As Lord Yechi and Han Yan entered the hall, they attracted quite a bit of attention. Various inquisitive gazes interwoven around them, forming a dense web that seemed to entangle them. The nobles around felt that Han Yan appeared very unfamiliar; they whispered to each other, probing into his background, curious about when the capital gained such a handsome male zerg.
Lord Yechi, still mindful of the Zerg Emperor’s instructions, stopped when he led Han Yan to the dance floor. He then halted his steps and bowed to him, saying, “Your Excellency, the banquet has begun. I wish you a pleasant evening. If there’s anything you need, feel free to instruct the attendants.”
Han Yan showed no signs of surprise and nodded slightly, saying, “Thank you.”
Lord Yechi couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion in his heart. It was just an accident, but the eldest son of the Admon family had undergone a tremendous transformation. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had undergone a complete metamorphosis. Lord Yechi noticed that many military females around had fixed their gazes on Han Yan as if they had discovered prey. A sudden realization struck him, prompting him to bid farewell to Han Yan and swiftly head upstairs to find the Zerg Emperor.
In the presence of the Zerg God, tossing such a high-quality eligible male zerg into the mix below was truly not a wise decision by the Zerg Emperor. Without finalizing the marriage arrangements, this juicy piece of meat would soon be devoured by those hungry females!
The military females constituted the most abundant type of zergs on this planet, and with today being a celebration hosted by the military, the number of attending females was countless, and many were single. Their keen eyes quickly spotted Han Yan’s presence, and subtly, they circled around him, attempting to capture his attention.
Despite their desire to approach, military females needed to maintain some degree of restraint. Approaching someone directly for conversation might not be the best approach, especially considering that male zergs were not known for being easily swayed. They had reason to believe that Han Yan would likely respond favorably.
However, Han Yan remained unmoved. He simply surveyed his surroundings, then found a spot in the corner of the sofa resting area, neither seeking a dance partner nor engaging in conversation with the females. The surrounding noise and hustle seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.
Finally, a female zerg couldn’t resist and approached for a conversation, “Your Excellency, would you be honored to join me for a dance?”
Han Yan politely declined with a faint smile, “I’m sorry, but I’m not particularly fond of dancing.”
He spoke the truth; almost all individuals with a limp in the world did not enjoy dancing.
The inquiring female zerg could only retreat disappointed.
Subsequently, a few more females persistently approached, inviting him to dance, yet without exception, all were turned down.
Due to the significant temperature difference at night, a thin layer of mist formed on Han Yan’s glasses after entering the warm palace. He lifted his hand to remove the glasses, lowering his gaze to delicately wipe them with a velvet cloth. The radiant light from the crystal chandelier above cast a play of shadows on his handsome profile. His expression remained calm, a blend of indifference and allure.
Usually, such occasions presented excellent opportunities to expand one’s social circle. In ordinary circumstances, Han Yan would likely not refuse to immerse himself in such gatherings, as it could bring him a continuous stream of business and wealth.
However, tonight was an exception, as there were many pairs of eyes secretly observing him from the shadows.
Considering the situation, Han Yan repositioned his gold-rimmed glasses on his face. He lifted his eyes towards the second floor, and his vision, once obscured, now became clear. He could see the emperor and several princes standing at the elevated position—
They were the true top-tier nobility of this world.
Several members of the royal family from the Gohedra House stood on the second floor. As Han Yan raised his head, they too had a clear view of his face. They exchanged glances, astonishment evident in each other’s eyes.
The Fifth Prince furrowed his brows and asked, “Wasn’t it said that Ashya was foolish, ugly, and an idiot? Why doesn’t he look anything like that?”
Lord Yechi seemed equally perplexed and carefully responded, “Perhaps it’s because of the recent aircraft collision. His Excellency Ashya’s brain has healed. According to His Excellency Admon, apart from amnesia regarding his past, everything else is normal.”
The Zerg Emperor, hearing this, slowly rotated the gemstone ring on his hand, lost in thought. Finally, he spoke, “I believe we can proceed with this marriage. Go and inform Gaien of this news…”
He paused after speaking, then added, “Bring Gaien to me, and that male zerg as well.”
At that moment, Han Yan was seated on the sofa, eavesdropping on the nobles discussing recent rumors in the capital. Besides the Eighth Prince Gaien seemingly forming a partnership with the seemingly foolish member of the Admon family, the topic of the Seventh Prince Yusto, who had brought back a male zerg from the Solitiam Forest a few months ago, also held considerable attention.
