Sorry for the very late update! I never abandoned this story. I will strive to finish this by the end of this year.
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Sunlight poured into the imperial hunting grounds, catching on the dewdrops that clung to the grass. The droplets trembled and fell, absorbed into the earth as a distant vibration began to ripple through the ground. The source of the vibration was the hooves of the day’s sacrificial animals—foxes, wild boars, and deer—dashing across the field in a desperate bid for survival.
King Jihong, seated atop his black horse, watched the scene with mild disinterest before turning his gaze to the Emperor, who sat on a white horse beside him. The Emperor’s eyes were fixed intently on the horizon, his expression unreadable.
Was breakfast not to his liking today? Jihong wondered, recalling how his older brother, the former Crown Prince, would refuse to eat on days when the food didn’t suit his taste. He would press his lips together and push the plate away, especially on days when fish was served instead of meat. His displeasure would be evident as he glared at the palace maids and declared, “I don’t want this,” before darting off. The eunuchs would chase after him, shouting, “Your Highness! Your Highness!” but by then, the Crown Prince would have already transformed into a wolf and disappeared into the distance.
Jihong, following his brother’s example, would also transform and run wild through the fields. Eventually, their father would arrive, carrying the Crown Prince back in his jaws, and Jihong would obediently trail behind, cowed by the Emperor’s commanding presence.
Lost in these memories, Jihong found himself staring at the Emperor’s profile, unable to look away. The Emperor’s beauty was always striking, but today it felt particularly mesmerizing. His hair was neatly tied back, revealing the elegant curve of his neck, long and graceful like a deer’s. Jihong’s gaze traveled upward, lingering on the Emperor’s porcelain-like cheeks, his skin glowing with a healthy, almost childlike smoothness. His silver hair, reminiscent of snow-covered plains, was perfectly arranged, not a strand out of place.
The Emperor’s golden eyes, visible through his half-lidded gaze, shimmered like transparent amber or polished gold, their hue shifting with the light. They were unnervingly beautiful, almost otherworldly. When the Emperor noticed Jihong staring, he turned his head, and those piercing eyes locked onto Jihong’s, striking him like an arrow to the chest. Jihong quickly bowed his head, but the Emperor only smiled faintly and asked,
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“Your Majesty’s countenance is more radiant than ever,” Jihong replied with a playful tone.
The Emperor chuckled, clearly amused.
“It’s the same face as always. What’s changed?”
His teasing smile prompted Jihong to nudge his horse closer. The Emperor watched him with a curious expression before leaning down slightly, allowing Jihong to whisper into his ear, just as he had done as a child.
“It seems you’ve changed since forming a bond with Consort Hee.”
The Emperor’s laughter deepened, and he reached out to grasp Jihong’s shoulder.
“It’s all thanks to Hee-bi’s efforts. Even when he’s trembling with fear, he gives everything the Son of Heaven asks for.”
“Consort Hee is indeed kind and gentle, but don’t push him too far. What if he decides to run away?” Jihong said, half-joking as he recalled an incident where one of the Emperor’s consorts had nearly fled with a guard.
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened, and the amusement in his eyes faded slightly.
“That child would never even think of running away. He would never leave the Son of Heaven for anyone else.”
“I know,” Jihong conceded.
The idea of Kang running away was unthinkable. Kang had never even ventured far from the palace, let alone defied the Emperor’s orders. Even as a prince, Kang had been coddled and protected, kept away from anything that might harm him. He had been forbidden from visiting even the red-light district, let alone participating in wars.
Kang had grown up obedient and naive, accepting the Emperor’s words as absolute truth. He was like a timid puppy, trembling and pleading whenever the Emperor scolded him. Jihong had seen this side of Kang at the wedding ceremony and wasn’t particularly worried.
Besides, Kang’s mother and maternal family were in the capital. If Kang ever showed signs of fleeing, the Emperor could use them as leverage. It was a win-win situation: Kang would be pushed to his limits, and his maternal relatives could be dealt with. If Kang’s child became the Crown Prince, there would be no troublesome in-laws to worry about.
“Still, don’t push him too hard. He needs time to adjust. Serving his own father as a lover and bearing his child—it’s suffocating for him. Before becoming a consort, he lived freely in the royal palace.”
“Sending him to the royal palace was a mistake from the start,” the Emperor said calmly, picking up his bow and gazing into the distance. His eyes finally began to track the prey.
“If I had deposed him and confined him to the palace from the beginning, he wouldn’t have known these feelings. I should have stripped him of his princely title and locked him away. The Son of Heaven made a mistake. If he had never known freedom, he wouldn’t be suffering like this now.”
But if the Emperor had done that, he would never have seen the child bloom so brightly, day by day. Kang running, holding a bow, riding a horse—the Emperor had been by his side through it all. Even now, nothing had changed. The Emperor still loved Kang deeply. He cherished the nation above all else, but Kang came a close second. If the Emperor hadn’t loved Kang, he would never have forced him to bear a child. Kang needed to understand that. All of this—everything—was for his sake.
The Emperor firmly believed that one day, Kang would come to accept him as a lover. The heavens had already sanctioned their bond, so Kang had no choice but to accept it as well. The only thing holding him back was the weight of their father-son relationship.
Everything was going smoothly. The tasks ahead were almost laughably simple, and the Emperor let out a short chuckle before urging his horse forward with renewed vigor.