So yes, Qilin Kai didn't say anything. Whoever lied to this stupid half-blood made his job easier. It was never his responsibility to tell Emperor Rui the truth. The poor guy would only find out later that the so-called power he dreamt of never existed.
What exactly Qilin Hao promised the then prince Rui no one knows but from the look in his eyes, he was very determined. Qilin Kai lowered his head with a devilish smile as he agreed to this special request. "Sure," he said before raising his head staring at emperor Rui through his peripheral view, "but your in-law has the keystones and to get to Niuq we need them. I can-."
Before he could even manage to finish his statement he was interrupted by Emperor Rui who thought he had heard wrong. "What in-law?" he asked with a look of confusion. The only girl he remembered being on board that ship had green hair and a pretty little face. That same girl was meant to be delivered to him by Huang She but Ji Wen and his brat intercepted her and used the opportunity to burn his Pavilion down and free his power supplies.
Now his son was dating her but why would Ji Yao, the son of the most paranoid man in the world actually let another person hold on to those keystones. It didn't make sense unless.....
"Your in-law," said Qilin Kai but emperor Rui still hadn't caught up yet, "my distant nephew."
No response....
Qilin Kai sighed before saying, "Ji Yao..... he is your in-law. Wow... based on your reaction it seems you didn't know your dearest son swings for the other team." What a way for a 'worse than a deadbeat father' to find out his son's first love is a man.
Qilin Kai shrugged his shoulders with a fake smile as he said, "I guess that means we are family. I can't wait to let Qilin Hao know that his son is dating a half Huishe boy. I would love to be a part of that family gathering."
Emperor Rui, "...."
Okay, okay... he can wrap his head around this. His son who he wants to kill so as to suck out all his seraphic energy and make himself powerful is dating the boy whose mother he had... okay, still has a thing for. Complex, right?
Well, that's family for you. Sometimes it's so complicated, more complex than a three thousand-piece puzzle.
While Emperor Rui was wrapping his head around this revelation, the vinegar jar was still over spilling on Red Bane.
Rui Fei who had no idea the amount of sourness overflowing from the other side was cutting an osmanthus cake into tiny pieces which was absolutely unnecessary. It was so ridiculous that Ji Yao had to ask, "What are you doing?"
Rui Fei didn't raise his head which meant he failed to see the annoyed look on Ji Yao's face. He stuck his tongue out at the corner of his lips as he cut to the bottom of the pastry.
"I don't want you to choke so..... you should eat tiny pieces," he said this lifting the plate to show off his skill.
Ji Yao felt a warm fuzzy feeling in his heart but how could he possibly choke on a portion of finger food. His brows knitted together as he replied, "I am not a kid."
"Uh-huh..... now say ah..... come on, just don't bite my fingers," said Rui Fei holding up a piece of the pastry to Ji Yao's mouth.
Ji Yao's gaze shifted from the cake to the hands that were holding it then to the face looking at him with an expectant gaze. He found himself unable to refuse. He leaned forward and opened his mouth before the sweet-scented waxy cake was gently stuffed into his mouth.
Ji Yao who should have been enjoying the sweet moment of being fed by this Huishe cub found himself asking a question he didn't necessarily want an answer to. Maybe it was because when the sourness of his heart met the sweetness of the cake he found himself asking such dangerous trouble seeking questions.
"Was she pretty?... You kept looking at her," asked Ji Yao trying to pretend that none of this got to him. With a nonchalant expression, he chewed on the cake but his heart was in turmoil.
"Huh?" asked Rui Fei his gaze focused on the cake pieces. After picking the next victim to place into Ji Yao's mouth he raise his head and said, "open up...," with a blissful smile. "What's pretty?" he asked as he placed the cake in Ji Yao's mouth.
Unfortunately for him, his question got his fingers in a bind. Ji Yao unexpectedly clenched his teeth resulting in the unfortunate incident. The two looked at each other in shock for a while before their gazes went down to the fingers that were between Ji Yao's teeth.
Ji Yao could have simply let go and apologize like a normal person but he wasn't normal, was he? With a sudden bout of inspiration, he stuck out his tongue and licked those fingers before letting him go.
Rui Fei, "..."
"Uh...," was the unintelligent sound that came out of him before he placed the rest of the cake on the table and jumped Ji Yao intending to punish him for his naughty crimes.
"Wait, wait..... you.....ah, Rui Fei get off," were the sounds of Ji Yao's struggles coming from behind the table. The complaints didn't end there. They went on for five more minutes and Rui Fei's behaviour escalated.
"Where..... where are you putting those grabby paws... Rui Fei..... ah... don't you dare get deeper than that, you.... Fei-er. Don't bite..... are you a dog..... Fei-er!"
The ultimate tofu eating session only ended when they remembered they weren't alone. At the other end of the room, Rui Yewan had used his seraphic energy to temporarily blind his eyes and deafen his ears. He also tried to cover his sister's eyes and ears but he was threatened with a sabre.
It was when she squeaked while closing her eyes and frantically kicking her legs in excitement did the two realise something was amiss. The two abruptly got up with one of them who is always looking immaculate sitting up straight with a messy head of hair.
Rui Fei tried to smooth out Ji Yao's hair but he was met with a light smack at the back of his hand. Feeling rather playful he leaned closer and whispered, "Yao-ge, today you are so kinky. First the biting then the licking and now the smacking. I am totally down for it but let me get rid of these two first then you can bite me back."
Ji Yao, "...."
"What are you two still doing here? Don't you have other things to attend to?" asked Rui Fei hoping they would give them some private time but these two weren't cooperative.
"No, you said we have to take a look at the other keystone together so yep... that is why I am here," replied Rui Yewan as Rui Li scooched closer.
"I already cancelled my plans. Do carry on and pretend I am not here," blinking her big eyes.
Rui Fei, "....."
Is this what parents of young kids go through when they want some alone time?