The Legend of Moonflower

Chapter 20 - Swordsmen and Soulmates

A/N: Idiom

日暮途穷 Rì mù tú qióng The day is ending and the road narrows.  Meaning: The end game is upon us or the end is near.

There was something about Wei Ying's shixiong that Lan Zhan didn't like. When the aloof and stern alpha entered the palace, he introduced himself as Song Zichen. After Wei Ying greeted his shixiong, with an abundance of excitement, the omega affectionately introduced him to everyone as Song Lan.

Lan Zhan's dislike for the swordsman was not because the first attendant hadn't stopped smiling since he saw Song Zichen, nor did it stem from how the omega hadn't left his shixiong's side for the better part of the last half of a shichen. No, none of those reasons were what had Lan Zhan wanting to unleash his wolf.

When Wei Ying greeted his shixiong, the alpha had looked him over carefully and then asked if he was okay. Only after Wei Ying answered and assured him that he was absolutely fine, did Song Zichen's posture seem to relax. From the moment he arrived and while they waited for Wei Ying, the alpha looked prepared to fight. He'd answered any question directed at him with the least number of words possible and with little to no expression on his face. However, now as he listened to his shidi ramble on about how he'd been practising some new sword moves, the alpha smiled warmly at Wei Ying ... and only Wei Ying.

The teacup in Lan Zhan's hand was in danger of being reduced to dust. He set it down with a thud.

Lan Zhan felt a rush of warmth as the omega finally turned his attention to him.

"Your majesty," Wei Ying said, his face clouded with concern. "I apologize. We must be keeping you from your work. I'll just have shixiong come to my ..."

"First Attendant Wuxian," Eunuch Nie interrupted, "your shixiong must be tired from his travels. A room has been prepared for him in the western guest quarters."

"Guest quarters? Oh but..."

"First attendant, it is getting late and we wouldn't want Concubine Zizhen to get into trouble," A-Qing reminded.

Once again, Lan Zhan silently thanked Wen Ning for suggesting A-Qing as a servant for Wei Ying. The servant was smart to appeal to Wei Ying by bringing attention to Concubine Zizhen's welfare. Wei Ying was impetuous at best when it came to his own safety, but he'd never let another that he cared about get into trouble because of him.

"Of course," Wei Ying quickly agreed. "We wouldn't want the empress dowager knowing we weren't back in the inner palace for our evening meal."

Wei Ying bid his shixiong goodbye and the alpha took his leave but not before paying his respects to the emperor. Lan Zhan could tell Song Zichen was still skeptical of him by the way he eyed him when he bowed.

"Your majesty, will you be joining First Attendant Wuxian for the evening meal?" A-Qing asked after Eunuch Nie led Song Zichen away.

He could see Wei Ying looking at him with apprehension and realized that his silence and whatever expression was on his face was causing the first attendant some concern. "I will," he replied.

"How long have you known your shixiong?" Ouyang Zizhen asked while they began their walk back to the inner palaces.

"Since I was about six-years-old. He was ten but seemed much older, and was really cold and aloof. The first time I reached out to him he jumped back.  Afterwards, I found out that he doesn't like people touching him," Wei Ying said. "He still doesn't really."

"He didn't seem to mind too much when you touched him today," Zizhen stated.

Lan Zhan wondered the same thing since Song Zichen didn't seem in any way bothered by the way Wei Ying touched his arm to get his attention or to direct him somewhere.