“The Seventh Prince is really lucky. A casual inspection of the forest, and he manages to find a male zerg. I wonder if it’s good-looking or not.”
“I’ve seen it once, black hair, black eyes, quite unique…”
“If it wasn’t unique, it wouldn’t appear in the Solitiam Forest. That place is a forbidden land where not even the gods dare to tread.”
“Poor Eighth Prince. Both are heirs to the throne, yet the difference between him and the Seventh Prince is so significant. I heard he might marry that foolish one, Ashya…”
A few months ago,
Black hair, black eyes,
Male zerg.
Han Yan chose to selectively ignore the last piece of gossip. From their conversation, he keenly picked up on a few key phrases. Lost in his thoughts, he slowly opened his eyes, and a subtle glint passed through the depths of his eyes behind the lenses. He had noticed the place repeatedly mentioned by the guests.
Solitiam Forest…?
Han Yan couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something peculiar about that place. However, before he could ponder the matter further, Lord Yechi suddenly descended from upstairs. With a respectful bow, he addressed Han Yan, “Your Excellency, please follow me. The Emperor requests your presence.”
Upon hearing this, Han Yan paused for a moment and then gracefully rose from the sofa. Following the other, he casually inquired, “Does the Emperor have any specific instructions?”
Lord Yechi shook his head, subtly gesturing upstairs. Han Yan noticed a slender figure behind the Zerg Emperor, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Lord Yechi hinted, “The Emperor just wishes to meet with you.”
Descendants of the Gohedra House often had silver hair and red eyes. When several similarly-faced princes stood together, Gaien was perhaps the least likable. He stood in silence behind the Zerg Emperor, his slightly longer silver hair obscuring his eyes. His pale and melancholic countenance remained as calm as still water, devoid of any ripples.
Amidst the dazzling lights and shadows in the opulent hall, he appeared like a stroke of black and white on a colorful canvas, distinctly abrupt and unconventional.
Han Yan sensed the familiar silence, long absent in this atmosphere. Ascending the spiraling staircase with measured steps, his gaze landed accurately on the silent and reserved female zerg. Just below the corner of the other’s eye, there was a small red mole, enough for Han Yan to distinguish him from the other princes.
His gaze lingered briefly, a hint of interest flickering, only to then be casually withdrawn.
Han Yan lowered his gaze as he ascended the staircase, stopping three steps away from the Zerg Emperor. This was the perfect distance—neither too distant nor too intrusive. He inclined his body slightly, performing a noble salute, his voice low and clear, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Han Yan’s countenance was undeniably striking. The radiant light from the crystal chandelier above gently cascaded down, casting a delicate play of shadows on his shoulders. Even the gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses seemed slightly blurred. He nodded and smiled, as if time itself had slowed down, warm, refined, and beguiling.
For a moment, the surroundings fell into a hushed silence, where you could almost hear a pin drop.
A subtle sense of surprise echoed in everyone’s hearts. Inconspicuously, glances were exchanged in the air, making it difficult to connect the present Han Yan with the previously infatuated fool.
Gaien, who had been silent and lowered his head, seemed to sense something amiss. He finally raised his head and looked in the direction of Han Yan. Before him was a young man with an elegant appearance, engaged in conversation with the Zerg Emperor. His demeanor was calm, gentle, and composed.
Neither ugly nor foolish.
Gaien paused briefly, lost in thought. When he regained his composure, he returned to his earlier silent stance.
The Zerg Emperor seemed quite satisfied with Han Yan’s current transformation and couldn’t help but inquire further, “I heard you were injured and hospitalized. How is your health now?”
Han Yan nodded slightly, maintaining a very respectful gaze, without glancing around aimlessly, “Thank you for your concern. The injuries have healed, but I don’t remember much from before.”
The Zerg Emperor cast a glance at Gaien beside him before turning his attention back to Han Yan. Suddenly, he asked, “So, you probably don’t recall the Windsor Palace much. There’s a moonlit lake in the backyard, a beautiful sight. Do you remember it?”
Han Yan shook his head, smiling, “I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”
“In that case…” The Zerg Emperor fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, “Gaien, take His Excellency Ashya to the backyard. He has amnesia and may not remember the way. Any guest who comes to the Windsor Palace should not miss such a beautiful sight.”
