Zhang Fengxi squinted at the many visitors that rained upon the Fuxi Palace as soon as they heard that the Crown Prince was sick.
What a bunch of sycophants!
Xie Jianyu was supposedly not fit enough to receive the many visitors, so the head servant had to suffer in his stead. The elder beta bowed his head many times whenever he received the prominent guests and their lavish gifts.
Zhang Fengxi did not like to succumb to formalities. He thus said to his servant, "You stand here in line and wait until it's our turn. I need to stretch my legs."
"Please remember to come back, Prince," the servant was flustered, but he was helpless against Zhang Fengxi's selfish bouts.
"No worries," Zhang Fengxi quipped before he left.
No worries, he was not coming back.
His main goal in coming to the Fuxi Palace was to take a look at Xie Jianyu's condition. Why would he bother with the head servant? He might just tell Zhang Fengxi the same rehearsed line that he told every other visitor.
Fuxi Palace's detailed map was carved inside Zhang Fengxi's brain. It was because he stared at it every night in the months that led to their attack on Fuxi Palace. Zhang Fengxi remembered every nook and cranny, every weak spot. He naturally also knew where Xie Jianyu's bedchamber was.
Quick as lightning, the young man sneaked into the Crown Prince's bed chamber. As soon as he entered, he felt dizzy. The incense burner that burned on the table permeated the air with a thick, impermeable fragrance.
Zhang Fengxi had to cover his nose and mouth with his sleeve as he slowly inched toward the bed.
"Oi, Xie Jianyu!" he shouted as he drew the bed curtain aside.
Xie Jianyu was a fellow martial artist, so he should sense Zhang Fengxi's presence the moment the latter entered the chamber. Right?
But no.
Xie Jianyu was fast asleep. His face was deathly pale and he was sweating a lot.
"Oi, Xie Jianyu," Zhang Fengxi carefully called. Just as he reached out to touch Xie Jianyu, he heard someone come in.
Zhang Fengxi quickly rolled to the other side of the bed and slipped under the bed. His heart pounded hard in his chest as he squinted at a pair of omega shoes that entered Xie Jianyu's chamber.
They were distinctly feminine, but... they were quite big. The guest was a male omega.
"Little Yu," the person called.
Zhang Fengxi panicked for a little bit when he sensed an additional weight on the bed.
One of Xie Jianyu's lovers, at this time??? Did he not know that Xie Jianyu was sick???
From the bed, Xie Jianyu's hoarse voice was heard.
"Big Brother," he said.
Zhang Fengxi gaped.
So it was Xie Jianyu's elder brother, the omega who married into the Shuiran Palace and gave birth to Jiang Muchen! If Zhang Fengxi was not mistaken, his name was Xie Jianzhen.
"How are you feeling?"
"... Very uncomfortable."
What a weird question. Why would anyone feel comfortable when he was forced to kneel for half a day? Zhang Fengxi could name some alphas who would complain loudly when they were subjected to the same punishment. Like Zhou Guiying, for example.
"It's alright, this is only the first treatment of many. You will get used to it."
Zhang Fengxi was horrified to hear Xie Jianzhen's words. Was he trying to make his younger brother the kneeling expert??? Might as well break his legs and be done with it.
"Mmmm..."
Xie Jianyu did not sound excited at the prospect. Which was of course understandable. What Zhang Fengxi failed to fathom was the lack of resistance in his voice. It was as if he was resigned to his fate.
Wow.
The Crown Prince of the Heavenly Empire was a weakling.
Okay, Zhang Fengxi, stop being mean, he chastised himself. Xie Jianyu was an omega. Omega.
"Liu Wenyuan, the omega son of Liu Yichen is waiting outside to say hello to you. Do you wish to see him?"
Zhang Fengxi grew tense when he heard Liu Wenyuan's name being mentioned.
"No. Big Brother, I have no interest in him."
Phew.
A rustling sound was heard, and then Xie Jianshen spoke again, "Why not? He is quite a beautiful omega."
"Zhang Fengxi likes him," was Xie Jianyu's curt answer to the question.