Romancing the Son of Heaven

Stratagem 2: Holding a Council of Love (3)

The next day came soon enough and with the light of dawn enveloping the Nine Heavens, the guards at the gates of the capital were greeted with the sight of a handsome man dressed in black. The man smiled while his hands couldn't help but straighten his sleeves and comb through his hair. The guards were creeped out.

Qiu Ling hadn't any thoughts to spare for them though. Ah! He had flown to the Nine Heavens. What if the wind had tussled his hair? What if there was some wrinkle in his robes that he had overlooked? He couldn't appear before his beloved like that! It was too late to make sure, though.

One of the guards had finally calmed his nerves and stepped forward, cupping his fists. "Longjun ... What might bring you here?"

"I'm here to see my beloved!"

The guard instantly regretted stepping forward. He didn't want to have anything to do with something like this! But now that he had delivered himself into this situation he could only go forward. "Uh ... Who might that be?"

"Jing He!" Qiu Ling smiled while frowning. He didn't think it should be needed to say it. After all, what else would he come here for if not to see Jing He? Then again, it felt really good saying his name and admitting that he was his beloved. Ah, ask me again!

The guard frowned. Jing He? Why did that name sound so familiar? He looked back at the other guard to get help but found that guy scowling and tightly gripping his weapon. Seeing him like that it finally dawned on him: This shameless bastard! He was actually talking about their Son of Heaven!

He turned back to Qiu Ling, scowling just like the other guard. "I'm afraid there is nobody like this here, Longjun. Please turn back!" What a joke! He wouldn't let this guy in no matter what! How dare he have indecent thoughts about this holy person?!

Qiu Ling's expression darkened and for the first time in a long while he took the pain of remembering an unimportant face. Tch, he'd find that guy later and beat him up when nobody saw! This lowlife was obviously having thoughts about his beloved!

"Oh? You want me to turn back?" His eyes blazed with fury. Nobody would separate him and his beloved!

Before the guard had any chance to respond Qiu Ling's hand shot forward and had the god tumble several steps back. Qiu Ling snorted.

"Hmph. Better go and train a bit before you try to do something like this again!"

Then, he strode through the gates without as much as glancing at the second guard. Ah, he had no time. He had to go and find his beloved Jing He. But where should he find him?

He stopped and looked around. Mn, it seemed his beloved had said he'd spend his time with his father today? Then he'd certainly go to the Heavenly Emperor's palace! Finally, with a direction in mind, Qiu Ling hurried to the palace he had hated until today. Now, it seemed like the most beautiful place in all the realms.

Unfortunately, this impression turned out to be a fallacy. Neither the Heavenly Emperor nor Jing He were there.

Qiu Ling instantly became depressed. Where was his beloved? He wanted to see him so badly! With no better idea at hand, he started to wander about. He had no idea that him more or less breaking into the Nine Heavens had already raised a fuzz among the guards. Instead, he just roamed about, trying to get an impression of this place. Mn, the capital of the Nine Heavens was actually looking quite good. As expected of the birthplace of his beloved!

Ah, the only thing that was missing to make this morning perfect was ... Uh? Wasn't that his beloved?

Qiu Ling stopped and blinked to make sure he hadn't seen wrong. Indeed. That was his beloved, the Son of Heaven. Jing He, too, had stopped. He had just left his palace to go and visit his father but now he was suddenly faced with this person. He didn't know what to do.