The Third Princess watched her mother leave with stiff-backed gravity. "What has become of this family?"
She looked over her shoulder at her father's grim face, and then left through the main doors without another word.
Ru Long's laughter echoed through the ample throne room. "You see, father, your house of lies is crumbling in on itself. You're just reaping what you sowed."
The King of Su was a man defeated. It seemed as if only the rules of propriety prevented him from collapsing into a heap on the floor.
Chu Yun was reminded of how the actions of another father had had repercussions that echoed throughout the generations with devastating effects.
While it was easy to look at how Xiao An had almost torn his own family to shreds, the rot began much earlier -- with his own father.
A cycle of selfishness that had impacted all those around them. Made all the worse for the role they played as rulers of a nation. Squandered public funds wasted on personal projects and egotistical goals, natural disasters ignored for the benefit of rallying allies.
It was hypocritical of Chu Yun if he didn't acknowledged that same rot in Xin's royal family.
That same kind of cruelty that had soured Chu Yun on pursuing the throne in his own country.
At a very young age his grandfather had taken him by the shoulder and showed him what it would be expected of him as a King.
Chu Yun had decided that same day that he wasn't interested. But only when it was too late to keep his hands clean.
But perhaps he had been wrong to hide from his past. He reached across the distance separating their thrones and held on to Xiao Zai's hand.
He hadn't told anyone what had happened during that cloying summer night. But despite what he had told himself over the years, he knew he hadn't moved on from those events.
They still cast a shadow over his life.
One by one, all the haughty men and women who had rode into Haolin with Hui Lang, stoked by Ru Long's gold, threw themselves on the floor and begged forgiveness for their crimes. Asking for death, but hoping to be spared.
Realistically, they couldn't kill them. But, Chu Yun thought that some public punishments might be enough to send a message.
For now, Xiao Zai would leave them to worry about their fates a little while longer.
---
Back in the King's quarters, Chu Yun was helping Xiao Zai take off his outer robe when his hands stilled on his shoulders.
He knew it was now or never. He either told Xiao Zai now, or he'd lose his nerve.
"Can we have a soak in the pool?" He asked, keeping his tone light. "I love the royal baths more than anything else in this palace."
Xiao Zai turned around and took Chu Yun's hands in his, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. "Even more than me?"
Chu Yun's face took on a pensive expression. "I suppose you're a close second, and your children are a distant third."
Xiao Zai laughed and pinched Chu Yun's chin. "Maybe you need a reminder of all the things you like about me."
The physicians, and Gu Wei (embarrassingly, and at length), had warned them not to resume any 'intimate activities' until the month was up.
But then again, Chu Yun had never been good at doing what he was told.
With the one exception that put a damper on the fire Xiao Zai's heated grin had aroused.
Chu Yun took Xiao Zai's hand from his chin and cupped it around his cheek. He closed his eyes, inhaling Xiao Zai's comforting wolfberry scent, and said, "Actually, I need to tell you something."