A Crown for a Tail

Sharpening the Axe

Kunlun Mountain

Watching Qian Qian leave, Ye Hua immediately dropped the insolent look of defiance as Mo Yuan took hold of his arm, giving him no choice but to accompany him back to Kunlun Mountain.

"Not one-word Ye Hua." Mo Yuan said in his deep throaty voice, as they left in a puff of silver smoke, ending the journey sharply as he was roughly forced to his knees in Mo Yuans study.

Taking a seat at his desk Mo Yuan glared down at his brother. That he had disappeared without a word, knowing his position demanded that he not only register his whereabouts at all times, to have so blatantly disrespected him and with a girl no less unruly, he could not help but wonder where the boys head was at.

Obviously, he had been influenced by her, running about dressed as a man and with such a naughty disposition, one he had never seen the likes of for a very long time, that had him thinking of the girl. He didn't believe for a minute that they had married let alone had a child. For one, she was too young, and secondly, Ye Hua would not have been able to hide such a big secret, he was too honest and far too sensible. Or at least he thought he was.

But there was something about her, he couldn't quite put his finger on. She felt familiar, an essence he had once known, and that had him asking his first question. Because she was clearly the reason for the mess his brother was in.

"Who is she?" he finally asked after several minutes of making him wait.

Pressing his lips together tightly, Ye Hua refused to not only answer the question, but he refused to look up or even acknowledge it.

For one, he was not sure how the disclosure of her identity would be taken. She was no ordinary girl, nor was she some one-night flyer of which he had had many. She was a Queen of the largest and wealthiest Realms of their world, which meant her station outranked every female he knew, including his own mother.

And it was her station and rank that was on his mind. If it became known that she had shared 2 weeks in seclusion with him, it could well affect not only her reputation but that of Qing Qiu, and unfortunately in their world, the higher one stood, the greater the fall.

And should it become known that she had been in his company in the mortal realm for a week, that would only increase the damage against her, possibly ending any future, he may have had with her. And that meant, he needed Mo Yuans help.

"Ye Hua, do you have any idea of the trouble you are in, or the trouble that has been brewing since your disappearance? Do you have any idea that your whole life is about to be turned upside down because of that girl? He asked softly breaking into his thoughts, but the darkening of his eyes contradicted it.

"Now answer the question! Who is she?" he asked one final time.

Biting his bottom lip, his eyes raised to look at his brother, but the look he was giving him, had Mo Yuan wondering if perhaps his brother had got himself in deeper than he had imagined. It was clear to Mo Yuan that he was weighing his options, and that had him leaning in closer.

"Ye Hua, I might be your overall caregiver, but I am also your brother. Have I not stood by you when you have needed me?" he asked lowering his tone. "Whoever she is, it is too late now to hide it, and whatever trouble you might be in regarding her, I will help you through it." He said letting his anger rest as he waited.

Having come to a decision, Ye Hua sat up straight and looked directly at his brother. "Before I give you her name Da Ge, I need you to understand, I am in love with her, and I want her for my wife. I have already approached her family, and with their permission I was granted a 4-week marriage trial of which we have already completed 2. And though I have been less than honourable by taking liberties with her, I have every intention of upholding her position and rank by fulfilling my agreement with her father and marrying her." He said before stopping and waiting.