The subfemale obviously hadn’t expected that Johnny would intervene halfway. Unfortunately for him, Johnny was a prestigious male zerg, someone you couldn’t hit or insult.
Blushing, he got up from the ground, feeling awkward and embarrassed. He looked at Han Yan with tearful eyes, trying to gain some attention and sympathy. However, the indifferent male had stopped walking at some point, turning to look behind him—
Han Yan finally noticed the somewhat distant gap between him and Gaien.
In fact, he wasn’t walking too fast, and coupled with his recent contemplation, his pace only slowed down further. The female zerg, however, seemed intentionally to stay behind, creating a separation between himself, Han Yan, and the beautiful subfemale. In just a short moment, he reverted to his previous solitary and silent demeanor.
It was like a small creature that had lived its whole life in a dark cave, cautiously reaching out to touch the sunlight. Yet, it found the warm glow too glaring, unable to grasp it, and quickly retreated, hiding itself deep within.
Han Yan stood on the steps, quietly waiting for Gaien to approach. Then, as usual, he reached out his hand, signaling for the other to take it for support.
Gaien was obedient, wordlessly gripping Han Yan’s hand. The slightly cool temperature at their fingertips caused a subtle furrow in the man’s brow, imperceptible to most.
“Let’s go in.”
Han Yan spoke softly, and it was unclear whether he was addressing Gaien or Johnny.
Prince Pei was originally entertaining guests inside. He happened to glance towards the door and saw that Han Yan and Gaien had arrived. Despite being an elder, Han Yan, with a blood purity level as high as 50%, was a male zerg. He stood up with a wine glass in hand to welcome them.
“Your Excellency Ashya, welcome. I hope you’ll have a good time today.”
Prince Pei’s demeanor was gentle, with a smooth and shrewd air of business. He smiled as he finished speaking and glanced at Gaien. Seeing that Gaien’s complexion was still decent, he felt somewhat relieved. His gaze then unintentionally fell on Johnny behind them, and he added, “And Your Excellency Johnny, I hope the feast will be to your satisfaction.”
He vaguely remembered this male zerg from the last wedding banquet, deeply engrossed in eating, quite amusing. Prince Pei had grown up in the deep palace, accustomed to deceitful schemes. Encountering a genuinely straightforward male zerg was rare, and on a whim, he invited the other over.
With Han Yan present, Johnny didn’t dare to be too presumptuous. Awkwardly clearing his throat upon hearing the words, he earnestly lowered his head and said, “Thank you for your hospitality.”
He seemed to be a male zerg with a decent demeanor and manners.
Han Yan nodded slightly to Prince Pei, simultaneously slipping his other hand around Gaien’s waist. His tone remained gentle and courteous, “Thank you for your trouble. I believe tonight will be an enjoyable evening.”
Gaien typically didn’t stand out much in such gatherings. Other than addressing Prince Pei as ‘Uncle’ when they entered, he hadn’t spoken a word since.
Holding Gaien’s waist, Han Yan, separated by a thin layer of fabric, sensed the stiffness in the other’s back. It felt like he was embracing a delicate puppet, obedient in every movement. Han Yan usually liked compliant zergs, but for some reason, he wasn’t particularly fond of the current lifeless atmosphere surrounding Gaien.
Han Yan slightly tilted his head, the cool frame of his glasses brushing against Gaien’s face. He asked softly with an unclear emotion, “Are you angry?”
The female zerg’s waist didn’t feel as soft and affectionate as before. Was it because he had just spoken to that subfemale?
At his words, Gaien’s eyelashes trembled for a moment. His voice was hoarse, barely audible, “You misunderstood. No.”
Jealousy shouldn’t manifest in a female monarch; otherwise, it could lead to punishment and disdain from the male zergs.
Han Yan could tell he was lying, but he chose not to say anything. Instead, he directly embraced Gaien and walked towards the sofa in the middle of the hall. A group of zergs was seated there, familiar faces from the business and political circles, some of whom Han Yan had met at previous gatherings. Upon seeing Han Yan approach, they stood up to greet him:
“Your Excellency Ashya, it’s been a while.”
“Your Excellency, delighted to see you. Please have a seat here.”
Due to Han Yan’s status as a male zerg, most of these nobles were polite. However, one blond male zerg remained seated on the sofa without moving, appearing conspicuously out of place. It seemed to be Sande, the young master of the Durant family, the one who was previously engaged and then disengaged with Eighth Prince Gaien.
