Wolf King And His Fox Consort

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Only Chu Yun's steady grip on his sleeve kept Xiao Zai from launching himself at his father. He was putting out such an aggressive amount of pheromones that even in such a cramped hall, filled with people, it was only a matter of time before someone noticed Xiao Zai's overwhelming aura.

"What are you trying to say?" Xiao Zai asked, his voice coming out in a threatening growl.

The King let out a loud laugh, attracting a few pairs of eyes. "My...here I am, suggesting the possibility of gifting you with an omega concubine in a silver platter, and you act as if I'm making you marry an alpha," his grin pulled menacingly at the corners of his lips, "oh...wait."

Xiao Zai's lip curled up, baring his teeth. He shouldn't have underestimated his father. Of course he wouldn't let Xiao Zai's marriage to Chu Yun be something that actually made him happy. Something he ended up finding his place in, despite its rocky start, and Chu Yun's own reticence.

No, he had arranged the marriage to punish Xiao Zai: for being Gu Wei's son, for holding him together when the King did everything he could to tear him apart. 

And he would make sure Xiao Zai was punished.

"My brother is already engaged to someone in Xin," Chu Yun said, lifting his eyes to meet the King's cold gaze. "I'm afraid that what his Majesty is implying will never come to pass."

The King raised one eyebrow, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "Really? That's a shame. I'll be sure to write to the Xin King and congratulate him on his nephew's engagement." As is if remembering Chu Hean was actually there, he turned to him with a condescending look. "Congrats on his Grace's engagement."

Chu Hean bowed his head. "Many thanks for his Majesty's regard."

With one last pleased smirk the King rose to his feet, sweeping his long sleeves behind his back, and moving on to the next table as if he had been merely greeting his son and his spouse, and was about to extend the other guests the same courtesy.

Xiao Zai watched him go while thinking about all the ways he was going to destroy him.

---

If Chu Yun spent another minute in this hall, he was going to scream. 

As soon as the King disappeared into the throng of guests, Chu Yun got up from the table, feeling unsteady. "I need a moment," he said, without looking at either Xiao Zai or Chu Hean.

If either of them called after him he didn't hear. He cut through the gathered guests easily and made his way through the ceiling-high doors and out into the open courtyard with a relieved gasp.

The temperature had dropped considerably, and a shiver went up his spine. Hua Nanyi had taken his cloak somewhere, and Chu Yun had no way to know where she had stored it

A few people were gathered on the grass, enjoying the glow of the sunset reflecting off Haolin's dark tiled roofs. Chu Yun was in no mood to enjoy nature's bounty. He wanted to leave as soon as possible, but he knew he couldn't afford to cause a scene.

Maybe a moment to get his breathing under control was all he needed.

He cast his eyes across the manicured courtyard, and found two familiar figures talking by a moon window. The First Princess was easy enough to recognise in the military regalia she never took off, Hua Nanyi's servant robes were less eyecatching but Chu Yun would recognise her posture anywhere.

They were so absorbed in their own conversation that they didn't even notice his approach.

"I'm sorry to intrude," he said, trying to force himself to smile pleasantly and failing miserably. "I'm afraid I need to borrow Nanyi so she can fetch me my cloak, if I plan on staying outside for the remainder of the wedding banquet." And he did very much plan that.

"What happened? you look like shit," Hua Nanyi asked, startled by Chu Yun's wan complexion. Belatedly, she remembered the First Princess' presence, and that most masters and servants didn't have the kind of relationship she and Chu Yun did, and tacked on a hurried, "uh, your Grace."

The First Princess was also inspecting Chu Yun closely, her fine, regal features, pinched in apprehension. "Did Wuyuan do something? Did he..offend, Bailiu? I saw him cut through the courtyard not long ago."

A nervous laugh escaped through Chu Yun's throat. Ah, wouldn't that have been much easier to handle?

"No, I haven't spoken to his First Highness yet," he amended, "his First royal highness now, I suppose."

Xiao Ziyi's jaw tightened. "My father, then."

What was Chu Yun supposed to say? She was probably aware of how fucked up her family was.

Hua Nanyi sighed. "I'll get his Grace's cloak."

She bowed briefly to Xiao Ziyi who returned her curtsy with a small smile. In any other circumstance, Chu Yun would be riveted by whatever was happening there. As it stood his mind was too cloudy to give it much thought.

He didn't want to think about Chu Hean's possible role in the whole thing. He was sending his parents another letter as soon as he got home, and if that one didn't get a reply either he was visiting them in person himself.

The First Princess kept giving him odd looks, as if worried he might keel over at any moment, something Chu Yun had to admit wasn't out of the realm of probability. He hadn't been eating much the past few days because of the constant nausea. A decision he now regretted.

"Why does his Majesty hate Gu Wei?" Chu Yun asked, surprising even himself.

Maybe if he wasn't feeling so out of sorts he wouldn't have asked it so directly, but he couldn't forget Gu Wei's haunted look when the King mentioned their wedding night.

The First Princess cut him a searching look, as if measuring how much to say, then straightened her back and looked out into the distance. 

"My mother used to say Bailiu tricked the King into marrying him," she said, tone even, "the King dedicated the following years to making sure he paid for it." 

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