A Tale of Loyalty and Desire

Chapter 3 - Intrigue

After Xiang Ru gave his greetings towards Jin Qiu, nothing really happened. The man didn't try to do anything even when all the servants were being rude to him. Not only the servants, but the nobles also started to openly talk bad about Jin Qiu.

His work as a double agent also proceeds smoothly. Not much information he could get from either the Western Continent or Jin Family.

And in order to keep his disguise as the Emperor's lover, every day he wears all kinds of luxurious items.

He spends time with nobles. He knew what they wanted. They wish he would talk well about them to the Emperor, and that way, they will get something more from the Emperor. Disgusting, but he really was used to things like that. The warlords also getting close to him, including the young Imperial Doctor who seemed unapproachable.

The young doctor is cute, so he really likes to tease the male.

He can say that all the warlords are on good terms with him, except for one. Pan Zhiqiang. The man is still suspicious of him.

And if he makes just one mistake, Pan Zhiqiang will definitely become the first person to get rid of him.

He let out a sigh and stepped out from his room.

He wandered around the palace for a moment before he stopped by the guard's quarter.

For a moment, he just stood by the side and watched them train.

He could fight, but he couldn't fight like those guards. He couldn't use a sword. He couldn't fight fairly. In his eyes, they're people he would never be able to become. He wants to be like them, but that would be impossible. After all, he never knew how to live like them. He never knew how to live like a proper person.

"Master Xiang?" One of the guards approached the moment he noticed that Xiang Ru was watching them train. "Do you want to join us?"

Xiang Ru chuckled for a bit. "Join you? Do you think someone as beautiful as me needs to lift up a sword to protect myself?" He asked back, getting into his seducing character like always. "I believe His Majesty would protect me."

"Well... that's true, but you can always try." The guard smiled innocently. He's still too young to get seduced by Xiang Ru's smile, words, or movement. He holds the sword he's holding towards the other man.

"Like I told you, I ..." Xiang Ru stared at the sword without finishing his sentence. He never held a sword before.

He thought that he was really going crazy. Because instead of refusing it like he always does, Xiang Ru grabbed the sword's hilt. Unexpectedly, the sword felt quite heavy. And even though he said no, he still followed to the middle of the field.

The guard from before carefully teaching Xiang Ru on how to wield the sword and some simple movements that could be used by a swordsman.

It's weird, but Xiang Ru felt happy just knowing about it. It felt like he got a new knowledge and wanted to test it out right away.

He closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath as the world around him seemed to still. The faint hum of cicadas faded, leaving only the sound of his heartbeat and the whisper of wind through the leaves. With a sudden motion, he began. The sword flowed like water, slicing through the air with precise elegance. His movements were a dance, each step grounded yet ethereal, as if he were gliding over the earth. The blade spun in arcs, catching the light like flashes of lightning.

His arms extended gracefully, the sword tracing patterns in the air-a phoenix in flight, a dragon coiling through the heavens. Each turn and leap seemed to tell a story, his body a canvas painted with centuries of discipline and artistry. But all of a sudden, a man appeared behind him and grabbed his wrist softly.