Everyone’s gazes shifted between the three of them, creating an inexplicably subtle atmosphere. Han Yan, however, seemed unfazed. He courteously acknowledged each greeting and then took a seat on the sofa with Gaien.
Gaien clearly hadn’t expected Sande to be present, and unconsciously furrowed his brow. Although he had minimal interaction with Sande before, given their past engagement, there was always the possibility that someone might intentionally stir up trouble later. Married females shouldn’t have any involvement with male zergs other than their husband. Han Yan might not take kindly to any provocations.
It turned out Gaien’s concerns were justified. Just as everyone settled onto the sofa and engaged in casual conversation about how to expand and renovate the capital’s largest market, a delicate-looking female zerg seated in the corner of the sofa suddenly spoke up, addressing Eighth Prince Gaien, “Your Highness, why have you been silent all this time?”
With a graceful appearance and a harmless smile, he shifted slightly in the direction of Han Yan, perhaps to facilitate a conversation with Gaien. “You were previously victorious in clearing out the beasts on Lavanya Star, and His Majesty held a celebratory banquet for you. We met at that event; don’t you remember?”
As he spoke, he subtly turned his body, and his knee inadvertently brushed against Han Yan’s right leg. However, Han Yan smoothly avoided the contact, adjusting his sitting posture with an indifferent expression. His legs crossed neatly, but a wrinkle appeared on his well-pressed trousers—
Han Yan’s right leg had a disability from a previous life, and he disliked anyone touching it.
Gaien noticed Han Yan’s subtle movement, glanced downward, and at the same time, coolly shook his head at the female zerg, “Sorry, I don’t remember.”
Having fallen from grace, the glory of his past now felt like a blunt knife, repeatedly reminding him of his current plight. Gaien had no intention of dwelling on those memories.
“What a pity,” the female zerg, though addressing Gaien, kept his gaze on Han Yan. He sighed as if lamenting, “You used to be quite eloquent back then. His Excellency Sande has seen it too, hasn’t he?”
The mention of the Durant family’s young master caught the attention of all the zergs in the room. Prince Pei unconsciously furrowed his brow, and the minister of the Chamber of Commerce’s expression subtly changed. He quickly pulled the female zerg, Fallon, closer and whispered, “Fallon, you’re being too rude!”
The minister of the Chamber of Commerce regretted bringing his son along and wished he hadn’t. Since the previous banquet where Fallon saw Han Yan, he had been preoccupied, and upon hearing that Han Yan would attend today’s gathering at Prince Pei’s residence, he insisted on coming along. Little did he know, it would lead to such a disaster with just a single remark.
Sitting nonchalantly on the side, Sande seemed to find the situation not dramatic enough. His gaze remained fixed on Gaien, hinting at something as he remarked, “I also think Eighth Prince isn’t as eloquent as before after marriage.”
He stopped just short of explicitly saying that their post-marriage life was unhappy.
Gaien, upon hearing this, instinctively looked at Sande. His gaze darkened, as if a pool of indelible ink lingered in his eyes. Gaien slowly clenched his fingertips, preparing to say something when, suddenly, a cold and deep male voice rang out in his ears:
“Because I prefer quiet ones.”
Han Yan sat with his legs crossed on the sofa, appearing unperturbed by the discussions around him. It was evident that the words of others didn’t stir any waves. In full view of everyone, he leaned to the side and planted a kiss on Gaien’s cheek. The cool lenses of his glasses misted up briefly, but soon cleared. Han Yan repeated in a calm tone, “Because I prefer quiet ones.”
Gaien happened to be the embodiment of the tranquility he liked.
After finishing his statement, Han Yan turned his head to look at Fallon. The emotions in his gray-blue eyes behind the lenses were unclear, and he gazed at Fallon with a smile that could be interpreted in various ways. “Or perhaps quiet females are more likable, don’t you think?”
Implicitly, he was expressing discontent with Fallon’s excessive talkativeness.
Fallon’s face turned pale for a moment upon hearing this. He lowered his head, clearly extremely embarrassed. At the same time, he couldn’t comprehend how any male zerg could like Gaien’s seemingly lifeless demeanor.
Upon hearing Han Yan’s words, Gaien remained silent. However, the tightly clenched fingertips gradually loosened.
