Wolf King And His Fox Consort

Chu Yun had informed Min Sezhui of the point of their meeting with Lieba Chun. He made it clear to her that even though they might discuss the possibility of marriage, it was only a ploy to make Chu Hean admit to having some interest on Lieba Chun to begin with.

He didn't want her to think he would go against her wishes and marry her off to someone else.

She seemed to understand, and was even willing to cooperate. She only requested that Hua Nanyi be there too.

Apparently she had grown used to her company, and felt more comfortable walking around with her. Hua Nanyi herself was amenable to this.

Even so, Chu Yun had worried that maybe Min Sezhui would be too stiff or dismissive when talking with Lieba Chun.

It turned out that he needn't have worried.

"Are there a lot of lambs in the Wise Prince's camp?" Min Sezhui asked, her eyes wide in expectation.

"Of course, our people have great herds," Lieba Chun said, sounding genuinely charmed by Min Sezhui's curiosity. "We move frequently in order to ensure our herds can graze on the freshest grass."

Min Sezhui sighed contentedly. "I'm sure they love that." She rested her chin on her palms. "The lambs must be very cute prancing in the plains."

Lieba Chun nodded encouragingly. "They are, they are! Maybe Lady Min will be able to see them soon."

That seemed to snap Min Sezhui out of her daydream about adorable lambs frolicking in the grassy plains. She shot Chu Yun a worried look before lowering her gaze and folding her hands on her lap. "We'll see."

Chu Yun didn't think Lieba Chun was entertaining any ideas about actually marrying her. But there was no denying that they had hit it off. Chu Yun hadn't seen Min Sezhui so talkative in weeks.

Maybe Lieba Chun's offer was genuine, even if he didn't have marriage on his mind.

Across from the two of them, Chu Hean clearly had other ideas. He had been silent during the entire conversation. And while at first he looked annoyed, as Min Sezhui and Lieba Chun started talking more earnestly his expression got progressively more downcast.

Right then his gaze was fixed on a tree across from the outdoor table they were all sitting at. The fresh spring breeze rustled the branches around them, and a few birds chirped merrily high up on the tree copses, but Chu Hean looked as if he had stepped into the dead of winter, on the coldest day of the year.

Even Hua Nanyi couldn't help shooting him askance looks. 

Chu Yun waited for another lull in the conversation before suggesting that it was time Min Sezhui returned to her rooms to rest.

"The games will happen tomorrow, after all," Chu Yun said, getting up to his feet as well. "We should all be well rested ahead of the event."

Min Sezhui and Hua Nanyi left first. Chu Hean seemed eager to follow suit, but Chu Yun held him back.

"I think there's something you need to tell the Wise Prince," Chu Yun said, cutting straight to the point.

Chu Hean barely reacted. "I wish the Wise Prince a thousand years of happiness," he said, his eyes lowered. "Lady Min is a lovely young woman, the two will surely be very happy."

That wasn't what Chu Yun expected him to say, but he should have known Chu Hean wouldn't miss out on the chance to be forlorn. He did seem to revel in his own misery at times.

Lieba Chun chuckled, surprising Chu Hean who finally looked up at him. 

"I would have preferred to be happy with you," he said sincerely, his expression filled with softness. "But only a fool attempts to draw milk from a rock. Happiness is precious, and it is better to find it in a little grass patch, than to seek it forever in barren fields."

A muscle jumped in Chu Hean's jaw. His peach blossom eyes shone with emotion, but just as Chu Yun thought that he was finally going to admit to Lieba Chun that he was happy to have the little grass patch too, he looked away again with a nod. And then left without another word.

Chu Yun made to follow after him, but Lieba Chun's hand on his shoulder kept him where he was.

"Let him go," Lieba Chun said, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "He is an introspective soul. I had the time to observe his nature back in the steppes. He likes to analyse everything, and isn't good with snap decisions. He's very stubborn, it takes a lot for him to change his mind."

Chu Yun knew that Lieba Chun was right, but it still frustrated him. Chu Hean had projected an entirely different persona for years. Part of Chu Yun kept looking for his didi in the sullen young man who walked away from them with his shoulders drawn.

"He hurts himself," Chu Yun said, giving voice to his frustrations. "It's as if he decided, a long time ago, that he was meant for misery, and refuses to see any alternative."

Lieba Chun was quiet for a long time. The breeze made the beads in his hair jingle, the bells tied to his legs chimed with a foreign melody. 

"I don't think it's that. I don't think he wants to be miserable. I think he's mistrustful of everything that seems too good to be true." He turned to Chu Yun with one of his rakish smiles. "Personally, I take it as a compliment."

His words made the tight band around Chu Yun's chest loosen enough for him to laugh. There was something to be said for Lieba Chun's boundless optimism. "I think the Wise Prince should take it as a challenge too."

"Oh, I do, and tomorrow I intend to win it." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked up towards the blue sky and the blazing sun with a smile. "His Royal Highness can mark my words, Chu Hean will be my husband.. Even the wind whispers it to me so."