~~~
“Absolutely not! You cannot possibly trust that man!” Big Sister Bai says, pointing at Feng Zhuo.
The three of them have returned to Storm Dragon Palace. Liu Jin has assimilated his soul fragment back into his body, and Lu Mei has joined them.
“Of course, we don’t,” Lu Mei says, crossing her arms. Her eyes are cold as she looks at Feng Zhuo, who kneels in the center of the throne room while wearing a guileless smile. “However, trust has little to do with this, Lady Bai.”
“How cruel of my own sister to say that,” Feng Zhuo laments, hanging his head. “Aren’t you all being a little too distrustful? I do not see why this is an issue. It is as I already explained to His Majesty. Everyone benefits.”
Liu Jin’s eyes narrow as he recalls what Feng Zhuo told him less than half an hour prior.
The reveal of Lu Mei’s parentage might have tarnished Lord Feng Shang’s reputation, and Lord Feng Gui might have derived some pleasure from that. However, though he had already known about it, it did place him in an awkward position. Allowing his brother’s daughter, illegitimate though she might be, to marry the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire is giving his brother an advantage.
Thus, Lord Feng Gui needs something to even the scales, even if only nominally. A victory in the Crimson Cloud Tournament will accomplish that. It does not matter that Liu Jin already planned to compete. All that the people of the Eternal Flame Clan need to know is that the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire decided to claim victory for Lord Feng Gui where Lord Feng Shang failed.
“My brother-in-law already planned to compete. We are simply making use of it to create an interesting story,” Feng Zhuo explains. “If the story you want to tell the people of this country is different, that is fine. You were probably going to have to do that anyway. All that matters is achieving the desired result, and that is where this Feng Zhuo, whose talent is like a tower that pierces the highest clouds, enters.”
Feng Zhuo opens his arms as if expecting to receive applause.
“Foolishness!”
He receives none.
“Who would trust you as their instructor?” Big Sister Bai says. “Who would trust you at all?! If guidance is required, then obviously...”
Big Sister Bai immediately stops herself from speaking further. They cannot see her face, but the annoyance radiating from her is palpable.
Feng Zhuo grins.
“Oh? Were you about to offer your services? You? A member of the Divine Frozen Palace?” His smile grows annoyingly smug. “A laudable sentiment, but foolish, Lady Bai. You cannot act to help a rival in the competition. That would go against your allegiance. However, as Emperor Qing Jin and my sister are both members of the Eternal Flame Clan, I can teach them anything I want without any conflict of interest. I can even instruct my sister in Eternal Flame. You lack the qualifications to do anything similar.”
The room is suddenly colder.
“Mind your words, Feng Zhuo,” Big Sister Bai says at the same time as Lu Mei moves next to Liu Jin and releases a burst of heat.
Feng Zhuo smiles fearlessly.
“Lady Bai, being beaten by a beautiful woman is the mark of a successful man. If you wish to impart guidance on me, this Feng Zhuo’s body will gladly receive it.”
Liu Jin cannot see Big Sister Bai’s expression due to the veil over her face.
Nevertheless, he senses disgust would be an apt word to describe it.
“Surely, you can see how keeping a man like him around is an exceedingly bad idea?” a frustrated Big Sister Bai asks them, pointedly ignoring Feng Zhuo. “His company is an offense to good taste.”
“This is not an issue of trust, Lady Bai,” Lu Mei says, choosing to speak first. “Anyone with eyes and ears can tell that Lady Bai’s character is superior. My brother is clearly a habitual liar, incapable of inspiring anything resembling trust, and whimsical to the detriment of everyone around him.” R
“You called me brother!” Feng Zhuo says, beaming as he ignores every other part of Lu Mei’s statement.
“Nevertheless,” Lu Mei continues as though she had not heard him. “I do not think we are in a position to turn down his help.”
Lu Mei saying it means Liu Jin does not have to. It would be bad for him to be perceived as siding with Feng Zhuo over Big Sister Bai. Unfortunately, it is as Lu Mei says. Sending Feng Zhuo away is not something they can do. It would be interpreted poorly by the Eternal Flame Clan and remove the implicit protection his presence here provides from people such as Lady Feng and Lord Feng Shang.
“Big Sister Bai, regardless of what the Eternal Flame Clan wants, I already intended to participate and win the Crimson Cloud Tournament,” Liu Jin says. “Though it was not explicitly stated, I believe the agreement I made with the Wandering Wind requires me to do so.”
After all, how is he supposed to impress a Divine Realm cultivator with his growth if he does not even manage to win?
It does not sound like enough, but Liu Jin does not say it. The truth is that Lu Mei is probably better off without her family.
“I spoke to Xiao Shuang,” Liu Jin says after a while. “I meant to tell you before, but your half-brother has a way of making himself the center of attention.”
“It was about time you two got over your ridiculous fears,” Lu Mei says in her usual manner.
“I was being so foolish.” Liu Jin can’t help but laugh at himself. “I let fear keep me away from someone precious to me for so long. How different things would have been if I hadn’t.”
“Well, you will have plenty of time to make up for it now, won’t you? Will she be visiting us?”
Liu Jin looks at Lu Mei. There is nothing wrong with the way she is speaking or her tone, yet he cannot help but sense something under the surface of her aura.
“I am not sure,” Liu Jin says, somewhat hesitant. “Lady Meng Yue and the rest of the Divine Frozen Palace seem quite protective of her.”
“It is just the two of us here. Nothing stops you from calling them restrictive and prohibitive,” Lu Mei points out.
“True enough.” Liu Jin’s expression turns serious. “There is something I need to talk to you about.”
Lu Mei does not move.
“Oh?”
“Since I became Emperor, everyone has been talking to me about the women I should choose, the importance of marriages for sealing alliances, and the necessity of producing offspring. Through it all, our union has been taken for granted. Everyone believes it will happen. The only thing left to decide is which position I give to each wife.”
“And have you decided?”
Liu Jin does not miss that Lu Mei is not looking at him when she asks that.
“That’s not it,” Liu Jin says, making Lu Mei turn to him. “What I am trying to say is...I have not asked you...That is to say, I have just let the implication carry us to this point, but that is not...I am doing this wrong.”
Liu Jin surprises Lu Mei by abruptly standing up. He walks over to her and takes her hands between his before kneeling in front of her.
“I want you beside me,” Liu Jin says. “I have not asked you to, but I should have. Not because of an alliance or anything like that, but because you are you.”
The expression on Lu Mei’s face is quite unlike any Liu Jin has seen before. From the flush of her cheeks to the shine in her eyes, she has never looked more beautiful.
“You... I thought...”
“I am awkward,” Liu Jin admits, blushing. “I head into situations where I probably shouldn’t and court death more than is healthy. I am unlikely to stop doing those things. However, I will make you happy.”
Lu Mei’s face is as red as her hair.
“But then...marriage...I... the timing..”
“It is probably best to wait before any ceremony. I do not want the Eternal Flame Clan hurrying us to have children,” Liu Jin says.
Lu Mei shivers and nods. “That is probably wise.”
“I do not want you to think I am taking you for granted,” Liu Jin says. “Regarding any official titles and the like, it is probably best if I let you and Xiao Shuang handle that. If it is something you have both agreed to, it is less likely to cause grudges. So...what is your answer?”
Lu Mei does not answer him with words. Her body collides with his as her arms wrap around him and their lips meet in the middle.
Liu Jin can say with full confidence that there is not a single thing about this moment that is Hollow.
~~~