Han Yan sensed a slight softening in the female zerg’s body in his arms. Lowering his gaze, he played with the other’s fingertips without saying a word. When he decided to marry Gaien, he had done thorough investigations beforehand. Being rejected a few times was just a minor setback. Han Yan was well aware of these matters, more so than those gossiping zergs. How could he be swayed by a few words?
Prince Pei clearly realized that there were some unwelcome guests at the gathering. In an effort to avoid Gaien being targeted, he took the initiative to speak, “We’ve recently planted a garden with a variety of rare orchids. The young ones among you might enjoy it. Let the attendants guide you to the backyard for a stroll. O’Hara and I have some business discussions upstairs, which might not be of interest to you.”
The term “young ones” in his statement unmistakably referred to Fallon and his group. Several female zergs who had accompanied their elders to the gathering tactfully stood up. Johnny headed straight for the dining area, while Gaien remained quietly seated next to Han Yan, unmoving and appearing somewhat unconventional.
Prince Pei’s words carried a significant meaning, “Gaien, you should go too.”
A group of female zergs together had limited scope for jealousy and gossip, as long as they refrained from openly causing trouble in Han Yan’s presence. The upcoming discussions would be business-related, and it wasn’t suitable for Gaien to be present.
Han Yan casually kissed the soft strands of Gaien’s hair and lightly patted his back. His voice, low and deep, said, “Go ahead. I’ll join you once I’m done with the business.”
Gaien finally stood up at these words. He cast a glance at Han Yan before limping away, following the attendant towards the garden. Among the healthy female zergs, his figure appeared quite awkward.
Alien…
As Han Yan watched Gaien’s departing figure, the word popped into his mind inexplicably. He recalled the villagers who had adopted him saying the same thing in the past. He found himself momentarily lost in thought until Prince Pei invited them to discuss matters upstairs, prompting him to stand up and follow.
By now, the outside had darkened. Despite the glow from street lamps, the visibility remained hazy, allowing only a glimpse of a few orchids in the backyard, some still in bud and yet to bloom.
As Gaien reached the doorway, he gradually came to a stop. He turned to look behind him, only to see that Han Yan and the others had already ascended to the second-floor study. The door was tightly shut, cutting off all connections.
“…”
Gaien withdrew his gaze but didn’t join the group of female zergs gathering under the pavilion. Instead, he found a spot along a corridor and sat down. He had never been fond of crowds. Seated alone beside a cool pillar, he idly played with the beads on his wrist.
Gaien lowered his gaze in silence, his expression somewhat gloomy. He recalled the subfemale who had approached Han Yan earlier and Fallon, who had been eyeing Han Yan. There was a sense of having what belonged to him coveted by others. It felt like a venomous snake slowly climbing up his heart, tightening, and eventually bringing a sense of suffocation.
Han Yan’s purity level was a remarkable 50%, and according to the laws of the Salaranfa, he should marry at least five female consorts. It was a customary practice, one that Gaien had seen often, but now it felt like a bone stuck in his throat.
Gaien couldn’t help but imagine Han Yan embracing other female zergs just as he embraced him, kissing others just as he kissed him, and engaging in all the intimate acts they shared together. How could that be allowed?
Of course, it couldn’t be allowed…
“Sigh—”
Gaien squinted slightly, his hand, which had been toying with the sandalwood beads, suddenly paused. The bracelet emitted a faint, crisp sound in the air before rolling back smoothly along his fingertips to rest on his wrist.
Rising slowly from the bench, Gaien furrowed his brows, with half of his figure now engulfed in shadows. He was contemplating not just one question but many.
For example, how could he prevent Han Yan from marrying female consorts?
For example, how could he keep those female zergs away from what belonged to him?
And for example, how could he monopolize that male zerg…?
The thought was somewhat frightening, but the term “monopolize” brought a tinge of perverse pleasure to Gaien. However, he hadn’t figured out how to implement it.
Seeing Gaien alone in the corridor, a waiter approached with a tray carrying pastries and a beverage. However, due to the dark and slippery conditions, the waiter accidentally slipped and the juice from the cup spilled all over Gaien.
The waiter exclaimed, “Your Highness, be careful!”
Gaien, sensing the noise behind him, deftly moved aside, and only the cuff of his sleeve caught a sprinkle of starfruit juice. He raised his eyes to observe the waiter who had awkwardly fallen to the ground and lightly furrowed his brow, “What are you doing here?”
