Destinies : Connected by Fate✔️

Chapter 35

*Observatory Tower: Deck*

A guard hurriedly enters the deck, "Your Majesty, the crown prince is on his way back. While in GuHai...he got slapped by an official's daughter. He seemed to have done something to earn her anger. He showed no signs of regret."

"Is that it? Did he not do anything else?" YiLei questions the guard who had tailed the crown prince.
The guard nods; he omits to tell YiLei that he had indeed lost the crown prince for approximately five minutes soon after entering the Temporary residence, which was in a state of chaos, as soon as he had entered.
The Emperor dismisses the guard. "I don't think he is in league with YiHuang." He declares and glances at his unconscious adopted son.

"Ah-Zhang..." The Yuanjian prince whispers. Slowly regaining his bearings, he looks around the deck and blinks, disoriented. As his mind clears, his face pales. His head throbs, and his heartaches. Closing his eyes, he struggles to pull in a breath. When he puts voice to his thoughts, they are devoid of emotion, "Your Majesty, release me. I will do whatever you need me to do."

The attitude leaves the old Emperor stunned. "Son, it was not my intention to hurt you." He walks towards YiHuang, who moves away.

"Just...please." YiHuang throws his palms out, gesturing the advancing Emperor to stop, "I will do whatever you need me to do." He stands up.

The Emperor complies. Soon, YiHuang is standing next to a contraption similar to their space vehicle Xue; the only difference is the inky black with an indent in its middle.

"I used our blood on the Key and inserted it in the slot, but it's not working." Li Xiang joins the second prince and hands him the charm.
YiHuang rolls the item between his fingers and leaves a shaky breath, "You did the right thing. But there is something you don't know."

Li Xiang tilts her head. "What?"

A soft laugh erupts from deep within YiHuang's chest, "This," he holds up the disk, "is not the key. It never was."

A deathly calm falls over the deck, broken only by his manic laughter.
"Lies!" The Emperor bellows, "Hu Kwan has corrupted his heart and turned him against me."

"Your Majesty," Teng exclaims. "We are doomed." He buries his face in his hands and mutters, "The wormhole is gone."

"Impossible!"

"Your Majesty, it's possible. If you don't believe the General, then I suggest you take a look yourself." YiHuang states calmly.

"Ah-Huang!" A voice from the entrance of the deck makes the people turn.

It's YiYang; his eyes are glued to his brother's bleeding wrists. He pushes past the guards and takes the latter's hands between his. "Who did this!?" He fumes, fixing the nearest guard with a cold, calculating gaze, "Tell me this instant!"

Li Xiang moves out of Teng's shadow, revealing herself to the crown prince. "Ah-Xiang, what..." her bleeding wrists make him stop and scan the crowd.

"Brother, Ah-Zhang did it. He destroyed it." YiHuang's informs, tears stream down his face. "He saved us."
The meaning behind the exchange between his sons first perplexes and then angers YiLei, "You, my own son, betrayed me!" He accuses the crown prince and grabs his collar. "Do you know what you have done!?" He demands, pushing the young man to the floor; unsheathing his sword, he growls, "You...both of you have destroyed our future."

"Father, please calm down. Now is not the time to throw accusations. Please, give us a few minutes to explain ourselves." YiYang eyes come to rest on his brother, "Officer Zhang left his blood. That's the key to open it, isn't it?" He asks, fishing out the vial from his robes to give it to YiHuang.
Unfortunately, before it can change hands, YiLei grabs it, and in a fit of rage, slams it on the floor, smashing it into pieces.