Wolf King And His Fox Consort

How was one supposed to react to the knowledge that one's brother had tried to kill someone, and that this awakened in that person a desire to marry him?

Chu Yun would be sure to leave instructions to the next unfortunate soul to find themselves in such a predicament as soon as he had an answer himself.

He took a sip of tea, thankful that the hall was so lively and raucous that no one could have heard with Lieba Chun said.

Xiao Zai looked like he was experiencing a grave physical and mental attack.

"Uhm, so, brother-in-law, attacked the Wise Prince?" Xiao Zai asked, trying to smile despite the sheer awkwardness of the situation. "And this is a courtship ritual of the Xiongnu?"

Lieba Chun seemed amused by their shock, while Chu Hean kept eating his food as if he wasn't the one being talked about.

"Well, not necessarily, it doesn't usually involve an attempt on a person's life," he laughed, and then cut his eyes towards Chu Hean, looking besotted, which was concerning. Chu Yun was entirely alarmed by everything going on. "Although it is important for people to display both their mental and physical fortitude. A show of strength is always welcome."

Chu Hean snorted loudly and rolled his eyes. Chu Yun wanted to throw a platter of food in his face. He should have solved this problem himself, instead of bringing Lieba Chun to their doorstep. 

How was Chu Yun supposed to handle this mess?

Did Chu Hean want more reasons to hate him? Because he had to know that Chu Yun was tempted to give his blessing, and organise the wedding himself!

In any case, in their brief acquaintance, Lieba Chun didn't strike him as a bad person. If anything he seemed naive about Chu Hean's nature.

"And what does Chu Hean have to say about this?" Xiao Zai asked, voicing the question Chu Yun didn't dare pose. 

Chu Hean ignored him for as long as he could before it was impossible to write it off as him simply thinking over the question.

"As I told the Wise Prince, I leave the decision entirely up to my brother."

Lieba Chun looked at Chu Yun with an expectant and charming smile. "I have to admit this custom seems odd to us Xiongnu, but I won't pass any criticism. I'm sure many of our traditions must seem odd to the peoples of Zui and Xin as well." His grin grew. "So, what does his Royal Highness say?"

Chu Yun felt on the verge of screaming. He wanted to kill Chu Hean.

"I'd like to have a word with my brother before making a decision," he said, raising to his feet. "If the Wise Prince wouldn't mind?"

Lieba Chun nodded agreeably. "Of course, I imagine there is a lot his Royal Highness would like to discuss with Chu Hean."

To his credit, Chu Hean didn't make a scene and got up to his feet quickly. Chu Yun led them both out of the hall and towards one of the nearby offices without another word.

---

As soon as the door closed behind him, Chu Yun asked Chu Hean. "What the fuck are you thinking?" Exactly at the same time Chu Hean asked, "How the fuck are you pregnant?"

Chu Yun glared at him. "Omega solidarity, now answer my question."

Chu Hean clearly didn't appreciate the blitheness of his comment. "Don't be glib."

"I'll be whatever I want, now, tell me why the fuck did you think it was a good idea to get me and Xiao Zai involved in this mess with the Xiongnu."

Chu Hean crossed his arms in front of his chest, and paced the length of the small room, his expression sombre. "Me and Ru Long had a falling out."

That made sense, considering what Hua Nanyi had said. However, "Supposedly, he was with you and the Xiongnu near the Zui borders, where is he now?"

Chu Hean shot him a glare. "Aren't you well informed?"

He was, but that was none of Chu Hean's business. If Chu Yun wasn't well informed, who knows how much worse things could have been. 

"Where is Ru Long now?" Chu Yun asked, ignoring him entirely.

"He tracked me to the Xiongnu, when I was still on the plains." He glared at Chu Yun as if it was his fault. "But we parted ways before that, he has...plans...that can have dramatic consequences, in matters that I consider important."

It was impossible for him to be any more vague than that. But Chu Yun was adept at reading between the lines. Chu Hean and Ru Long had some kind of falling out due to a divergence in ambitions.

