Wolf King and his Fox Consort [BL]

Chu Yun knew it was going to happen even before the Queen Consort shot up from her seat.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked the back of Xiao Zai's head. But despite the fierceness of her words, her hands remained demurely folded in front of her waist.

Xiao Zai didn't answer her, it was Chu Yun who placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and none-too-subtly nudged her back down towards her pillow. "I'm sorry that her Royal Highness had to learn of something so unpleasant this way, but I assure her everything will be made clear."

He was fairly certain she wasn't surprised by the revelation, but she was in public, with Chu Yun keeping close watch over her every move -- even if she wanted to do something, her options were limited.

Xiao Zai addressed the arriving nobles, and their private armies, but this time cast his eyes out towards the crowd of onlookers as well.

"The arrow that struck me was coated in a diluted form of corpse powder, which prevented the physicians from identifying it quickly, while also keeping me in a state of apparent coma."

While his tone was calm and his words measured, the beading of sweat along his temples betrayed how much reliving those awful days disturbed him.

"I say apparent, because I was aware of everything happening around me, although unable to move or communicate."

The Third Princess gasped loudly, raising a trembling hand to the veil over her mouth. The Queen Consort didn't react, although Chu Yun cought the way her fingers tightened on the fabric of her robes.

Xiao Zai continued, "Corpse powder isn't easily found in Zui, but it's common in Su." He smiled towards Ru Long. "And his Royal Highness needed the King out of the way if he was to carry out his plans, isn't that right? After all, he would have never approved of Su funds being used to bribe Zui nobles, isn't that right."

Ru Long scoffed. "You have no proof of that."

Xiao Zai ignored him and diverted his attention to Hui Liang. "I'm sure his Grace will have no problem in sharing his ledgers with officials from the palace."

Hui Liang's moustache twitched. "I have nothing to hide."

He had plenty, but he probably thought he would have time to rid himself of any incriminating evidence.

That was only part of the plan, however. Hui Liang's fate would be sealed by another.

"Of course, we can also send word back to Su right away to ensure the antidote is administered to his Majesty as soon as possible, and in that way he'll be able to check the state of the Su treasury himself."

Chu Yun turned to the Queen Consort with another placating smile. "Her Royal Highness can write a letter back to Su with instructions to administer the antidote."

Whether she wrote the letter herself or not was irrelevant -- they just needed her stamp.

She didn't answer Chu Yun, but her eyes narrowed in deep assessment. She was wondering if this was the real reason she and her daughter had been brought to Zui.

And moreover, she was wondering if she had underestimated Chu Yun.

Chu Yun continued to smile encouragingly, glad that it was too later for regrets.

Ru Long tried to advance towards him but the guards closed in on him, keeping him restrained by a circle of their bodies. "If my father hasn't been afflicted by corpse powder the antidote could kill him! Maybe that's exactly what his Majesty the King of Zui wants!"

Xiao Zai's expression remained unchanged. "Then I would have made my intentions obvious in front of hundreds of people," he said, gesturing towards the crowds.

"But I understand his Royal Highness' concern. I'll write the letter myself, with precise instructions for the antidote , her Royal Highness will stamp it with her seal, attesting to the veracity of the words within, and moreover we'll leave written instructions for his Majesty himself to send his reply right away."

He paused and turned to Xiao Yuan. "Actually, along with the letter, we could send a delegation to Su, as a show of Zui's commitment to the good relations between our two kingdoms."

Xiao Yuan rose from his seat at once. "I would be honoured to visit Su, and his Majesty, as ambassador of Zui's goodwill."

Considering Fan Jiang had been preparing everything for their journey into Su since the day before, Chu Yun thought Xiao Yuan's performance was fairly convincing.

Definitely an improvement.

"Then it's settled," Xiao Zai said with a beatific smile. "Of course, her Royal Highness and the Third Princess are welcome to stay here as our guests. In fact we insist on this for their own safety until we hear back from his Majesty."

He wasn't giving them much choice at all, but neither of them was about to dispute it.

Ru Long was despondent in defeat. "I suppose I'm welcome to stay as his Majesty's guest as well."

Xiao Zai smiled. "Naturally."

Hui Liang had grown tired of conversations happening around him for so long. "His Majesty still hasn't answered our concerns regarding the dissolution of the harem, and how are we to know that the dismissed minis-"

He was interrupted by Xiao Zai's deep voice, cutting through his shrill complaints like the wind in a winter day. "Because they were corrupt, gold moved them, as it moved you to ride into Haolin. I won't be hard to find proof of the extent of your corruption and of those who came with you."

His expression hardened, the courteous smile replaced by a menacing frown. "I'm giving you all some face by ignoring your glaringly obvious intentions, but if you'd prefer I can humiliate you and your entire families instead for daring to conspire with foreign entities against Zui."

Chu Yun always loved Xiao Zai best when he looked like this. As if the next smile might show his wolf teeth.

It was a shame the pain prevented him from fully savouring the riders' dismay.

In fact, the pain was making it hard for him to think.

Maybe that wasn't normal.

Just as he opened his mouth to call out to Xiao Zai a stabbing pain in his abdomen made him choke on his words.

There was no mistaking it for anything else this time.

The baby was coming.