imperial palace.
The prince could only sigh with a thought in his mind, "Why is this happening to us?"
Prince Yin Wenyan looks at the other straight in the eyes. "I know this is hard for you and it might cause you to feel uncomfortable. But Eunuch Xu, please bear with me. I can't find any other place that could keep you safe."
Xu Zhengming got taken aback by those sincere words. Despite the fact that his majesty is facing a crisis now, he's still concerned about his safety.
He feels bad for dragging him down.
Eunuch Xu averted his eyes and forced a smile. "You're worrying over nothing. It's okay. Don't overthink it."
Prince Yin Wenyan is still worried about him but he didn't push the matter any further. He can't do anything about it anyway. He then knocks on the wooden gate using the old door knocker made of brass. "Shizun! Shifu! Anyone? Please open the gate!"
After some time of calling, it was Wang Junjie who opened the gate.
Confused, he looks at Prince Yin Wenyan and asks, "Why are you here, We---"
The prince covers his teacher's mouth with his palm before he could even say his name. He then clasps his hand and bows to his shifu. "Former disciple Yin Renshu has come to your door in this time of need."
Wang Junjie is puzzled. In his mind, he knows that this is clearly Yin Wenyan. Why would he pretend to be his brother when this teacher knows his identity?
Then he noticed that there is someone else behind him. Only by then did Wang Junjie understands why he's still using his brother's name.
"Come inside. I'll wake the sect leader up."
Speaking of the sect leader, there is no need for him to do that. He came to the gate himself.
"Ah-Jie, who's that? Are my children back?" Sect leader Zhao cheerfully peeps behind Wang Junjie.
His long hair is in a mess and his robes are loose. He really just got out of the bed and didn't bother to fix himself. Hearing that familiar voice, he can't help but get excited.
"You don't have children." Wang Junjie responded with his usual cold tone. He pulled the other's lapel and covers his revealing chest. "It's chilly, you'll catch a cold."
The sect leader ignores the other. Seeing Yin Wenyan on the other side, he beams a smile. "I knew it! Wen---"
Just like the other, Zhao Yangguang didn't get to say the disciple's name. Wang Junjie covered his mouth before it's too late. "Renshu and his company have come and asked for our assistance." He said emphasizing the name.
"Renshu?" After a few moments, the sect leader seems to get it.
Prince Yin Wenyan clasps his hands to pay his respects to the sect leader. "This former disciple bids you a good day."
Zhao Yangguang noticed the presence of Xu Zhengming and this made him feel uncomfortable. Even so, he still managed to maintain his composure. "Right. Come inside."
Basically, Prince Yin Wenyan explained everything that they're going through in the imperial palace. Zhao Yangguang and Wang Junjie offered him to lend him a hand but he refused for this is a personal matter. The prince doesn't want to involve these two in the trouble they're dealing with at the moment. They've done more than enough for them in the past. He and his siblings can't pay this debt.
"Ugh... I'm so sorry, Renshu. You know our sect doesn't have disciples. You were the last ones, and you guys left." Sect leader Zhao buried his face on the tea table. He slightly raises his head and asks, "Are you sure you don't want the sect elders to help at least?"
Yin Wenyan poured tea on his shizun's teacup. "As I've said, shizun, there is no need for you to trouble yourselves."
"Then what kind of help are you asking?" Wang Junjie asks.
Prince Yin Wenyan smiles, the kind of smile he makes whenever he's asking a favor. His shifu and shizun know this very well.
"If you don't mind, Wang-shifu, shizun, I'd like Eunuch Xu to stay here while I look for my sister."
Wang Junjie and Zhao Yangguang looks at each other. Xu Zhengming staying here would cause the two of them, as well as this silly eunuch, an atmosphere of awkwardness. They have history and up until now, Zhao Yangguang doesn't have the face to look at the young man in the eyes.
Even so, the sect leader still didn't let his precious former disciple down. "Um... I don't mind."
Yin Wenyan is grateful upon hearing those words. "Many thanks, shizun."
Xu Zhengming blinks twice. "Wait, you'll leave me here?!"
"Coming with me would be dangerous, Eunuch Xu." Prince Yin Wenyan tries to explain to the other.
"But..."
Just by listening to his narration to his teachers, Xu Zhengming knows how dangerous is the way that his majesty is about to take. Their lives are at stake.
However, he feels like he doesn't want to stay here. He still didn't forget how he acted the last time Zhao Yangguang, Wang Junjie, and Xu Zhengming met. He literally made a scene that time!
