Into the Array C9
Contemplating if I should make Cheng Chang, Kiku :x
Well, look who made it just in time for China's national birthday. ME! Just kidding, it was a coincidence.
I guess people on FF doesn't like smut given the reaction to the previous chapter ==
Anyway, as usual, please enjoy. And please pardon any grammatical error.
Muffled commotion drifted into Ivan's ear, he stirred but did not open his eyes. The bed is soft and smooth, comfortable and pleasantly warm against his bare skin. Ivan doesn't want this cosy sensation to end, at least not yet.
But the commotion outside seems to get louder, the racket culminated into a sharp holler and suddenly everything is quiet. The door was kicked open abruptly, startling Ivan awake. His nose was invaded by a similar flowery scent just like the ones he smelt yesterday, and before he can even possibly react, the hasty footstep moving towards his bed finally ended at his bed, the curtains covering his bed is pulled wide open. Invasive sunlight rushed in, blinding Ivan's eyes all at once.
'W-who are you?' Ivan stuttered out at the figure, raising his hands to his eyes to block the sunlight from behind.
'Get your filthy hands away from my brother.' it merely said.
Ivan looked back down and much to his surprise, he found Yao facing inwards and snuggled nicely right within his arms. How precious, Ivan thought. Still quite much smitten, yet still slightly embarrassed, Ivan's hand that was blocking the sunlight slowly descended, wanting to caress the creature snug tightly on him.
That hand however, was immediately stopped by a firm grip from the figure.
'Don't touch him.'
Ivan looked up again. His eyes have adjusted and he finally realise who this person is.
'11th Prince?'
'I am glad that you still know who I am.' Cheng Chang replied politely, even though annoyance is evident on his tone, his fingers tighten around Ivan's wrist.
Ivan look at that face, and understandably, Ivan's quick guess is that Cheng Chang have misunderstood what this compromising position with Yao must have meant to him.
'I-It's not what you think. We did absolutely nothing.' Ivan defended himself, and shifted his arms that was almost numb from Yao's weight.
'Don't move.' Cheng Chang warned sternly. Ivan immediately halt to a stop. He let go of Ivan's wrist, and bending downwards, he scoop Yao out of Ivan's arms with such gentleness unlike the characteristics of a man like the 11th Prince.
Ivan can only look on helplessly at Yao being taken away from him. He propped himself up and stare at the scene unfolding in front of him. Cheng Chang sat the sleeping body in a sitting position, raising his head up by the chin, he tenderly tuck Yao's stray hair away behind his ears and tidying up his attire that was slightly out of place from the night's sleep.
'Don't tell a soul about what happened yesterday night. It won't end well.' Cheng Chang finally said after everything. He carried Yao at his back, and covered him with long, thick and silky grey cape that hid the 9th Prince from sight.
'Is he okay? He didn't wake up after all these time.' Ivan asked in concern, a futile attempt at keeping him a little longer. Though it is weird that a man that constantly participated in war is still asleep after being handled like this.
'He did not have good sleep recently.' Cheng Chang lied, biting down that sharp pang of jealousy that prick at his prideful heart. He knew that the only reason why Yao slept so deeply is because he felt safe. But it's also a reason he will never tell Ivan, who is this foreigner anyway.
'Oh.. Okay.' Ivan replied, for he found nothing else he could say to keep Yao in his presence.
'You better cover yourself up, Sister Mu's servant will be here soon to fetch you. It's not that nice to be seen naked.' Cheng Chang taunted. 'Or is it.' he added subtly, raising his eyebrow after catching the sight of the puddle of gooey yellowed liquid that his shoes almost stepped on.
Cheng Chang did not wait for Ivan to reply and hastily moved out of the room, leaving the doors agape in exchange for walking a few more step away from the room. Yao's chin is leaning over his shoulder, and he can feel the tickle against his ear from Yao's steady breathing.
'Who said you're allowed to use my perfume?' a sleepy voice whispered against that same ear.
'You're awake.' Cheng Chang muttered in slight surprise.
He felt Yao's head nodding on his shoulder.
'Sleep a little more. We'll be reaching your house soon.'
Yao nodded with his eyes still closed, tightening his grip on his brother. He was so small when Yao first met him, and now is so tall and muscular that he is able to carry his older brother up. Ahhhh, time really have no mercy on people like him, Yao thought.
