Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Brothers Return
A whole day passes as Tao walks around his home a nervous wreck.
"Don't worry Tao the palace can easily pay for the repairs!" Lei says cheerily.
Tao sighs as he approaches part of the mansion that is destroyed. "I hope so...My father is going to kill me..."
"I am so sorry Tao..." Iolene says softly as she bows in their custom.
"You better be sorry! Look at the state of my home!" Tao shrieks and storms off.
Iolene places her hand over her mouth. Trying her hardest not to show her nervousness.
Lei remains stoic as he watches the small thin man, trying his hardest to be intimidating. "He will be fine!" As Lei quickly turns and looks at Iolene.
Iolene remains quiet. She couldn't stop thinking about what Epithymia did. She killed people...
Lei tilts his head as he waves his hand in front of her face. She snaps out of her blank stare and tries her hardest to smile. Herself feeling the guilt of actions she did not commit and destroying Tao's home.
"BLONDIE!" Fred shouts as he stomps over to her.
She looks up as he towers over her. "Hello, Frederick... My name is Iolene. Eye-oh-leen. Not blondie..." She says as politely as possible. She herself remembering their last encounter.
"Nope... You get the name of blondie... A very beautiful young blonde! And you can call me Fred." Fred moves his eye brows up and down, as Lei sneakily steps between the two.
"I have a nickname for you! And it is an asshole!" Lexi yells as she walks out from the women servant quarters.
"And yours is Bitch..." Fred says with venom in his voice.
"Good! Glad you learned quickly!" Lexi then quickly grabs Iolene by the shoulders and pulls her away.
"Uh, excuse me! We were talking!" Fred shouts angrily. Lexi replies by flipping her middle finger.
Lei stands in front of Fred blocking the way. Trying to make easy conversation as Fred ignores him.
Iolene and Lexi join Aaron, Mali, Stein, Iymp, Ponderrah, and Beau. Iolene stands next to Aaron as he glances at her and then looks at Beau.
"Alright Beau, try again," Stein says with a stern face.
Beau scrunches his face and growls as his body began to glow gold.
It was a few minutes until he stops. Heavily breathing and lowers his head.
"Beau, You must master this!" Stein sounding urgent. "Otherwise we cannot let you leave this building... Use Ponderrah as inspiration."
Beau takes a large deep breath in and tries attempting again. A bright flash happens. Everyone covers their eyes.
Beau's scales have changed colour! His legs turned violet, the top half of his head is dark blue, his chest turned black, spikes turned light blue, tail turned grey, as his gold markings remained.
Beau roars gently asking how he looks. Iymp translates to humans. Aaron tries his hardest not to laugh.
"Beau, you look like an... Unpleasant painting..." Iolene says as kindly as she could.
"Do you really want me to tell you?" Lexi being blunt. "Cause you look horrible."
Beau takes another deep breath as another flash of bright light happens.
It was a moment when they look at Beau. His scales have changed colour again. His black and gold markings have changed into a dark blue body with light blue markings.
"Much better!" Iolene claps happily.
Lexi nods in approval.
Beau looks down at his claws. He smiles and sighs with relief.
Mali takes another drink of sake and sighs with relief.
"I had no idea dragons can do that..." Aaron asks Stein as he looks at Beau.
"Gold dragons can. But Beau still needs to be careful. It's only a disguise, it cannot mask his gold energy." Stein says as he makes sure all of Beau's scales have changed colour.
Lei and Fred walk into the study.
"Beau you look great! You can blend in." Lei says with an innocent smile. "Alright, I shall head back to the palace. Speak to mother and father..."
"Good luck Lei!" Iolene says. "Come back to us soon."
Lei then grabs Ponderrahs special lead and heads out of Taos Wen's home. He looks back at the mansion. No visible damage seen from the outside.
"Come on boy!" Lei gets on his saddle and races through the city. The snow has melted as the Biru tree's leaves have changed from white to a beautiful light shade of pink.
His citizens are enjoying the change of seasons and have changed into spring wear. So many pastel colours can be seen throughout the city. Spring dancing has started as music can be heard in the distance. A gentle breeze flowing past him. He takes a deep breath of fresh hair. The smell of food from the street markets almost made him drool...
"Such a beautiful day Ponderrah!" Lei says happily. Ponderrah squeaks in reply.
It wasn't long until he reached the palace. He walks into the throne room where his emotionless mother sits. He passes many citizens and nobles who await to see the Empress outside.
He enters and sees his mother sitting regally. Wearing elaborate royal pastel pink robes. Her long hair wrapped around a large gold-coloured disc. Her face painted with dark eyeliner and pink eyeshadow. Still looking intimidating. Lei's oldest brother Grand Prince Chin stands next to her as heir. Remaining frozen as emotionless as she.
"Welcome home son..." She says in her monotone voice.
Lei dismounts and walks forward to the throne. The air felt tense than what it did outside. The Empress remains still on her glowing blue draconium throne. Lei didn't know what to say as there is too many people lurking around. So it was silent between the three.
"Meet with your father he should be meditating in the garden of peace..." Then dismisses Lei.
