The Legend of Moonflower

Chapter 14 - Lust and Lashings

A/N: 擇善固執 Chinese idiom - Insist on the righteous cause. Choose to do good and hold to it.

Wei Ying was terribly bored. He spent the last shichen watching the emperor go through scroll after scroll. He had to admit, he did like this study better than the grand study in the outer chambers. It was smaller and cozier; the decorations were a definitive reflection of the current emperor. He walked around the study for what must have been the tenth time, staring at the same planters filled with moonflowers, gazing at the paintings done by famous painters, and he once again touched the carved jade statue of a wolf sitting on a hilltop. He paused to admire the large scroll with the words 擇善固執. The calligraphy was distinguished yet exquisite and he wasn't surprised when he saw Lan Zhan's seal on the bottom right corner of the scroll.

Eunuch Nie eyed him warily as he made his round. During his first turn about the room, he had sensed the head eunuch's stress when he touched a couple of items. Now in his tenth round, he made sure to touch everything.

"Wei Ying, come sit," Lan Zhan said with a sigh. "You're making Nie gong gong nervous."

He flashed a smile at the eunuch. "You mean even more nervous than he usually is?" He giggled when Eunuch Nie let out an indignant huff. Deciding he was done touring the room, he sat down on the floor cushion next to Lan Zhan, inappropriately close for a servant. However, Lan Zhan had made it abundantly clear in the past week that he wanted him close. They still made sure to keep an appropriate distance outside of the inner chambers, but when it was just the two of them or if it was only a handful of eunuchs and servants attending them, Lan Zhan had no qualms about wrapping an arm around him and pulling him closer.

There was a light knock on the door and Eunuch Nie went over to answer the door. After a short conversation the eunuch returned. "Your majesty, Second Attendant Minshan has gone into heat."

Wei Ying didn't know why, but the eunuch's words had him inching away from the emperor. Lan Zhan didn't let him get far, circling his hand around his waist and pulling him so close he almost fell into the alpha's lap. He sat glued to Lan Zhan's side trying to understand why the alpha wasn't getting ready to leave to attend to the second attendant.

"Your majesty, don't you have to go?" he said, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice. His stomach felt unsettled and his wolf was discontent at the idea of the alpha going off to be with another omega in heat. The worst part was he knew he had no right to feel this way. He was a mere servant and even if he wasn't, even if he was an omega in Lan Zhan's harem, he'd still be required to share the emperor.

"No," the alpha said, continuing to review a scroll.

"But the second attendant is in heat," he stated.

It was Eunuch Nie who stepped in to explain. Wei Ying raised his eyebrows when the eunuch recounted the actions that led up to the punishments that were given to both of the omegas.

Relief at not having to watch the emperor leave to attend to the second attendant had Wei Ying feeling a little frivolous. He leaned over and whispered into the alpha's ear. "Lan Zhan, isn't it a punishment for you as well? Missing out on getting to fuck an omega in heat?"

Lan Zhan's fingers dug into his waist and Wei Ying gasped.

"Does Wei Ying wish for me to leave? I can rescind my punishment." Lan Zhan's face was impassive, but the heavy scent of his arousal told a different story.

Wei Ying couldn't help the irritated whine that escaped his lips.

Lan Zhan's mouth curled up into a smug smirk. "Is Wei Ying jealous?"