Wolf King And His Fox Consort

Chu Yun had just finished settling on a menu for the upcoming festivities, and was looking out the open window in relief at having convinced Min Sezhui to voice an opinion -- any opinion -- just in time to catch sight of Xiao Zai and Lieba Chun skulking around some bushes in a most undignified manner.

Lieba Chun was the Prince of a nomadic people, so Chu Yun really had no metric to judge how inappropriate his behaviour was, but Xiao Zai was King of Zui and he really shouldn't be outside hiding behind bushes like a troublesome child.

"There's something I need to do," he told Hua Nanyi his gaze still fixed on the open window and the backs of Xiao Zai's and Lieba Chun's heads. "The two of you should move on to decide on the flower arrangements."

Hua Nanyi paled considerably. "I don't understand anything about flower arrangements!"

And Chu Yun did? "Just pick what looks good, but ask for the meaning of each flower and sprig first, let's avoid accidentally offending our guests first. Min Sezhui will help you."

Maybe either or both of them said something in reply, but by then Chu Yun was already out the door, his intention focused on discovering what Xiao Zai was up to.

---

The two of them were still hiding behind the same bushes, and didn't hear Chu Yun's approach, their gazes fixed on something just ahead that Chu Yun couldn't quite see.

"What are you doing?" he asked loudly, making Xiao Zai curse and Lieba Chun's hand fly to his waist, reaching for a weapon he wasn't carrying.

"Hide," Xiao Zai said, gesturing at Chu Yun to crouch like they were doing. "Don't let them see you."

Chu Yun had no idea what he was talking about, until Xiao Zai made a space for him at his side, and dug two fingers into the bushes, indicating that Chu Yun should look through the foliage.

Through the branches and tiny leaves Chu Yun could barely make out two figures in the adjacent courtyard. 

But as soon as one of them talked, Chu Yun recognised his voice immediately.

"So you're not going to compete?" Chu Hean asked, sounding annoyed.

The other man had his back to them, and from the looks of it half of his face was hidden by a cowl, but it wasn't hard to guess his identity.

"You said it yourself, this is just some pageantry to stroke that barbarian's ego," Ru Long said.

Chu Yun chanced a sideways glance towards Lieba Chun -- he really hoped Chu Hean hadn't used those exact words.

For his part the man had no reaction, the line of his back was drawn tight. 

The slice of Chu Hean's face that Chu Yun could see revealed only a deep resentment. Chu Yun had no idea how he had contacted Ru Long, or if perhaps Ru Long had followed him all the way from the border and approached him only now.

He also had no idea why Xiao Zai and Lieba Chun of all people had stumbled upon their conversation, but it was obvious that no one was getting what they wanted from it.

"Just wear a mask! No one will know who you are," Chu Hean insisted, although his eyes were downcast.

Ru Long sighed deeply, as one might when talking with a stubborn child. Chu Yun bet his brother hated that. 

"What will that accomplish? He won't make you marry him, isn't that what you said?"

Chu Hean nodded, still not meeting Ru Long's eyes.

"So, why should I make a spectacle of myself for the benefit of some barbarians, and your brother and Xiao Zai?" he was sounding angry now, showing his real feelings about the whole thing. "I could 'wear a mask'" he mimicked mockingly, "as if they won't know it's me beneath it!"

It didn't surprise him that Ru Long cared so much about his image, but it surprised him that Chu Hean hadn't realised that this was always how the conversation would turn out.

"I told Lieba Chun I wouldn't marry him because I love someone else," Chu Hean said, his voice low, there was an edge to it now, a hint of accusation. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Ru Long said nothing. And from his position Chu Yun couldn't tell what his face looked like. But he saw Chu Hean's defeated nod. "I guess that settles it," he said, and turned to leave.

Ru Long reached out for him but Chu Hean batted his hand away. "Wait! I came all this way for you! You keep jerking me around like a dog on a leash, and now you expect me to jump when you tell me to?"

Chu Hean's lips curled up in a snarl. "Why do you see it like that? As me telling you what to do?" He turned away from Ru Long, putting an end to the conversation, and walking away.

Ru Long stood still for a moment before chasing after him, disappearing out of their field of vision.

Chu Yun turned to Xiao Zai with a raised eyebrow. "Care to explain what's going on?"

"Your brother vanished from his quarters," Xiao Zai said, with a sheepish smile. "It would be inconvenient if he disappeared from the palace ahead of the games."

Lieba Chun chuckled. "His Majesty entrusted me to help find his Royal Highness' brother. It turned out I didn't have to look far, he must have left to meet with this person and then brought him here." He smiled widely. "We got here just in time to hear the exchange his Royal Highness heard as well."

Xiao Zai stood up with a grimace. "Ah, well, I apologise that the Wise Prince had to hear such unkind words-"

Before he could finish that sentence Lieba Chun laughed loudly and clapped him on the shoulder, as if they were old friends. "His Majesty needn't apologise, I dare say that there couldn't have been a more auspicious time to organise the games."

Chu Yun gave him an accessing look from the corner of the eyes but said nothing.. He had the impression that Lieba Chun knew just how to make the best of every opportunity.