Wolf King And His Fox Consort [BL]

Despite -- or maybe, because of -- what they had told Chu Yun when he asked for their advice, both Xiao Yuan and Xiao Ziyi were oddly stiff when they met Xiao Zai.

"I'm glad to see you well," Xiao Ziyi said, hands clasped behind her back and head held high. "I promise to bring all the culprits to justice."

Xiao Zai chuckled. "Chu Yun tells me a great number of them are already in the palace's cells."

Xiao Yuan gave him a sheepish look. "Well, I apologise for not doing much when the two of you were unconscious and allowing the Wise Prince to be arrested," he grimaced, "it might not seem like it, but I actually managed to make them concede, because they wanted to expel all the Xiongnu from Zui territory."

Xiao Zai clapped him on the back. "I'm sure you did the best you could."

Chu Yun was sure Xiao Yuan didn't feel that way, but then again, he had agreed he would make a terrible King -- that extended to his brief regency. Xiao Yuan was a competent adviser, and he had began to compile extensive files on every minister and their families, but he would never be able to handle people.

His father's damage was too extensive. It had taken Xiao Yuan genuine effort to be seen in public without consuming large quantities of alcohol. And the only thing being drunk had ever done was turn him mean and uncaring.

Chu Yun stood to the side while the three siblings talked. Now that Xiao Zai was awake, it was perhaps even harder for Xiao Ziyi and Xiao Yuan to face their perceived failings in regard to the attack.

Part of Chu Yun wished they could all move past it -- Xiao Zai especially -- but he knew they would be dealing with the fallout for a long time to come.

They still had to get to the bottom of Ru Long's plans. This was far from over.

Xiao Zai spent some time with Xiao Yuan and Xiao Ziyi, in an office overlooking a busy courtyard which several servants and clerks went through to reach other areas of the palace. None of them could have failed to notice Xiao Zai's golden robes, from the large open windows as they walked below.

They had decided that Xiao Zai would only show up to court the next day, and meet with the ministers who hadn't been imprisoned due to their involvement with Minister Hu and his cohort. Tempers were flying high since then, and even the ministers who had done nothing were becoming paranoid that they would be the victims of a purge.

Chu Yun talking with them wouldn't help anything. It was better for Xiao Zai to go himself and address their concerns directly, while riding the wave of the good news of his recovery. Which also proved that Chu Yun wasn't trying to kill him and usurp the throne, as some more scathing rumours claimed.

---

After the brief meeting they went directly to Gu Wei's quarters, who reacted to Xiao Zai's presence with tremble of his lower lip, quickly wrestled under control, and a relieved smile.

"It's good to see you up," he said, getting up to his feet and walking towards Xiao Zai, clasping both hands on his biceps and looking into his eyes. "It seems you have lost weight, although I suppose that it so be expected."

Xiao Zai chuckled, and ducked his head. "I'm alright papa."

Chu Yun felt like an intruder as always, whenever they had one of their family bonding moments.

His gaze drifted towards Jin Luan, standing quietly by the corner, watching everything attentively, his expression revealing very little.

It gave him an idea. "Mr. Jin could you accompany me outside?" Chu Yun asked, nodding towards the courtyard. "I want to admire the pear blossoms, but I'm afraid my current condition prevents me from seeing the stairs properly."

That was a lie. Chu Yun had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from grimacing at the idea that he was so big he couldn't see his own feet!

Jin Luan gave him a subtly confused look, and then looked towards Gu Wei for approval, who nodded.

Xiao Zai's eyebrows shot up in confusion, but he trusted that Chu Yun knew what he was doing with his odd request.

Jin Luan helped Chu Yun down the wooden stairs into the courtyard with one hand on his elbow and another on his shoulder.

"If that's all...," he said, his posture giving away his intention of going back inside.

"Walk with me," Chu Yun said, already moving towards a more secluded part of the small courtyard.

Jin Luan hesitated but eventually followed after him. Chu Yun came to a stop under a pear tree, and sat on a stone bench in the shade. He patted the empty space next to him to indicate that Jin Luan should do the same.

"How long have you known Gu Wei?"

He already looked uncomfortable, but he bristled noticeably after Chu Yun's question. "His Royal Highness should know that my loyalty lies with Gu Wei, and while I'll do anything to protect him, and every member of his family...I won't share any information-"

Chu Yun raised his hand to stop him. "I don't expect you to share any private information with me. It's an innocent question, but you're not obligated to answer it."

They were silent for a time. And then Jin Luan shook off some invisible tension off his shoulders and leaned back against the wooden wall behind the bench. "We've known each other for many years. We met shortly after Gu Wei came to the palace. Back then I was still a servant."

"You must have been young," Chu Yun said, his keen eyes fixed on Jin Luan's handsome profile.

The age difference between him and Gu Wei wasn't glaring, in part because Gu Wei still retained much of his beauty and had no visible ageing signs beyond the charming lines around his eyes and mouth when he smiled.

Jin Luan smiled sadly. "I was, and so was he. I must have been twelve at the time, and he was seventeen." His eyes took on a distant quality, lost in memories. "I loved him as early as then, I think. But of course, he saw me as a child."

That the age difference between the two of them was so slight was a surprise to Chu Yun. Five years. It seemed like nothing now, but Chu Yun bet that neither of them thought so back then.

"When did you become a bodyguard?" Chu Yun asked, genuinely curious.

If Jin Luan's life in the royal household had such humble beginnings it meant he didn't come from a wealthy family. The fact that he was a beta made it unlikely that anyone had looked at him and thought his natural talents were being wasted on menial housework.

"Gu Wei got me a post," Jin Luan said, one corner of his lips twitching in something that could  almost be called an involuntary smile. "I still think he was just trying to get rid of me. By then I was sixteen I think, and I thought I was being subtle about my affections, but perhaps not..."

If Chu Yun's own memories of being that age were anything to go by, Jin Luan was definitely not being subtle. He could almost picture Gu Wei's slightly panicked reaction.

It made sense to send Jin Luan away, perhaps in the hope that he would forgot his illfated childhood crush and move on.

That hadn't worked out, as the present situation made abundantly clear.

"Well, it seems his plan backfired," Chu Yun said, amused. He liked the idea of Gu Wei making a grave miscalculation.

Jin Luan liked it too, because he let out a low chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "I did my training, and excelled at it. So when I asked for a post at the palace they gave me one." He looked away, towards the open doorway and Gu Wei and Xiao Zai talking inside. "When I left I was a child, but when I returned I was a man."

He shrugged. "Gu Wei didn't send me away a second time."

Chu Yun could see the red flush on the back of his neck. He wasn't going to elaborate. From their short interaction, Chu Yun could already tell that Jin Luan wasn't generous with his words -- if anything he saved them all for Gu Wei.

But Chu Yun had confirmed something he had long suspected -- Jin Luan must have been present for Xiao Zai's uncle execution.

It happened before he left for his palace guard training.

"Do you have any memories of Xiao Zai's uncle?" Chu Yun asked, keeping his tone light as he had for all the other questions. "It feels disrespectful to know so little about him, even though I lived in his former house."

Perhaps Chu Yun had succeeded in lowering Jin Luan's guard, perhaps Jin Luan thought it mere idle curiosity, but he answered truthfully. "I didn't like him much, because he got along well with Gu Wei. For a time I thought he had feelings for him, until I found out he was in love with someone else."