Emperor Zau Ting had always been an oppressive force that could not be reckoned with. He was hot-headed, as strong as twenty men combined, and....
He was absolutely driven to wreck everything that blocks the way of what he wants.
He had managed to kill all his Yang siblings in order to become the only acceptable heir to the throne of his very promiscuous father, the late Emperor Zau Lou.
When Emperor Zau Lou died at an early age due to a Yin woman having enough and cutting off his dick, Zau Ting became the new emperor upon adulthood at the age of 20.
He managed to avoid every assassination attempt towards him and any future attempts by hanging the heads of his assassins and their masterminds on the walls of his own palace.
Just like wind chimes, being blown by the strong breeze. They were only taken away when the smell became unbearable and was instead cleaned and polished to be skulls that hung on the walls once more.
There was no denying that he was a tyrant of the highest degree. But he was only unfair to those who deserve it at first, and in order to survive the highly gruesome life of an imperial prince.
But Emperor Zau Ting had a turn for the worst ever since he met Wei Wangyi.
He met him as a hostage prince from the enemy kingdom of Pei in the Borderlands. Wei Wangyi was a savage when he first arrived. Only 15 years old.
He acted nothing like a Yin, though his beauty was the best of his kind.
As a young Yin, Zau Ting had always chased after Wei Wangyi's robes, trying to capture his sweet scent.
But Wei Wangyi's eyes were cold and heartless towards every Yang he meets, especially to him. Zau Ting had always been a madman, but people speculated that he had become even more insane...
Because of Wei Wangyi.
He did everything to gain Wei Wangyi's favor. He lavished him with expensive gifts, good food, and endless praises. Wei Wangyi could not understand his words at first, but as he became more educated in the language and customs of the Great Zau, he start to respond to these praises....
With pure cold rejection.
The more the savage foreign prince became tamed and used to the castle life, the more he became colder towards the young tyrant Emperor.
"If the Emperor has much time to spend talking to me..... Why don't you spend it more on making renovations for the palace gardens, perhaps?" Wei Wangyi, now as beautiful as a flower at the age of 18, almost ripe for marriage, told him one fine day while plucking out a peach blossom.
And so he did.
He renovated the palace garden with the help of 1,000 slaves and poor men that he overworked to death just so it would reach perfection by the time of Wei Wangyi's birthday, which was only 20 days away.
An expanse of a garden to be decorated at the shape of a peach blossom, as a reminder of the hostage prince's eyes that were the shape of a peach blossom's petals.
But when Wei Wangyi learned of the enslavement he did just to make the palace garden, and all the blood that was spilled on the ground too nurture this fertile soil.....
He slapped the Emperor across the face!
"Are you even human!?" He said in horror. "You made so many Yang, Zhong, and Yin to work day until night without giving them food and drink, only the taste of whippings, just so you can make this garden!?"
Zau Ting did not show any remorse when he said this, only frustration. "But you told me to renovate this garden and I did---"
"Why must you make them work for the sake of my petty half-hearted remarks!? I did not ask for this!"
Zau Ting could not bear it anymore and grasped his wrist---
Breaking it!
"If you did not like it, then I'll burn this place to the ground! I'll build an even better one that you will like!"
When Zau Ting looked at his eyes, he saw that.....
Wei Wangyi now bears another emotion towards him besides coldness and resentment.
He was now afraid of him.
Afraid of the lengths Zau Ting might go just for him. And for a moment, the Emperor faltered from that look. Because...
That look on his face was still so beautiful. It was worth it.
For the first time, this tough ice-cold Yin had broken and revealed an entire possibility of being submissive and subservient to him.
And so, even when the first incident was not on purpose, and was slightly paved with good intentions....
Because of that fearful look, Zau Ting became even more insane. He wanted to keep Wei Wangyi afraid of him, so he wouldn't be ignored by him anymore.
After all, if he cannot be loved, this was the next best thing.
"Yi-Yi, I like your hair very much. Can't I cut it and turn it into my sword tassel before I go to war?" He asked after they were married.
Wei Wangyi married him precisely because of fear. So by saying disgusting things like this, he can maintain that fear.
He knows that in the kingdom of Pei, cutting a Yin's hair and wearing it as some decoration was equivalent to tarnishing their purity. And the war that he was going to was with Wei Wangyi's kingdom of origin itself.
Wei Wangyi would not allow it, he already expected as much. He shook his head and replied. "You can have my hair once you have my head. Then you can hang that head as your sword tassel."
Zau Ting sneered at this, and declared. "Anyone who dares touch the Empress' hair, whether accidental or deliberate, will have their hand cut off! Anyone who refuses to deliver this punishment will have both their hands cut off by me once I return from war!"
