A Lifetime's Flower Never Wilts (BL)

Chapter 20

"Your Majesty!"

"Father, I'm sure His Majesty has his own reasoning for announcing it to us in this meeting." Zhan Mu steadily cupped his hands and bowed. "Your Majesty, Zhan Mu is unable to comprehend your meaning for telling this subject of your secret deeds. Do elaborate it clearly, Your Majesty."

"This country's been hoarded by countless schemes, spilling blood and rivers of tears all over the country. Zhen is unable to help his people out in the open. All eyes on the palace. On Zhen. Zhen needs a capable and trustworthy person to lead the organization. So that the people will at least have someone to lead them, to save them. Mu er, won't you help to realize this dream of Zhen?"

"Your Majesty..." King Lie lowered his head even downwards. The Emperor's request was akin to asking Zhan Mu to take the throne. How could His Majesty ask of such a thing?

"Yes, Your Majesty. Mu er will not disappoint you."

"Mu er!" King Lie was flabbergasted by his son's quick reply.

"Lie Di, I've trusted Mu er even more than my own children. I believe he'd do much better than them."

"But...!" He continued to make his attempt on protest. But seeing the Emperor had raised his hand, he quieted down once more.

"...Mu er, Li gonggong will bring you to meet the third in command. They will give you further explanations of the organization. Zhen still has things to discuss with your father. So we will stay here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The scar-faced Li gonggong reappeared from the shadow. He gestured to Zhan Mu with all due respect, leading him through the hidden entrance, meanwhile, King Lie remained with the Emperor to discuss some other business.

Zhan Mu walked through the dark, hidden underground tunnels following Li gonggong who was used to the cross-cutting tunnels. It led them all the way out of the palace, to the basement of a shop.

A beautiful man was sitting on a chair drinking his tea in leisure when he entered through the tunnel. For a second there, Zhan Mu thought he'd saw a second person's facial resemblance so similar to his lost lover again. The man was wearing all black and his pair of eyes so mesmerizing they were good blunt weapons for killing. But the aura he gave out differ than Rui Zhen.

Li gonggong introduced them both.

"Zhan Mu, son of King Lie. This is Su Xing Chen, the third in command in Sacred Phoenix, Lian Country's Su family's current head."

Lian Country... Su family...

Zhan Mu was indeed surprised at the introduction.

"Why is the Su family involved in our country's matter? Li gonggong."

The eunuch bowed to both and retired away, back into the alley of shadows. Zhan Mu was left with Su Xing Chen, beginning of a round of staring contest with Zhan Mu retreating at the end.

Su Xing Chen smiled with a pleasing victory. He spoke.

"I see that you've come. Here, we do not call one another by names. As white as a piece of paper, glittery shine like the jewels, the Pearls, as common merchants and trading companies, they trade news and rumors for the organization."

He placed a pearl on the table, then a golden feather on its right.

"Gold as you can see, representing the nobles and the Imperial family. Those involved in the organization will have a golden feather to represent them. Jade, the skillful ones infiltrates the military and the government officials. Stones as many and scattered, they were the organization's subordinates and the citizens of this country. And lastly but not the least, Ruby. As beautiful as they are, trained under the Su family, we deal with troublesome and dangerous situations, and I am the leader of such faction. Meanwhile you, you will be leading the Gold faction. Never hesitate. Never show empathy nor sympathy but loyalty to the Emperor."