The waiter hastily got up, “Apologies, Your Highness. I just wanted to bring you some refreshments…”
He trailed off, noticing the wet cuff on Gaien’s sleeve due to the spilled juice. His voice stuttered as he pointed upstairs, “Your Highness, there are replacement clothes upstairs. Do you need me to take you there?”
Once the fruit juice dried, a dark, slightly sticky stain remained on Gaien’s sleeve. Without revealing any emotions, Gaien assessed the unfamiliar waiter, pretending not to notice the guilt in the waiter’s eyes. After a moment of silence, he uttered two words, “Lead the way.”
He was curious to see what tricks the waiter had up his sleeve.
The waiter lowered his head and quickly led Gaien to the dressing room upstairs. Fallon, who had been absentmindedly sitting in the pavilion, suddenly noticed the scene. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, and he quietly got up, following them upstairs.
The second floor was Prince Pei’s usual meeting place, while the lounges and guest rooms were on the third floor. The waiter led Gaien directly to one of the dressing rooms, pointing inside, “Your Highness, there are new clothes for guests to change in. If you need anything, feel free to call me.”
Gaien, hearing this, limped into the room, signaling that the waiter could leave. However, a figure had appeared at the doorway at some point, directly stuffing a stack of tips into the waiter’s arms, indicating for him to leave.
“Gaien.”
A familiar voice suddenly echoed, and the figure that appeared in the corridor turned out to be Sande. He waved off the waiter and walked straight into the dressing room. Then, he turned back and closed the door, his brows furrowed tightly.
Gaien, upon hearing this, paused in his steps and turned to look at the door. Seeing Sande, he raised a faint eyebrow and calmly uttered, “It’s you.”
Calm, and not surprised.
Gaien originally thought the troublemaker behind him might be Fallon, and he had already figured out how to deal with him. However, he didn’t expect it to be Sande. Nevertheless, it didn’t matter; there was no significant difference for him.
Sande gazed at the melancholic and slender figure before him with a complex expression. He felt that the current Gaien was far from the image in his memory. Gaien used to be quiet, but not with such a gloomy atmosphere. Sande asked, “Is that male zerg treating you badly?”
Gaien squinted slightly at the question, “Why do you ask?”
He remembered his relationship with Sande as nothing more than an engagement that had been broken off. Sande suddenly guiding him here and expressing concern left him puzzled.
Sande, thinking that Gaien might still hold a grudge, hesitated before speaking, “Gaien, about the cancellation of the engagement, I didn’t want it either. I wanted to explain things to you back then, but the male father didn’t agree…”
Among the offspring of nobility, growing up together from a young age, Eighth Prince Gaien was not as unruly and sharp-tongued as Seventh Prince Yusto. Before his disability, he attracted the attention of many males, including Sande.
Gaien, who thought he would marry this male, unexpectedly became disabled on the battlefield, losing the qualification to pursue the throne. Even the marriage was not approved by the family.
Upon hearing that Gaien had married someone else with a mental disability, Sande felt a myriad of discomfort. He couldn’t tell whether it was due to lingering emotions or the frustration of being unable to obtain what he desired.
“It doesn’t matter,” Gaien replied calmly.
Gaien, bypassing Sande, limped towards the door, his tone calm and indifferent. He thought this male had come for something important, but it turned out to be this trivial matter, which instantly dampened his interest.
As Gaien turned the doorknob to leave, an unexpected sound disrupted the silence—the unmistakable click of a key locking the door. The room fell into complete stillness.
The door was completely locked.
Fallon stood outside the locked door, twirling a set of keys he had “acquired” from the servant between his fingers. He smiled and, in a good mood, turned away, heading towards the study where Prince Pei and others were discussing business.
A married female alone with his former fiancé in a room? Tsk tsk, even if Gaien had any remaining reputation, Fallon doubted that His Excellency Ashya would continue to tolerate this cripple.
Gaien sensed something was amiss and tried turning the doorknob forcefully, only to realize that the door had been locked from the outside. Seeing this, Sande hurriedly stepped forward, pushing the door in panic, “What’s going on?! Why won’t the door open?!”
Gaien replied calmly, “It’s locked from the outside.”