'Cheng Chang.' Yao mumbled casually.
'Hmm?'
'You've grown up.'
'You're not that old either, Brother Yao.' Cheng Chang chuckled.
'You know... Ivan told me he wanted to know my story, and to paint them out.'
Cheng Chang's eyes darkened.
'Do you think it will ever reach Father?'
Cheng Chang pondered on his brother's words. And for a long time, he did not know what to answer. He wants to know those stories too, he wants those stories to reach him too, but it always felt as though he is looking at Yao through the glass. Time passed by and he have no idea of how long it have been, that all he ever know is that it felt like forever. How funny it is, Cheng Chang thought, when sitting all alone and screaming inside your head feels like home.
He smiled and turned back at Yao. 'Maybe.'
'That sounds good enough.' Yao smiled.
Ivan was still reeling in excitement from that moment when he realise that he have been hugging the 9th prince, and the 9th prince have been snuggling up onto him the whole night. It felt surreal, almost like a dream if not for Cheng Chang's appearance.
He have barely managed to clean up the room and got dressed when Jin Xi came into the room with his bunch of 'friends', bringing in bowls of water, washing cloth and a set of summer attire, with that nasty usual: Gongs.
'Hmm!' Jin Xi knitted his brow, looking and moving around the room as he sniff dramatically around suspiciously in the room. 'The 9th Prince is here?'
'Eunuch Jin, the 11th prince was here. He informed us that he have some message from the Emperor to pass to Sir Ivan.' one of the men in blues informed.
'11th Prince!? How disgusting. Using the same scented water as the 9th Prince. Hanging out with the worst have indeed bring out the worst in him. Well well, it's not like the wretched blood in him that dilute the royal bloodline is going to help.' Jin Xi derided, rolling his eyes at the likes of princes whose hierarchy status is way out of the league above him.
Ivan looked up at the bunch of eunuch laughing at each other's distasteful jokes and asked in curiosity 'Wretched blood? What is a wretched blood? What does it got to do with Cheng Chang?'
His question seems to have piqued the gossiping nature of the eunuchs and Jin Xi and his gang quickly surround him and started chattering away the secrets in the palace. 'Wretched blood means that its blood that came from lowly commoners. Cheng Chang's mother was a lady in waiting for one of the back palace's concubine. Useless ones I tell you. Somehow magically, she caught the eyes of the Emperor. She must have used some black magic curses on him, if not how else would such a lowly creature even caught the eyes of the Emperor. Disgusting. Thankfully, she died giving birth to that lowly 11th prince of hers.' Jin Xi sneered, the other eunuch laughed along at his words, at the death of another person's mother.
Ivan can't find the kind of words to agree with such poisonous words, so he decided to laugh awkwardly along with the others. He continued 'That's interesting, I didn't know that.'
'Oh, there are lots of things you don't know, our dear Eunuch Jin over here is a dictionary of palace's affair. If there's anything you wanna know, just ask and he will be more than willing to share.' one of the men in blues chimed in.
'Wow, I didn't know that!' Ivan faked enthusiastically along. Though he do have a question that was bugging him, he decided to ask Jin Xi anyway, 'Then what's the reason that made Prince Cheng Chang joined the military then?'
'Because of the ill-bred brat, Prince Yao.'
'Prince Yao?'
'Yeah, that brutish whore.'
Ivan's eyes widened at such description. Wow, surely words like these is going to get these people executed. Well, at least in Samara they would, Ivan thought in bewilderment.
'You know in this palace, children without mother are without a doubt the most pitiful. They have no backings and they have no one to protect them. So when my dearest and kindest mistress knew about the 11th prince's situation, she decided to offer him protection under her. But who knows, perhaps children without mother tend to stick together, or maybe he was attracted to the honeyed words promised by the 9th Prince, he decided go to the military with that whore instead.' Jin Xi shrugged.
'So-'
'Oh, look at the time. Mistress Mu must be waiting anxiously.' Jin Xi interjected in shock. 'Oh no, I can't keep her waiting. Sir, please make haste with your wash up and dressing. I am very sure my dearest mistress will be more than willing to answer any questions you have to ask about the royal family. So please.'
'Okay.' Ivan smiled, somehow already feeling dreadful that he will have to entertain the spoilt princess the entire day.