Indebted marriage

Fourty two

The Price of Fury

WEEEIIIYYYYIIINGGGGG.........

The courtyard smelled of blood and fear.

Weiying stood at the center, the air around him thick with dark magic. The maids and servants writhed on the ground, coughing, choking, blood streaming from eyes, nose, ears. Shadows coiled at his feet like living serpents, drawn from the deepest wells of his ancient power.

"Weiying!" Yibo's voice was sharp, cutting through the screams, but it barely reached him. The witch in him — the part older and darker than the palace itself — was in full command.

"They will pay," Weiying said coldly, voice laced with an otherworldly echo. "They thought I was powerless... that they could touch my children."

Yibo adjusted his hold on their youngest, the little boy buried into his father's chest, sensing the danger but too exhausted from earlier crying to move. "My love, if you keep going, they will all die. And so will you," Yibo urged, stepping closer.

The shadows trembled. Weiying's breathing was growing heavier, the strain beginning to show. His hands shook, magic still pouring out in waves.

"Enough."

Yibo reached him just as Weiying swayed — and in that instant, the power broke, dispersing into the air with a shattering crack. Weiying's eyes flickered between black-violet and their normal shade before rolling back.

"Weiying!"

Yibo lunged forward, catching him with one arm while holding the boy in the other. The witch's weight was limp and frighteningly light. His skin was cold, his pulse faint but there.

The courtyard was silent now except for the whimpers of injured servants. They dared not move under the King's gaze.

Yibo's voice was ice. "If any of you value your life, you will crawl to the infirmary — and pray I never hear your voice again. You are dismissed from the royal household. Permanently."

No one argued. Some crawled away, some were dragged by others, but all knew the truth — they had escaped death only because the King had intervened.

Without another word, Yibo turned on his heel, cradling Weiying against him. The youngest clung to his father's robe, small face pressed into the curve of Yibo's neck.

⸻

In Their Chambers

The moment they reached the royal chambers, Yibo laid the little one in his crib, covering him with a warm blanket and brushing his hair back gently. The child whimpered once, then settled into sleep.

Then Yibo returned to the bed, Weiying still in his arms. He stripped off the witch's blood-splattered outer robe, revealing the thin silk beneath, and began checking him for injuries. His hands moved with care but urgency — wiping away the sweat at his temple, massaging his cold fingers, pressing a warm cloth against his forehead.

"Fool," Yibo murmured, though his tone trembled with fear, not anger. "You burned yourself out again... for them. For our children."

Weiying stirred faintly, eyelids fluttering, lips parting in a whisper. "They touched... my baby..."

"I know," Yibo soothed, pouring a bitter herbal draught and coaxing it to his lips. "I know, love. But you don't have to destroy yourself to protect them. That's my job too."

Weiying swallowed slowly, grimacing at the taste, but didn't fight him. His eyes closed again, breathing evening out as the potion began to restore a little warmth to his body.

Yibo tucked the quilt up to his chin, then sat beside him, keeping one hand wrapped firmly around his. He didn't look away from him even when the door opened.

⸻

The King's Judgment

Lan Xichen stepped into the chamber quietly. "How is he?"

"Drained," Yibo replied shortly. "He'll recover — if I make sure no one else forces him to bleed power like that again."

Xichen's gaze was steady. "And the maids?"

"Gone," Yibo said flatly. "The rest will be... reminded of their place."

That night, under the King's orders, the palace hierarchy was restructured. The nursery was placed under direct royal guard — no servant could enter without written permission from either Yibo or Weiying. The names of those dismissed were blacklisted across every noble house.

By dawn, fear had replaced gossip in the servant corridors. Everyone knew: the King might forgive insults to himself, but harm the Queen or the royal children, and you would be lucky to leave with your life.

⸻

Back in the bedchamber, Yibo remained by Weiying's side, one hand curled around his pale fingers, the other resting lightly over his heart.

"I'll protect you, too," Yibo murmured softly, though Weiying was asleep. "From enemies... and from yourself."

The youngest stirred in his crib, a quiet, content sound. And for the first time that night, Yibo allowed himself to breathe.

Heyyyy little lovely birdiesss......your authy loves you all a lot. Next chapter is ready and being posted right now. Sorry for this delay and as an apology let me give you double update with little spicy one 😏😏😏

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