As he said this, there it was again. That fearful look. It was so full of guilt, and shame, as Wei Wangyi saw the looks of terror on the servants as well.
So beautiful!
It just kept on getting worse and worse the longer they were married. He eventually felt that he had broken the Empress enough to finally reap the fruits of his labor.....
And consummate their marriage.
Yes, he had not consummated it the night after. He wanted Wei Wangyi's fear to be fully ripe, waiting for the opportune moment where he would be fully giving up his everything to him.
That time came, when Wei Wangyi no longer replied to him with scathing remarks, or even with threats of suicide. Wei Wangyi's eyes were listless, he rarely speaks before him, and only nods and does as told.
Emperor Zau Ting was very pleased. It was now time for him to no longer wear those red bridal robes, as he would be taking him fully as his possession once he marked him and placed his seeds inside.....
Which would bear fruit to a child that Wei Wangyi would surely love, surely want to protect from his dangerous father...
A child he can use to bring more of that delicious fear.
However, once Wei Wangyi was brought to his chambers.....
He vomited blood.
Now it was the Emperor's turn to feel fear for the first time. Upon seeing how his obsession, his most prized jewel, slowly degraded from health, his deadly, predatory eyes turned into that of a prey.
He sought every single person he could, and when they could not satisfy him and restore Wei Wangyi's former glory, he sliced them in half in front of everyone. These useless men and women could not heal him at all!
Should he ask Yang and Zhong physicians now? No! They would obviously pine for him and lust over him just like he does!
Wei Wangyi's soft cheeks that were always naturally tinted red had turned sunken and gaunt now. His lips became dry, and he was nauseous every single day and vomiting every single food he ate. He looked more and more like a corpse.
His beauty, which made Emperor Zau Ting madly in love with him, was slowly disappearing along with his life.
And that scared him.
It was much scarier than the threat of suicide, as suicide would keep his beauty intact. He would at least die as he were, and Zau Ting would have no problem stabbing himself with his sword to join him in the afterlife.
But this slow degradation..... It truly frightens him, even when he doesn't show it. His Yi-Yi was turning into something he doesn't know. He was desperate to bring him back to even the cold Wei Wangyi.
He would wake up in cold sweat dreaming of the Empress slowly wilting like a flower, smiling at him.
Wei Wangyi in his dream would then ask him. "Isn't this what you want, my dear Emperor?"
He would scream when he woke up, and always be in a somber, gloomy mood even in battle. He could barely concentrate, and though they do not lose because of his own strength, many of his soldier's lives were now being wasted because of his lackluster strategic planning and lack of focus on leading them.
When he returned home with his armor caked in blood, he did not announce his victory and the remaining soldiers did not dare cheer. They only muttered to themselves and bore resentment to their tyrannical king.
"Where is Yi-Yi? Is he well now?" That was the only question he asks every time he gets back.
The medium Shu, which was his most trusted due to the fact of her being a Yin, answered dejectedly.
"He was showing signs of improvement from drinking herbal tea, but without proper medical attention, his condition turned worse again just a few days before you arrived, Your Majesty. But the fact that he showed improvements at all meant that the gods are hearing your prayers."
Lady Shu looked nervous. The truth was, this medium was smarter and more callous than anyone gives her credit for.
She knows what to say to not incur the wrath of the Emperor, but also to deliver the truth in a much more palatable way. She always says how perfect the two were together according to the stars...
But that was not really what her divination says. However, the stars and the cosmos won't be able to save her from this Yang man's sword.
This time, the Emperor somehow managed to see through her bullshit.
"Speak now. I know there is something you truly want to say." The tired-looking Emperor Zau Ting walked over to the kneeling woman with his bloody sword.
Lady Shu felt her heart pounding wildly, but maintained a calm expression. "There is another Yin scholar that may help improve the Empress' condition."
"Male or female?" The Emperor asked.
"Male. A young one, but he shows great promise based on my divination for him." Lady Shu said, not lying this time.
The stars really show that Empress Wei's health would shine brighter once it crossed paths with this 'Qing Guang'.
"And did you tell this Yin that if he fails, I will drag his body from the top of the mountain and all the way to the town square along with his family, until their skin was flayed, and peel off the remaining piece by piece myself?"
Lady Shu nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. He was not afraid and believes in his capabilities."
Emperor Zau Ting went quiet at the mention of 'not afraid'.
He then eventually said, in a defeated manner similar to how Wei Wangyi defeatedly submits to him because of fear:
"Bring him in."