He then limped over to the window and observed the guards patrolling below. After estimating the height, he concluded that it wasn’t enough for wings to unfold and take flight, so he abandoned the idea of jumping out.
Gaien realized that the door had intentionally been locked from the outside by someone. It wouldn’t take long for the other guests to be led here, and they needed to get out quickly.
He couldn’t afford to be discovered in the same room with Sande.
Gaien returned to the door, showing no change in expression, and delivered a powerful punch to the lock. Accompanied by a loud bang, the iron door immediately caved in, leaving a significant dent. His fist was now dripping with fresh blood.
Sande exclaimed, “Gaien!”
However, Gaien seemed unfazed. He struck the door lock again with a forceful punch. The door finally showed signs of movement, but main doors of the prince’s mansion had been reinforced and soundproofed, making it not so easily opened.
Sande thought Gaien must have gone mad. He quickly opened his communication device to call Prince Pei, but before the call could be made, he suddenly felt a sharp, icy dagger against his neck. In the next moment, Gaien forcefully pressed him against the window sill, with more than half of his body hanging outside.
The night wind rustled, and the world seemed to spin.
Sande’s pupils contracted sharply, nearly frightened out of his wits. “Gaien! You’ve gone mad!”
Soldiers always had a variety of blades on them. Gaien calmly held the cold dagger against Sande’s throat. Suddenly, under the moonlight, he smiled as if a ghost, “Your Excellency, I don’t approve of you bringing other zergs here because…”
He paused for a moment, then whispered, “My lord would misunderstand.”
Sande had no time to worry about potential misunderstandings; he only felt that Gaien was a lunatic. Angrily and fearfully, he said, “Let me go! You’re harming a male zerg! If others see this, the consequences will be severe!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Gaien gently turned the tip of the knife, and the blood on his hand slowly slid down the blade. “Rather than letting them misunderstand that you and I are alone in the room having an affair, it’s better for them to see me harming a noble male zerg.”
The footsteps in the corridor grew louder and more intense, but they remained unheard by Gaien and Sande.
Sande felt like he was about to fall. Panic-stricken, he pleaded, “Release me quickly! If anything happens, His Majesty won’t be able to protect you! You’ll face the punishment of the whip!”
Gaien calmly admitted, “Yes, he won’t be able to protect me.”
However, he wondered if that male zerg would protect him.
As Gaien contemplated, the footsteps outside the door were getting closer. He truly wanted to know the extent of Han Yan’s tolerance and protection. Coming upstairs a moment ago was just an opportunity. He knew Fallon was following them, and he anticipated the current situation. Nevertheless, he entered the room.
Not for anything else, but to see how Han Yan would react.
Because Han Yan’s attitude would determine something crucial…
It would determine whether a stray, homeless dog could entrust its heart to him.
Gaien enigmatically replied, “But I haven’t harmed the male zerg; it’s the male zerg who is harming me.”
Sande’s expression changed slightly, “What do you mean?!”
Could Gaien be trying to set him up?! Absurd! How could any zerg believe that!
Gaien smiled, “Consider it the price you pay for your foolishness today. Of course, there’s also a risk of losing for me.”
The footsteps grew closer and closer, nearing the door. As they approached the door, Gaien, through the keen hearing of the military female zerg, sensed some movement. He pulled Sande, who was hanging by the window, back and slowly loosened his grip on the dagger, then smiled and handed it to him.
But he still wanted to take a gamble.
“Bang!”
The door was kicked open from the outside, crashing into the wall with a muffled sound.
As Han Yan and Prince Pei hurriedly approached the dressing room door, they saw Sande standing there with a pale face, holding a blood-stained dagger. Gaien, on the other hand, emerged from inside, his body covered in blood, stumbling towards them. In the end, he rushed into Han Yan’s arms—
He didn’t know if the male zerg would push him away, but in the end, he let go of the blood-stained knife and staggered towards him.
Han Yan subconsciously embraced Gaien. It was an instinctive action without much thought. With the not-so-gentle force, he was pushed back two steps before steadying himself. Yet, he felt a momentary tremor in the depths of his heart.
Frowning, Han Yan looked at Gaien, who was trembling gently in his arms. Unconsciously tightening his embrace, he held onto the blood-soaked right hand of the other. The ash-blue eyes behind the lenses narrowed slightly, and his voice, cool and low, uttered only one sentence:
“Who bullied you?”
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![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