Sect Leader's eyes turn to Xu Zhengming's direction. He wears a sad expression on his face. "Young man, if it's me that makes you feel uncomfortable, I'll try to avoid getting into your range of sight."
"..."
Everyone else becomes silent. Xu Zhengming made the sect leader upset!
After collecting his composure, Xu Zhengming immediately waves his hand and denies it. "No, not at all! I don't mean it that way. I'll stay, I'll stay."
And with that, the silly eunuch is left with the emperor's substitute parents in Wan MoliHua Palace.
"It seems you are lost in your thoughts." Xu Zhengming got dragged back to reality when Sect Leader Zhao speaks. "What bothers you the most, young man?" Zhao Yangguang's voice is soothing as ever. Like a clear sky after a hurricane.
Xu Zhengming stares at the others and utters. "It's the same..."
The sect leader tilts his head, "What is?"
By then did he only realized that his thoughts escaped. Since he already uttered it, he thought that it's better to just say the rest.
"Sect Leader Zhao's gentle tone is the same as his majesty's. And when he seems to be in a bad mood, his tone is similar to Elder Wang. The emperor really is temperamental."
Zhao Yangguang didn't expect this from him. He thought the other is thinking about his late father's death.
He chuckles, "Young man, I watched those twins grow. I know that the emperor has two personalities, each has a different identity from the other."
"Hana." Wang Junjie calls out with a tone of warning.
Zhao Yangguang taps the other's shoulder. "Nah, it's okay to talk about this matter." He then looks at Xu Zhengming. "Don't tell him whatever I tell you about him, okay?" The sect leader gives him a playful wink.
Xu Zhengming on the other hand nods excitedly. He doesn't know why he's looking forward to this but he's curious about it.
Zhao Yangguang put his teacup down on the table. "This child of mine---"
Wang Junjie interrupted him, "You know he's not your son."
"Whatever! Anyway, you know that the emperor is sometimes very kind, and sometimes harsh, right?" The sect leader starts. "This cinnamon roll side of him... I mean, his gentle side is a mature one. He's collected and has the potential to lead. However, he tends to be secretive. He keeps his feelings to himself because he thinks that's unnecessary. He's also both a pleaser and tends to beg someone he really likes to impress. Oh! Did you know? He even wrote us a letter, asking for love advice when they moved to the imperial palace. I wonder who is this person he likes?"
Sect Leader Zhao chuckles, remembering the past. "But what I like about him the most is that he cares a lot to everyone who's important to him." Zhao Yangguang smiles at him and continues, "For him to keep you away from danger and prioritize your safety, you must be an important person to him."
By then, the sect leader realizes that this person in front of him might be the person that Yin Wenyan likes.
For some reason that Xu Zhengming doesn't know, his cheeks feel a little warmer than usual. "The sect leader thinks so?" But the truth that the emperor asks for love advice, this beau can't help but get curious to know who was it. It can't be the empress, right? He doesn't seem to like her in a romantic way after all.
"Mn!" Zhao Yanggunag nods. "Then as for the tsundere--- I mean, the harsh side of him... he's mean. He's hot-headed and has short patience. He sucks at making decisions and has a hard time expressing himself. I don't even think he knows himself very well. These factors make him prone to misunderstandings. However, I can see that he's really trying to be a better person. He likes to help and make the people around him happy but he tends to make it look like he's forced to do so."
Xu Zhengming's face brightens, and hopefully asks, "So, it's not true that he doesn't want to treat me a meal again?"
Zhao Yangguang is surprised. "He did? That can't be...?"
"Mn, he did. It's the most pricey dish in town, and I ordered two for myself." Eunuch Xu even gestured two using her fingers. "He even brought me an expensive water lantern."
The sect leader gasps, "Yin Renshu is one hell of a frugal person! You must be someone he values."
"..." Xu Zhengming went silent.
Why does it sound awkward to him? It sounds like there's a deeper meaning behind those words.
Then the sect leader paused, seeming to realize something; Like he discovered something shocking. "Oh, wait. Oh my gosh!" Sect Leader Zhao reached for Wang Junjie's lapel and shakes him violently. "Ah-Jie, do you know what I'm thinking, right now?"
Wang Junjie thinks for a good while. "More or less."
Then the sect leader pushed him away, looking like he lost his cool. "Oh my gosh! Oww emm geee!"
Wang Junjie sits properly like how he was before Zhao Yangguang pushed him. "Hana, you're talking strange again."