"Yes, mother." Lei bows and leaves the throne room. He was hoping for more of a reunion. But it is normal protocol... Nothing can be done about it.
A servant guides Ponderrah back to his room. As Lei walks through the palace reaching the garden of peace. Lei sees his father kneeling on the flat rock near the pond. Surrounded by candles and humming to himself.
"Hello, Lei..." The Emperor says as he turns around.
"Hello, father." Lei bows and then kneels next to him.
"Are they gone?" Lei asks as quietly as possible. Lei trying to be discreet about the Black Empire snoops.
"Yes... They left a few days ago... They still have their suspicions. However, they couldn't prove anything as they didn't see it. They learned only by word of mouth. Sazan still remains here in the palace... He is still untrustworthy. Your mother is still eyeing him like a hawk."
"Now that the weather has improved. It will be harder to keep him here..."
"The wedding will be soon, and his daughter Okimi will be attending. It will be a grave offense to refuse a royal invite."
"Wait... He is coming to the wedding?" Lei says as he tries to hide his surprised face.
"We have no choice... If we don't invite Sazan Jona. The southerners will be offended. We cannot give them any reasons to hate us. And if Sazan refused he would be the one at fault. Too bad he accepted the invitation."
Lei sighs... It's a never-ending dance. One takes a step, then the other one follows as they go in circles. Well, I guess this dance is better than civil war...
"Wouldn't it be dangerous though?" Lei asks with concern.
"We must not show fear to our enemies Lei. We face them. Chin and Shu Lan understand..." The whole time in the conversation his father looked straight at the garden. The grass now showing a beautiful green with butterflies flying around the various flowers. It is so quiet and serene compared to the bustle and hub of the city.
"Yes, father... No fear..." As Lei faces his father and smiles. "Also father... I wish to train to fight, like Chin and Fen."
"Hm... Was not expecting that from you, Lei... I shall ask the elder priests to train you. It will be grueling."
"Yes, father... I know... I remember..." As Lei clenches his fist. Trying his hardest not to show his nerves. He knows training in the ancient martial arts of Hua Rue, will be difficult. But after leaving the city he quickly realised he isn't the best fighter. Cooking amazing food isn't enough. And with everything happening with the south it's best to be prepared.
"In a change of subject. Did Iolene get dealt with?"
Lei tells the story in detail of how Iolenes soul was sucked out to the part she wakes up a week later. Including details of Aarons and Beau's transformation.
"Fascinating... If only the mirror remained intact. Could have studied to see what happened to Aaron and Beau." It was quiet for a moment after that. Then the Emperor takes a deep breath in and begins to sing in the ancient dialect.
Lei closes his eyes as he listens to the beauty of his fathers' voice. Nothing can be more relaxing than this... It brings back wonderful memories of when he was a young boy. When his family meditated together. Even times when Shun Shun sings with his dragon voice. It was so peaceful... Lei couldn't help but smile.
The emperor stops singing. "It's wonderful to see you son. Let Stein know it is safe for them to return."
"Thank you, father..." Lei stands up and bows to his father.
Lei happily enters the castle as someone leaps and pushes him to the ground!
"HELLO LEI!"
Lei's face planted onto the wooden floor. Struggles as much as he could. Groaning and shuffling while kicking with his legs.
"GET OFF! I DEMAND IT! This is not how you treat a prince!" Lei demands.
"Too bad I'm a prince too!" As the mysterious man forces his weight onto Lei.
Lei stops and freezes as he realises who it exactly is.
"Cheng!" Lei shouts.
"Hello, little brother!" As he finally lets Lei go.
Cheng the second son of Empress Zhen. Not the most handsome man with his overly rounded face and short stature. He has the brashest attitude amongst the siblings and not as bright. Lei hasn't seen him for months since he had to travel south for political reasons. While also meeting his new betrothed. He has returned for Chin's wedding, which is being held in a week.
Lei gets up as fast as can and punches Cheng on the chest. He laughs as he barely budges.
"So you are finally back! How is the south?" Lei says as she shakes his hand after the punch.
"What can I say? The south is the south. Different accents, different foods, they think they are better than everyone else. I hate it there and I hate them..." Cheng says as he starts to walk off. Lei quickly follows.
"Is your betrothed here?" Lei questions. He is curious about meeting her.
"Yes, she is... She is boring and timid like a shy dog. If she is around let me know... I'm trying to avoid her. Being stuck in a carriage with her for the trip is hard enough."
"That is mean Cheng... She is stuck in the same situation as you. She cannot be that bad..." Lei says as they reach Cheng's room.
"Says the brother who made a huge scandal to get out of a betrothal..." As Cheng turns around with his brows lowered.
"That is not fair Cheng... I did not choose that... I would have married Mai. If... Sazan did not make a huge mess of things." Lei says as he remembers what Okimi told him about what her father said. His parents made him leave home on a mission so the scandal can die down.
"You wouldn't have consummated though. She doesn't have the parts you like..." Cheng says smarmily.
"It is nice seeing you again Cheng..." Lei says as he leaves. Cheng happily replies to him. "It's nice seeing you too Lei!" As Cheng shuts the door behind him.