It only needed a few hours and Lang Yuan is already capable of playing the zither instruments. Even the masters in music cannot do anything than to just leave the Empress Candidate to practice. Zhong Song wanted to stay to watch Lang Yuan practice but suddenly the emperor summoned him. JiDan was also ordered to come, leaving the human alone on the gazebo. Though, there are shadow guards watching him on the sidelines so none of the royalties are worried.

Currently, Lang Yuan is playing a few notes. Actually, his mind is wandering around just letting his hands do the music. It was soft and fluttering, like a kiss of the dragonfly to the water. The touch is fast and quick, yet lazy enough to linger for a while. The workers around the pond listened to the song as they peacefully do their jobs.

The player who is currently in daze watched the clear waters of the pond. The lotus pods are floating astray, with peach colored flowers blooming in different sizes. One time, a fish would leap up to catch its food or frogs will croak to call a mate. Lang Yuan's figure can be seen as an ethereal image floating on the mist of the fair day.

[Play a song for me, will you?]

"What are thinking?"

Lang Yuan flinched when suddenly a voice rang out from nowhere whispered on his left ear. Making a faulty note, the tranquil atmosphere was disturbed making those who are listening intently to look at the player on the gazebo. At the platform, they only saw Lang Yuan shaking his head. Maybe an insect surprised the Empress Candidate.

But in reality, there is this black masked man who is here again to disturb him. The black masked man is hidden behind the post facing Lang Yuan, keeping him out of sight from the workers. Lang Yuan shook his head wondering why this annoying stranger is here again.

"Did I disturb your practice?" Zhen asked.

"More or less, you don't know the answer?" Lang Yuan didn't look up to see the man but instead took care to the string that he almost break. He rested his palms to the strings to calm the vibrations down.

"Hmmm... let's see... I'm just curious, the Empress Candidate is playing in a daze while thinking something. The Empress Candidate must have been worried."

Zhen used a concealing spell as he walked out from the post. Only Lang Yuan can see him, and the shadow guards who are on the sidelines watching the usual show. He sat in front of the guqin and stared at Lang Yuan, propping his one chin by one hand and the knees supporting the elbows. He then carefully stared at the face of the youth.

"It seems that you are really thinking deeply. What is it?" He asked.

Lang Yuan raised his eyebrows up to satisfy the black masked man and retorted: "Why are you here again? I will call the guards."

Zhen only shrugged his shoulders as if saying 'It's none of my business'. Lang Yuan only rolled his eyes and started plucking the guqin, but this time the volume is minimized as if he's only rehearsing. Zhen watched the boy, his eyelashes fluttering while focused on the instrument on his hands.

"Are you thinking of a past lover?" Zhen suddenly said.

Lang Yuan halted his playing for a second, missing his second note for today. But he continued, ignoring the black masked man. Zhen heaved a sigh, knowing what that silence means. To earn this person's heart, he must eliminate the existence of that lover. By the way Lang Yuan shows it, their relationship must be already history.

Who is this lover that made him feel like this? Who even dared to hurt this fragile kid?

"There were no us," Lang Yuan quietly said.

"Hmmm?"

"We are never together," Lang Yuan admitted.

"Oh? So this delicate young master did have an affair. I'm surprised," Zhen mocked. "And as for the other, that person must have a very low IQ to not keep you and handle you with care."

"Don't compare me with some glasses," Lang Yuan retorted. He glared at Zhen but there is no anger.

"Then, what should I compare you with? White Lotuses? Pure and innocent?" Zhen reached out to touch the strands of hair of Lang Yuan and pulled it gently towards his nose. He sniffed it slightly, then kissing the soft locks. Lang Yuan slapped his hands away.

"How dangerous," Zhen chukled, kissing the sting from the slap on his hands. "I wonder how that would feel if you slapped it in my face."

"Pervert!"

Zhen only laughed aloud. This human is really priceless. Teasing him is better than being an emperor. Wait, isn't he lucky because he is the emperor? A few more days and they will get married. He can't wait for that time to come.

"So? Who fell in love first?" Zhen inquired. "You said you were never together. But by the looks of it, it seems that you're the one who is fallen."

"Why do you want to gossip? How about you tell me about yours?" Lang Yuan became irritated. Zhen was surprised.

"Oh? Mad?" He asked the obvious.

Lang Yuan only glared at him. Zhen raised his hand to bravely pinch the soft cheeks of the youth. Large question marks emerged from the mind of the youth wondering why this black masked man suddenly pinched him.

"Not cute," Zhen muttered. "As for my life, I have a person whom I can guarantee that I can fall in love with, until forever. Though, that person is really adorable and dumb I wonder if he knows that I love him so much."

"Heh, serves you right," Lang Yuan scoffed. "That person is not dumb to not fall with you. With that kind of attitude, nobody will like you."

"Why? I am lovable and powerful, why would that person not love me back?" Zhen shook his head and added; "That person will fall in love with me because we are fated to each other. Our soul are destined to meet."

"To actually believe in destiny... are you stupid?"

For a 21st century kid who only believe on facts will never believe on such thing. Well, what can you say? In the ancient world, they are rather focused on these destiny and stuff. Though destiny and fate is still an unknown field, it is not something that Lang Yuan will always believe. If there is really destiny then... then maybe it was fate that brought him here.

