Royal Problems

Chapter 9- What?!

   It was a few days after Mingmei had arrived and it was chaos. Xingchen would have to separate Xue Yang and the woman because they were always fighting, and it was starting to frustrate him.
   He was in the training room with Xue Yang, practicing hand on hand combat. This was one of the ways he let his emotions out.
   "And...go!" Xue Yang yelled and Xingchen aimed a punch at the man's face only to be met by a hand, "By the way, what's this I hear about you marrying someone?" He asked as he threw a kick.
   Xingchen blocked the kick and said, "We can talk about it later," he tried to kneel Xue Yang's stomach but he was blocked before he could even close.
    "But I want to know," Xue Yang said, "so tell me or I'm not letting you win."
    Xingchen scoffed, "All I have to say is 'I'm hurt!' And you'll get distracted."
    "True...but you haven't answered my question," Xue Yang said, standing up straight.
    Xingchen stopped with a sigh, "Fine, but you have to promise to not get mad."
    "I promise," Xue Yang said, "now tell me."
    "I have an arranged marriage with Princess Mingmei and I said yes," Xingchen said in a flash.
    "Wait..." Xue Yang stood there for a minute to comprehend everything, "you WHAT?!"
    Xingchen winced at the noise, "I said yes."
    "But why?" Xue Yang said, "No that's it, you're canceling this wedding."
    "I can't, my parents want me to marry someone and why not marry her," Xingchen said, "this would form an alliance between our kingdoms too."
    "No, you're going to go out there and tell them that you can't marry her," Xue Yang said.
    "Why?" Xingchen asked.
    "Because I said so, now go!" Xue Yang said.
    "I don't have to do what you ask me to do! I'm my own person and you can't change that!" Xingchen yelled, a good thing the room was noise proof.
   "But do you love her? You don't love her! Do you?! No! You don't love her, you only think of her as a friend!" Xue Yang yelled back.
    "So what?! I can still marry her!" Xingchen said, "Why do you hate the fact about me marrying someone so badly?!"
    "It's because I love you!" Xue Yang yelled, "There I said it, I fucking love you!"
     Xingchen was dumbfounded, "You...you what?"
     "I love you, alright?" Xue Yang said, "I've been in love with you for a long time, why do you think I never killed you?"
     "Bu-but how?" Xingchen stuttered.
    "Oh don't give me that shit," Xue Yang said, "you can't tell me that all those times we fucked you didn't get butterflies. Or when we comforted each other you didn't feel your heart beating in your chest. Or every time we cuddled after fucking you didn't feel warm and happy inside. You can't tell me you didn't feel that."
    "If you loved me you would be happy at the idea of me getting married! And what if I don't?" Xingchen dared to ask.
    "Then I don't want to love you, I CAN'T love you, and I'm afraid we are strangers now," Xue Yang said before walking out of the room with tears in his eyes. Once he was out of sight Xingchen fell to his knees, he let out a chocked sob and felt his heart physically break.
    He sobbed into his hands and he felt his head start hurting. He heard the door open and wiped his tears, he stood up quickly and was met by Song Lan's concerned eyes.
     "Your majesty, are you alright? You look as if you had just been crying, and I just saw Chengmei walk out of here. Did something happen between you two?" Song Lan asked, he knew that the two men loved each other.
    Xingchen broke down at the sound of Xue Yang's name, he threw his arms around Song Lan's neck and cried into the man's shoulder, "H-he...said we-we were s-strangers n-ow," he sobbed.
    Song Lan stood still, confused, he processed the words and finally a light bulb went off, "Oh, I understand now. Do you want me to do something?" He felt scared to hug the man back but pat his back softly.
    "I-I need a distraction," Xingchen said, "but I don-don't know w-what."
     "Would you like to go to a café?" Song Lan asked, "You used to love going to them when you were younger."
    Xingchen nodded, "Alright." They walked to the door where they were met by Mingmei.
    "Oh! Your majesty, I was just looking for you," she said bowing.
    He nodded and looked down, "Did you need something?"
     "Yes, I was wondering if you could come for a walk outside?" She asked, unknown to anybody she was listening in to Xingchen and Xue Yang's conversation.
     "I'm terribly sorry, but me and Song Lan have somewhere we need to go," Xingchen said starting to walk away.
     "Can I come?" She asked.
     "I'm afraid not, maybe another time," Xingchen said and with that he left with Song Lan leaving her alone.
     "Mother, he doesn't love me," she said, and from the shadows came Xingchen's mother, in her graceful white dress.
     "I'm sure he has something on his mind darling, just be patient, he's a tough one," the older woman said.
      "He loves that Chengmei man, I've seen it in his eyes. Doesn't he?" Mingmei said.
     "Of course he doesn't! Chengmei is his assistant, why would he love him?" Xingchen's mother said, "Now you go get ready because I have a plan."
     "What type of plan?"
     "Maybe a small date, maybe you two doing the deed and getting you pregnant. I so desperately need a grandchild," she said smiling.
    "Mother isn't it a bit too early for that?" Mingmei asked.
     "It's never too early for kids darling," she said, "now come with me. I need to give you something that will make you look irresistible."
     They went to the queen's room and searched for a dress that would make the woman look young and fresh. Maybe if she tried hard enough, Xingchen would love her.