Even a perceptive zerg could see that the Zerg Emperor was intentionally creating an opportunity for Han Yan and Gaien to be alone. The tactful zerg joined in, “The moonlight tonight is exceptionally beautiful. The Moonlit Lake must be stunning.”
“Your Excellency Ashya, it would be a shame to miss it, especially since the Windsor Palace hosts banquets only a few times a year. It’s not something you get to see often.”
Han Yan paid no attention to the bustling sounds around him and instead turned his gaze to the Eighth Prince, Gaien, who had been silent. His gray-blue eyes focused on Gaien, and he quietly inquired for his opinion, “Your Highness, would it be an honor?”
Han Yan’s tone was extremely gentle, showing neither disdain nor condescension. Despite Gaien’s limp, Han Yan treated him with utmost respect, acknowledging him as an equal.
Gaien, in response to Han Yan’s question, looked at him with a hint of confusion. He clearly didn’t understand why Han Yan would accept the invitation, as strolling through the garden together would signify the confirmation of their marriage. With Han Yan no longer acting infatuated or foolish, and plenty of other female zergs available, there seemed no need for him to marry a cripple like Gaien.
Or perhaps, the other party simply didn’t want to offend the Zerg Emperor…
Gaien slowly lowered his gaze, shadows deepening over his eyes. For some reason, he remained silent.
The Fifth Prince, witnessing Gaien’s hesitation, couldn’t help but feel a bit impatient. He discreetly nudged him from behind, “Gaien, what are you waiting for? Hurry and take His Excellency Ashya to the backyard for a stroll.”
Caught off guard by the Fifth Prince’s push, Gaien stumbled for a moment. His quick reflexes, honed by his limp, saved him from a potential fall. He seemed like a fragile porcelain figurine that might shatter with the slightest bump. Yet, in the end, he found himself securely held in Han Yan’s fingertips—
Han Yan promptly caught Gaien, preventing him from stumbling. He patiently waited until Gaien steadied himself before subtly retracting his hand. With a gentle and patient tone, he asked, “Your Highness, do you mind taking me to the backyard for a stroll?”
Gaien clearly had no room to refuse. He pursed his lips slightly, and finally, he made a gesture downstairs, his voice hoarse, “I am willing to serve you.”
Gaien finished speaking and turned to descend the stairs, walking with a noticeable limp. Despite his efforts to conceal it, one could still discern the old injury in his right leg. However, his back remained impeccably straight.
Han Yan quietly observed Gaien’s retreating figure. Lost in thought for a moment, he unconsciously touched his own right leg. Then, he quickened his pace to catch up, walking alongside Gaien and discreetly shielding him from the curious gazes downstairs.
Han Yan didn’t extend a helping hand. Instead, he matched his pace with Gaien’s, maintaining a discreet distance. He made sure to walk neither too far nor too close, ensuring that if Gaien were to stumble, he could offer support without drawing attention.
Gaien seemed oblivious to the peculiar gazes from downstairs, clearly accustomed to them. Leading Han Yan away from the grand hall, they walked through the shimmering golden surroundings and followed a gravel path towards the garden. Although there were streetlights on both sides, the visibility remained dim.
The gravel path was not easy to navigate. Han Yan heard Gaien stumble several times in the darkness. He remained silent for a moment, and finally, he extended his hand, “This path is too dark.”
Gaien felt a hand reaching out in the darkness, warm and dry, distinctly different from his own cold fingertips. His body tensed for a moment, and then, like an electric shock, he pulled away from Han Yan’s touch without looking back, murmuring, “This path has always been dark.”
As rumored, his personality does seem quite reclusive.
Han Yan, observing the reaction, raised an eyebrow lightly. He withdrew his hand after Gaien’s dismissal, adjusted his glasses, and followed at a steady pace. “Is that so?”
The garden was expansive, and Gaien’s speed noticeably slowed down. It was evident that his limping leg struggled with the extended walk. Coming to a gradual stop in the darkness, Gaien spoke emotionlessly, “If you don’t want to marry a cripple, it’s best to go tell the Zerg Emperor now.”
Han Yan remarked, “The backyard is quite beautiful.”
Gaien’s voice remained monotone, “After tomorrow, even if you want to back out, the Emperor won’t agree.”
Han Yan asked, “How much farther to the Moonlit Lake?”
Gaien replied, “This is your last chance.”
Han Yan suggested, “Let’s go sit in the nearby pavilion for a while.”
Gaien, who had been leading the way, finally halted and turned to look at Han Yan. In the cool moonlight, he remained composed and unruffled, as if nothing could disturb him.