"If both person are really meant for each other, no matter happens, they will be together," Zhen insisted.

If they are really meant for each other...

"Then do you think that person and you are meant to be each other?" Lang Yuan asked.

"If not, why would we meet?"

Zhen stared at his eyes with a passionate glint. His face might be covered with a black mask but the feature it was showing is very obvious. From those golden eyes and the smile from his lips, Lang Yuan can see the deepness of his feelings. Somehow, he felt a bit envious.

"I never know you're poetic," Lang Yuan evaded the eye contact and lowered his head. Zhen saw it for a while, a smile from Lang Yuan's supple lips.

"Of course, I am. Because I am an excellent being, powerful, and good-looking," he boasted.

Lang Yuan laughed lightly. The music of his laugh bloomed inside Zhen's heart.

"Then, how about you? I told you about myself, tell me yours," but Zhen will never let go about this fact of the last lover.

"Hmmm? Um, no, it's not that serious really. Maybe it was just infatuation or something," Lang Yuan's finger struck a lonely note to the zither. "Maybe we are not meant to be each other."

Yes, like an asymptote. A mathematical figure that is said to be close but will never meet. They are only to see each other and nothing else.

"Why do you say that? You gave up? That person gave up?" Zhen asked.

"We are both cowards," Lang Yuan scoffed.

"Hmmm? Why?"

"Because I don't have the courage to say my true feelings knowing that at the end we will be separated," Lang Yuan's eyes started to moist. Zhen gently wiped off that single tear that fell down, his heart clenching in anger. Lang Yuan did not slap his hand away and only forced a sad smile.

"I thought you are a fighter," Zhen tried to lighten the mood. "Then why did you not fight?"

"How can I? That person never intended to say it too, afraid, that I will be left alone."

"Left alone? What do you mean?"

His senses say that there is something wrong about it. What does he mean by that? Zhen wanted to ask more but Lang Yuan did not reply after that. They stayed silent for quite a time. Lang Yuan played another music again but this time it was filled with sadness. Just by hearing it, one can see a story of two people that ended with a tragic love. Zhen listened, letting the youth to sing his sorrow.

This fragile being... he will do everything to keep him safe. As promised, he will protect him no matter what.

After a while, small steps from the hall can be heard. A furious Zhong Song walked briskly as he strode off towards the gazebo. An alarming news came after another making his head ache. JiDan is beside him, knowing that his uncle is in a bad mood, did not dare to act naughtily, and followed faster. And it seems that his uncle's nerve would pop up the moment they saw Lang Yuan together with a stranger wearing a black mask.

"You!" Zhong Song paled after seeing the two figures close. He sheathed his sword to attack the black masked man as he flies in the air. Zhen noticed the danger and quickly stood up to stop the blade.

Lang Yuan was pushed to the side by Zhen as Zhong Song started attacking dangerously. Ah, this little brother of his is really aggressive. JiDan only watched the two exchange some moves as he strode towards his mother to help him stand up. Well, JiDan know who is the person behind the black masked man so he needs not to worry.

"Who are you? How did you managed to enter the palace," Zhong Song asked, pointing the blade to Zhen. He knows about that black masked man who almost kidnapped Lang Yuan. He thought that Yu XueQin wounded this man. Why is he here again?

"Aiya, don't be so harsh brother-"

Before Zhen could finish his speech, Zhong Song stabbed the sword forward. Zhen leisurely evaded the attack by just bending his body backwards. He used a hand gesture to flip the sword away from his body.

"Who is your brother, your mother?" Zhong Song cursed.

Zhen just raised his hand casually and hopped up to the railings of the gazebo. He turned his head to look at Lang Yuan and winked.

"Let's meet again," Zhen said.

Zhong Song, of course, will never let anyone touch his sister-in-law so he attacked again. Zhen casually evaded it as the black masked man leaped out towards the water surprising the boat riders. He used the boat as a stepping momentum before leaping out again. Zhong Song seems to chase.

"Uncle!" JiDan quickly called out. "Mother!"

Zhong faced his nephew. Lang Yuan is still sitting on the floor while being supported by JiDan. Seeing that these two might be in danger if he will continue the chase, so he decided to draw back in his sword and walked towards the two. He helped Lang Yuan to stand up.

"Who is that person?" Zhong Song asked. He had seen Lang Yuan with this black masked man twice.

"Zhen," Lang Yuan remembered the name the black masked man said to him.

"Zhen?" Zhong Song shook his head. "Nevermind his name. You should not talk with strangers like that. Call the guards if he comes again."

"Mnn." Lang Yuan nodded, but he doubted that the guards could catch Zhen.

"Good, for now, let's come inside. There are a lot of things to discuss. Something happened," Zhong Song said.

"What do you mean?" Lang Yuan noticed that Zhong Song is unusually irritated. He took JiDan's hand when the little dragon followed from behind.

"I will tell you inside. The emperor will tell you everything."

Zhong Song headed out first. Lang Yuan watched the back of the scholar then to JiDan. The little dragon only nodded saying that something should be done quickly. Lang Yuan did not ask anymore and followed. After all, he will know it eventually.

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Yay! I updated. Another chapter later 👍😂😂