Romancing the Son of Heaven

Stratagem 4: Choose a Heartfelt Present (4)

Author's Note: Sorry about yesterday! I didn't sleep much so I honestly just forgot to update. There'll be two chapters today instead to make up for it ~

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Jing He closed his eyes and continued to cling to the cupboard with trembling limbs. Ah ... Even until now nobody had come by. If Longjun hadn't left on his own ... Who knew what might have happened already?

It couldn't go on like this. He couldn't just wait for the dragon king to come back and do what he had threatened him with. He had to get help.

Jing He cracked his eyes open and looked up to the chest with the heart. He wasn't sure what kind of creature it had come from but it was bigger than that of a god. Most likely it had been some kind of beast and Longjun had taken it down all by himself. In that case, there was only one person that could help.

Jing He pulled himself up on the edge of the cupboard and dusted his clothes off. He definitely couldn't let anybody see him like this. And Longjun had just left. It would be strange if he came back already. He should be safe until tomorrow at the very least.

Jing He went over to the table beside his bed and sat down. He took another deep breath and picked up his comb, slowly going through all the strands of his hair that had scattered when he fell down.

Only when the image reflected back in the mirror resembled his usual self again did he get up and walk back into the front part of his chambers. He sat down at the table and lightly called out toward the door. "Huang Lan."

One of the guards in front of the door turned to the side and bowed even though Jing He couldn't see him from inside the palace. "I'm here, Your Highness."

Jing He gave a relieved sigh. He didn't like having many people around so his uncle had long since sent the same guards to him. Hearing that nothing had happened to them set his heart at ease. "Please go and ask the God of War over to my palace."

Huang Lan gave pause but finally acknowledged the command. "Yes, Your Highness." His steps retreated in the usual firm manner, calming Jing He even more.

Yes, he didn't have to worry too much. Longjun hadn't attacked his guards so not all civility had been let go of yet. There might be a way to salvage the situation. He would first check with his uncle and depending on what he thought about the matter they could decide on further steps.

At the same time, Huang Lan rushed into the God of War's palace. As one of the guards sent to guard the crown prince, he didn't need the others to announce him. He ran to the God of War's study unhindered and bowed. "Greetings! His Highness requests your presence in his palace."

"Mn, he can come —" Qiang Yan stopped and looked up incredulously. "Wait, what? My nephew asked for me to come over?"

Huang Lan nodded.

Qiang Yan looked at the scrolls of paper on his table, then leaped to his feet. He grabbed his sword on the way out and ran all the way to Jing He's palace. Don't kid him! This wasn't his nephew's normal behavior.

He would never ask people over. He would always send a servant to ask if people were busy and only when he got the message that they weren't would he go and visit them. But he would always go over himself. Sure, people often didn't bother to send a message back and just went over to his palace immediately as if he had summoned them. But that wasn't because he asked them to but because they were embarrassed to have the Son of Heaven walk over to their palace while they comfortably sat in their chairs.

"Jing He!" Qiang Yan didn't bother with formalities and rushed into the palace. Seeing his nephew sit there with a pale face he hurried over, slammed his sword onto the table and knelt down beside Jing He, looking him all over.