As Crown Prince of Su, it was likely that Ru Long had made Chu Hean several promises that he had no intention of keeping -- or no means of keeping -- but had hoped that by then Chu Hean perhaps wouldn't have cared.

"You attacked Lieba Chun because of a Harmonious Resonance contract?"

Chu Hean nodded, with his back still to Chu Yun, shoulders drawn tight. "I have a responsibility to the academy. I take my role seriously."

Of course he did. Even if he was nothing but a pawn at the hands of an opportunistic organisation, they were the first ones to give Chu Hean a purpose beyond his role as omega, and the limitations it presented for him. They had preyed on his vulnerability and fear to exploit his loyalty.

Chu Yun could imagine Ru Long discouraging him from taking any more contracts, perhaps even pressuring him to cut all ties with Harmonious Resonance, and how badly Chu Hean could have reacted at that.

"So, you were tasked with killing Lieba Chun, and failed," Chu Yun said, after a few moments of silence. "Ru Long didn't want you to take the contract in the first place?"

Confirming his suspicions, Chu Hean nodded minutely, still keeping his back turned to Chu Yun.

Ru Long was a fool if he didn't see how Chu Hean would have immediately interpreted that as an attack on his autonomy -- which he valued above everything else.

Chu Yun had no intention of repeating Ru Long's mistake and tried to avoid passing any judgement on Harmonious Resonance. "So, I imagine it was a shock that instead of being imprisoned and tortured, he asked to marry you instead?" However, he couldn't avoid the note of humour in his words, which made Chu Hean turn towards him with a glare.

"How was I supposed to know almost being murdered would be a turn on for him?" Chu Hean asked, hissing out the words. "I did recognisance on their land, on how their camps were organised, I observed for days hiding in the cold, just to learn guard rotations. How was I supposed to know that their courtship rituals involved...I don't know, killing and maiming?"

His frustration made it very hard for Chu Yun to keep a straight face.

He should never have doubted that karma would right the wrongs his brother had inflicted on him. The will of the Heavens was nothing if not creative.

"I don't know why you're complaining, it seems like an ideal arrangement. The Xiongnu value strength, you showed yours, and now Lieba Chun considers you an equal worthy of being his mate," Chu Yun shrugged, "I fail to see the problem."

Chu Hean glared at him, but said nothing.

"Is he an alpha?" Chu Yun asked, trying to see if that was the root of Chu Hean's problem with what seemed like a match made in the heavens.

"No, he's a beta," Chu Hean spit out, filled with consternation.

Ah, so he too realised that he didn't have many arguments to oppose the marriage himself. Chu Yun was almost overcome with glee at the irony of the whole thing.

"That speaks well of the Xiongnu, doesn't it? He's the Wise Prince, heir to Xiongnu Emperor, and a beta..."

He didn't need to finish the thought to make the implications plain. Chu Yun could surely figure them out for himself.

The glare he shot at Chu Yun was murderous, but it only encouraged him to prod at him further. "Speaking of, how did he become Wise Prince? What are the succession rules among the Xiongnu?"

"How else? He beat his siblings in tests of mettle to win the title," Chu Hean said, through gritted teeth.

Chu Yun tapped his chin pensively. "Did that include any alpha siblings?"

Chu Hean knew that question was coming, and only nodded. 

"How about omegas? Are they forbidden from taking part in those competitions?"

"No," Chu Hean admitted reluctantly. 

"You see, that speaks well of them, and of Lieba Chun's character," Chu Yun said, actually meaning his words. Maybe this had been a blessing in disguise and he and Xiao Zai really should take alliances with the Xiongnu into consideration. "I think he would make a good husband, actually."

Chu Hean's beautiful features pinched in annoyance. "Find a way to change his mind."

"And what if I don't?" Chu Yun asked, with his arms crossed.

Chu Yun grit his teeth, glaring at a point above Chu Yun's shoulder.. "If you help me, I'll tell you what Ru Long is planning."