Gaien, with an expressionless face, stared at Han Yan. A perpetual shadow lingered in his eyes, giving him an appearance of a forlorn ghost wandering through a rainy night—languid and sickly.
Gaien spoke in a low voice, “Didn’t you understand what I said?”
Han Yan replied, “What?”
Gaien remained silent and took a step forward. His aura was both chilly and damp. Standing very close to Han Yan, his pale and slender fingertips glided down the man’s collar. His eyes, tinted with a dangerous shade of dark red in the night, and his voice hoarse, he uttered, “If you don’t want to marry a cripple, you better go tell the Zerg Emperor now…”
His fingertips were cold, like a blade without an edge. As they traced over the skin through the fabric, it felt like a snake slithering on the surface.
Han Yan quietly assessed Gaien and asked with an ambiguous tone, “Cripple? Who? You?”
He suddenly smiled, and his slender, pristine fingertips lightly touched Gaien’s face. The pad of his finger gently traced the red mole beneath Gaien’s eyes. His expression was focused and earnest, as if evaluating a perfect commodity or savoring a cherished collectible soon to be acquired.
Gaien, taken aback by Han Yan’s unexpected gesture, had his pupils slightly contract for a moment. He instinctively tried to step back to evade, but the suave and elegant man before him subtly pressed him against the stone pillar of the pavilion. There was nowhere to escape.
Han Yan, being a businessman, viewed everything through the lens of value. In his eyes, everything had a price, but the distinction lay in whether some things could be bought with money, while others were priceless.
Han Yan, dressed in a refined suit and leather shoes, looked polished and cultured.
However, his current actions were quite at odds with his appearance. Behind the gray-blue lenses, his eyes showed no hint of desire. His slender and fair fingertips gently touched Gaien’s handsome face. They lingered for a moment on the rosy lips before slowly moving down. When Gaien’s legs gave way, and he sank to the ground, Han Yan seized the opportunity to grasp the slender right ankle, sliding beneath the trouser leg.
Gaien’s body momentarily weakened, unable to control a shiver. He thought Han Yan was about to do something inappropriate. Holding onto the not-so-well-behaved hand, he pressed down at the corner of his eye, red-eyed. His breath was uneven, but he didn’t stop Han Yan. Instead, he lazily raised his eyes and said, “Your Excellency, if you touch me here, you’ll really have to take responsibility.”
He chuckled mysteriously, lowering his voice, “If you don’t take responsibility, I might just kill you…”
The royal zerg was not that easy to shake off.
Without uttering a word, Han Yan, with focused and serious eyes behind his glasses, disregarded Gaien’s resistance. He gently freed himself from the other’s grasp, and with quiet determination, his warm fingertips touched Gaien’s lower leg. He silently caressed the gruesome scar on the knee.
It was as if a doctor were examining injuries or a merchant had found a satisfactory item – an attachment that couldn’t be easily shaken off…
Gaien didn’t evade any longer. He stared at Han Yan with a numb, lifeless gaze, unmoving like a corpse. Han Yan eventually stopped his actions, gently lowering his gaze. He noticed Gaien’s fingertips, which had unknowingly clenched into fists, leaving behind traces of blood in his palms.
Han Yan smiled, wordlessly pulling out a handkerchief to carefully wipe away the bloodstains on Gaien’s palms. Finally, he gently clasped the icy fingertips, his voice low as he asked, “So, in your opinion, what day would be suitable for our marriage?”
Gaien looked up at him, his expression revealing a mix of surprise.
Han Yan was quite satisfied with the female zerg in front of him. He even had an intuition that this would be the most profitable deal he would ever make in his life. Now, all he needed to do was to swiftly finalize the contract and bring the transaction to a close.
Han Yan exerted a bit of force, lifting Gaien directly from the ground. He embraced the slender and disabled female zerg before him, showing a particular fondness for the red mole beneath his eye. With his fingertips, he continuously stroked and lingered over it, eventually leaving a fleeting kiss.
“…”
Gaien’s body stiffened, and his eyelashes couldn’t conceal the intense shivering for a moment.
Han Yan’s embrace wasn’t too tight, conveying a sense of ease and control. The scent of light cedar lingered on his clothes, cold and distant, ultimately dissolving into a sigh-like murmur: “Forget it, let His Majesty decide…”
Author’s Note:
Emperor: Now!! Immediately!! Right away!!!
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